Five new members were inducted into the
McPherson College Athletic Hall of Fame
in ceremonies on Saturday, October 8, 2005. The members of the
2005 class of inductees are A. Dale Carpenter ’52 of
Great Bend, Kan., Dr. Robert “Bob” Bechtel ’53
of Englewood, Colo., Dennis Brunner ’60 of Wichita,
Kan., and Lisa Gaskill Peters ‘78 of South Sioux City,
Neb. Don Widrig ‘59, who was selected for induction
in 2004, was represented by his son, Greg, and was inducted posthumously.
A. Dale Carpenter was a three-sport letter winner during his time at McPherson College. A four-year letterman in track & field, Dale lettered three years in basketball and twice in football. Carpenter was runner-up in the long jump at the first NAIA National Championships in 1951. He was the 1950 Kansas Conference 220-yard low hurdles champion, before winning the 100-yard dash and 120-yard high hurdles in 1952. He set McPherson College records in the long jump, both the 120 yard high and 220 yard low hurdles, and was part of school record setting 440-yard, 880-yard, 1-mile, and sprint medley relays. Carpenter was runner-up in the long jump at the 1951 Midwest National Intercollegiate meet. Part of the Bulldogs’ KU Relays champion sprint medley relay in 1952, he was the 1952 Missouri Valley AAU Championship runner-up in the triple jump and placed third in the long jump.
Carpenter graduated from McPherson with a BS in industrial arts in 1952, then began a career in public education which included teaching and coaching at Bentley, Kinsley, and Great Bend, Kan., before ending his career as a school counselor with the Great Bend schools in 1993.
Dr. Robert “Bob”Bechtel won 12 varsity letters during his collegiate career, four each in football, basketball, and track & field. After finishing third in the conference 2-mile run as a freshman, Bob would go on to win three conference titles at 2-miles and one at one-mile, and set a conference record in the 2-mile run. The McPherson College record holder in both the one- and two-mile runs at the time of his graduation, he was also part of school record setting 2-mile and distance medley relays. In 1953, he concluded his collegiate track career by placing fifth at the 2 nd NAIA national outdoor championships. In basketball, Bechtel became a starter part way through this freshman season. He was member of the Bulldogs’ undefeated 1952 Kansas Conference football team and following his senior season was named to the All-Conference second team as a tight end.
Following his graduation, Bechtel competed for Fort Sam Houston in the 4 th Army and All-Army track & field championships. He continued his education, earning his masters’ and PhD in mathematics, and would go on to teach mathematics at the high school and college levels, retiring in 1991 after 28 years at Purdue University Calumet Campus in Hammond, Ind. The co-author of four mathematics texts and a K-8 elementary mathematics series, Bechtel received the McPherson College Citation of Merit in 1978.
Dennis Brunner won four letters in basketball and three in football as a Bulldog. A four-year starter in basketball, Dennis led the Bulldogs in scoring his senior season, after which he was a unanimous All-Kansas Conference first team selection. Bruner had previously received second team all-conference honors as a junior after receiving honorable mention recognition as a sophomore.
After receiving his degree in industrial arts from McPherson College, Brunner began a 35-year teaching and coaching career, which included an undefeated state basketball Class BB championship at Durham High School in 1962, five Wichita City League championships and six state tournament teams including three third place finishes at Wichita North High School. He later served as industrial arts department coordinator for nine years and athletic director at North High for seven years. In 1994, he was named the Area IV KIAAA Athletic Director of the Year, and in 1995 received the KIAAA Distinguished Service Award.
Lisa Gaskill Peters made her mark in McPherson athletic history in tennis and basketball. A four-year letter winner in tennis, he was the #1 singles champion in the KCAC in 1975, 1976, and 1977 while finishing third in doubles in ’76 and ‘77. In 1978, she advanced to the quarterfinals of the first national AIAW national championships, placing among in the top eight collegiate singles players. In 1975, she was part of the Lady Bulldogs’ conference and ACCK #2 doubles championship duo.
In basketball, Gaskill was a three-year starter and the 1978 team’s leader in steals and assists as well as second leading scorer. As a senior, she was the Lady Bulldogs’ MVP, and received honorable mention all-conference honors. Gaskill also participated in track one season.
During her senior year at McPherson, Gaskill wrote a history of women’s athletics at McPherson College, still the only history of that nature penned to date.
Since her graduation, Gaskill has been active in training, riding, and showing horses, preparing three national champion Arabian Halter horses and was the 1996 reserve world champion non-pro rider of the National Cutting Horse Association.
Don Widrig would leave his mark on Bulldog athletics, both as a student-athlete and coach. The 1958 KCAC javelin champion, Don would first break the school record in the javelin as a sophomore when he threw 189’10”, and then again as a senior, throwing 191’3”. He also competed in the pole vault, long jump, and ran the 440 yard dash as part of a McPherson College record setting 1-mile relay. He also lettered three seasons in basketball, and played running back in football.
After working as a student assistant coach his final year as an undergraduate, Widrig later returned to the college as its head track coach in 1964. The next year he began his tenure as the Bulldogs’ head basketball coach, where he directed the Bulldogs to the northern division title in 1971 and third place in the overall KCAC in 1973. During his tenure at McPherson College, Widrig also coached tennis and golf.
Prior to his passing in 2004, Widrig was an independent businessman and vocal supporter of the Bulldogs and McPherson High Bullpups
