Former Kansas City Chiefs standout wide receiver Eddie Kennison, former Missouri State All-American tackle and coach Rich Johanningmeier and former Carrollton High School coach Stan Kee can now call …
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Three inducted into Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
Posted
Former Kansas City Chiefs standout wide receiver Eddie Kennison, former Missouri State All-American tackle and coach Rich Johanningmeier and former Carrollton High School coach Stan Kee can now call themselves Missouri Sports Hall of Famers.The Hall inducted the trio during the NFL Kickoff Luncheon sponsored by Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company on Wednesday at the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center. More than 600 attended the event.Additionally, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame recognized the second Elite 11, a group of former high school and college football standouts.“We are proud to bring these football standouts into the Hall of Fame,” President and Executive Director Jerald Andrews said. “I’ve been overwhelmed about the response of Stan Kee going in. There were players from all over the state who came in for his induction. Then you look at Rich Johanningmeier, who had a great playing and coaching career, and the kind of response he has received has been impressive.”A video tribute from former Chiefs quarterback Trent Green on Kennison also will be remembered, Andrews said.“Trent Green not only talked about what he did on the field but how Kennison was a great teammate and a quality person who has contributed throughout the Kansas City community,” Andrews said. “We are honored to have him as a member of the Hall of Fame.”The second annual Elite 11 featured: defensive lineman Brett Potts (Bolivar, Pittsburg State); quarterback Eric Czerniewski (Montgomery County, Central Missouri); lineman Rusty Shadel (Lebanon, Missouri State); running back Rex Sawyer (Ava, Missouri Valley College); linebacker Steve Forbis (Republic, Missouri Southern); defensive tackle Lorenzo Williams (Mizzou); punter/quarterback Chuck Blair (Camdenton, Central Missouri); kicker Jeremy Flores (Willard, Colorado); defensive back T.J. Onstott (Lamar, Missouri Southern); split end Steve Newbold (Aurora, Missouri State); and running back Justin Gerald (Hillcrest, Central Methodist).Eddie KennisonKennison, who emerged as one of the NFL’s most prolific receivers while with the Chiefs from 2001 to 2007, said it was a conversation with quarterback Trent Green that led to his Kansas City success.Green phoned him over remarks that he wasn’t throwing the ball to Kennison enough, said Kennison, who emphasized he did not say such a thing.“Trent stopped me in my tracks and he says, ‘I don’t care what goes on. I know what type of person you are just from the few days we spent together,’” Kennison said. “He says, ‘You’re my guy. I love you. I want to be part of you and your family, and we’re going to win football games together.“From that point,” Kennison added, “I had a teammate who understood what faith, family and football teammates are about.”When he retired, Kennison ranked No. 7 on the Chiefs’ all-time yards receiving list (5,230 yards) and No. 7 in Chiefs career receptions (321). He also had 17 100-yard receiving games in his Chiefs tenure, the fourth-most in franchise history when he retired.His arrival in 2001 dovetailed with the Chiefs’ prolific offenses that would become standard under coach Dick Vermeil. Kennison, who enjoyed a 1,086-yard season in 2004 followed by a 1,102-yard season, helped the Chiefs win the 2003 AFC West in finishing 13-3; win 10 more games in 2005; and reach the 2006 playoffs.Overall, he played for four other teams, including the St. Louis Rams, and finished his NFL career with 8,345 yards receiving and 42 touchdowns.Rich JohanningmeierJohanningmeier, a St. Louis native, was a standout lineman at Missouri State (1960-1963) and later served as head coach (1976-1985), becoming the second-winningest coach in school history.“As I look at the coaches I was fortunate to have at (Missouri State), they taught us what work was. They taught us what it took to be a good player and to reach that excellence,” Johanningmeier said. “As I look through on coaches, I was just fortunate to have a bunch of great assistant coaches. Their ideas, their efforts played a major, major role in the successes we had.”Johanningmeier was a three-year starter at both offensive and defensive tackle, gaining All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association recognition as a junior and senior. He was a first team All-American as a senior.Johanningmeier, who was part of the 9-0 team of 1963, was 58-44-5 in his 10 seasons as coach, including seven winning seasons.“We were very fortunate to have our share of very good football players. Nine or 10 of them had NFL opportunities. A number of them got All-American recognition. An unbelievable number made all-conference,” said Johanningmeier, who later worked for the NCAA. “But putting all those things aside, most of them – if not all of them – graduated and went on to be successful in their endeavors.”Stan KeeKee received a standing ovation after his tearful speech, which concluded with the longtime Carrollton High School coach thanking his late wife, Debbie. She passed away in June 2014.The successes of the Carrollton program were based on four F’s – faith, family, friends and football, Kee said.“Because of that first F – faith – I know she has the best seat in the house,” Kee said.Kee, who also thanked his children, assistants, the Carrollton community and administrators, was 175-88-2 overall at three high schools. That included a 153-67-1 record in 22 seasons (1977 to 1998) at Carrollton northern Missouri. His Carrollton teams reached the state semifinals in 1987 and 1997.Kee previously coached at South Holt and Gallatin high schools.“If you keep the three previously mentioned F’s in proper perspective – faith, family and friends – and surround those by three universal components of trust, commitment, love, you’ll have a successful program because you’ll have a successful life,” Kee said. “Always treat others the way you like to be treated.”
Eddie Kennison, from left, Stan Kee and Rich Johanningmeier display their Missouri Sports Hall of Fame plaques during their induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Submitted photo.
