Smith among inductees into Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

Rod Smith, KRCG-TV sports director, poses for a September 2018 photo.
Rod Smith, KRCG-TV sports director, poses for a September 2018 photo.

Rod Smith, the sports director at KRCG, was one of several people and programs inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in a ceremony Sunday night in Springfield.

Smith has worked at KRCG for three decades. In addition, he has served as the emcee at several area fundraisers, including the Mid-Missouri Heart Association Heart Ball, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, the United Cerebral Palsy's Wing Ding and Deal or No Deal.

Smith also has done work with the YMCA and Samaritan Center benefit auctions, as well as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. A native of Naperville, Ill., Smith is a graduate of Oral Roberts University.

The Class of 2019 features 15 individuals, a sports family as well as two high school programs.

Other individual inductees include:

Ryan Howard, a former Philadelphia Phillie who played collegiately at Missouri State.

Carlos Carson, a wide receiver for the Chiefs in the 1980s.

Jeff Suppan, a former pitcher for the Cardinals and the Royals.

Chase Coffman, the former Missouri Tiger tight end.

Alan Cockrell, a Joplin native who played quarterback at the University of Tennessee who also played Major League Baseball as well as coaching in the big leagues.

Kelly Donohoe, the head football coach at Blue Springs High School.

Steve Hunter, a boys basketball coach at West Plains, Hartville and Ozark high schools.

Mark Fisher, the former athletic director of Springfield Public Schools who currently is the director of athletics at Drury University.

Kip Janvrin and Kirk Pedersen, co-head coaches in track and field at the University of Central Missouri.

Joyce Mahoney, who won 18 Springfield Area Women's Golf Association championships.

The Sandbothe family - siblings Scott, Steve, Robin, Mark, Mike, Lori and Lisa - all went to college on athletic scholarships, while their parents - Louis and Wanda - were outstanding athletes as well.

Dr. Troy Major, a national recognized shotgun sports champion from southwest Missouri.

Ray Wageman, a triathlon champion who won nearly 400 events from 1980-2005.

Dr. Chris Barnthouse, the former head physician for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Prep programs inducted were McCluer South Berkeley boys and girls track and field and West Plains boys and girls cross country.

Also inducted was Drury Outdoors, an award-winning outdoors television production company.

Bryan Magers, a founder of Springfield-based Bryan Properties, received the President's Award. It is given to an individual who champions sports in the state and especially the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Magers has been a member of the Hall of Fame's Board of Trustees.