50 YEARS LATER plus 1!

Many have asked about Claude Sanders' (Dad) recent Hall of Fame experience and I'll explain what I can . . .




Sometime in the mid 1990's, the Knox Athletic Association, part of the Knox Community School Corporation, began inducting former student athletes and coaches in order to recognize outstanding individuals and their contribution to Knox (Indiana) athletics. Well, without going into a lot of background about the process (that's another story) Dad was finally inducted into the Knox Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006, 50 years after graduating from Knox High School.


Dad had a storied career at Knox. He started as a varsity football player, played two years varsity basketball and was an all-around track standout. Dad also played in the band and went on to Indiana State University on a football and music scholarship, where he was a three year starter for the Sycamores (see picture on right above), as well as a music and education major (back then, you finished your degree whether the pros called or not!). After completing his education, Dad came back and taught at Knox for 9 years, also coaching football, wrestling and track.


Well, when Dad found out about being inducted last year, he began making plans to attend. Nothing would stop him from flying back to Indiana and participating in the induction. . . except for his heart. Mere days before he was supposed to leave, Dad entered the hospital with chest pains, and found out he needed a quadruple (5-way) bypass. Unable to attend, Claude Eric attended on his behalf.



After surgery in Las Vegas and recuperating for many months, regaining his strength and nearly returning to normal, Dad came back this year to put in an appearance at the Hall of Fame induction (see picture on left). Dad certainly enjoyed seeing many people he had grown up with, attended school with, taught, coached, etc.


This year was especially poignant for Dad; his track coach was inducted posthumously, and another inductee Dad had coached in track. To top it all off, the Knox basketball team beat powerhouse Culver Military Academy to win on the school's Hall of Fame night!