I love every opportunity I have to celebrate Fort Hays State University – and that keeps me both brimming with joy and very busy. Indeed, we have a lot to celebrate.

Recently, I had the honor of attending the FHSU Hall of Fame Celebration. The 2018 Hall of Fame inductees were Carolyn Bird, who was lovingly honored posthumously; Weston Harding (wrestling, 1987-91); Dave Nehls (baseball, 1985-86); Jose Salcido (football, 1993-95); and Ed Schumacher (men’s basketball, 1974-76).

I arrived filled with anticipation and eager to hear the stories of inspiration and excellence. I was not disappointed. I was inspired. I knew the event would be emotional. I smiled when I noticed that someone had discreetly placed a package of tissues at the podium. Story after story, athlete after athlete, demonstrated the character and incredible successes of the honorees.

Carolyn Bird spent 23 years of her career working with Fort Hays State’s student-athletes and 25 years total at the university. She started a study program for FHSU’s student-athletes in 1991 at the request of then FHSU President Dr. Edward H. Hammond and Athletic Director Tom Spicer. Working closely with coaches and administrators, her efforts made an impact on the lives of many through the years. Graduation rates and grade-point averages for our athletes improved significantly as a result of her leadership.

Weston Harding was a three-time All-America performer and four-time national qualifier for Tiger wrestling, compiling a career record of 130-40-4, winning 76 percent of his matches. Harding is now one of the top high school coaches in the state of Oklahoma, guiding Collinsville High School to seven 5A state championships over the last eight years (2011-16, 2018). Collinsville has also claimed five dual state championships in that run, and Harding has been named The Tulsa World’s All-Metro Coach of the Year seven times.

Dave Nehls earned NAIA All-America honors in 1985 as a shortstop, setting the single-season record for stolen bases at FHSU with 52, a record that still stands. He was a two-time all-conference and all-district performer and a member of Fort Hays State’s only two teams to win more than 40 games in a season during the program’s NAIA history. He helped the Tigers to a 45-21 record in 1985 and a 47-16-1 mark in 1986.

Ed Schumacher, as a junior, was an All-American for the Tigers in men’s basketball for the 1974-75 season. He averaged 18.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 73 percent at the free-throw line. Schumacher was a two-time All-GPAC First Team and All-District 10 selection alongside teammate Barton Snow.

A strong student-athlete program is core to who we are as an institution. We look to our student athletes to help us tell our story by how they practice and play, their character on and off the field, and their success in the classroom and in the boardroom. When you think about it, when we need inspiration, we often turn to athletes, who give us such visible and emotional examples of grit and determination, perseverance and triumph over adversity. These are all qualities and characteristics that are hallmarks of Fort Hays State University.

One story in particular drew me in – that of football player Jose Salcido. Jose played three years for the Tigers, from 1993 to 1995. He ranks third in tackles during the NCAA Division II era at Fort Hays State with 342 over three seasons (averaged 114 per season), leading the team in the category all three years. He also accumulated 35 tackles for loss, tied for fourth in the NCAA era, and 11 interceptions, tied for third most. He owns the FHSU career (nine) and single-season (five) records for blocked kicks in a season. He also had six interceptions in 1993, tied for second most in a season at FHSU.

Jose was introduced by former Tiger Head Coach Tim O’Connor, who was a linebacker coach when Jose was playing. After sharing a list of incredible statistics, Coach O’Connor described Jose as an exceptional player. But what really resonated with me is when Coach O’Connor shared that what made Jose exceptional was his ability to lead and inspire his teammates: Jose worked at practice, in the weight room, and in the classroom. He had God-given talent, but he worked to maximize that talent, and in doing so he made his teammates better.

That is the story line that fills my heart every day. Example after example of students, professors, staff and community members who work hard and excel through pure determination – maximizing their gifts – leaders who inspire by living lives defined by the impact they have on those around them. They provide illustration after illustration of how we triumph over adversity: We ROAR!

For me, these examples define what it means to be a Fort Hays Tiger. And I smile. I realize that our “hall of fame” is boundless, and that I am blessed to live among so many everyday heroes.