St. Joseph Sports Commission Unveils 2026 Hall of Fame Class

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — On Tuesday, the St. Joseph Sports Commission revealed the names of those who will be inducted into the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2026. The announcement was made by Brett Esely, the executive director of the commission, during a press conference at the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau, where family members of some inductees were in attendance.

This year's Hall of Fame Class includes ten exceptional individuals, a team, and the Special Olympics Area Athlete of the Year, recognized by the Hook family. Esely praised the inductees, stating, “When I look at this class, I look at the men and women who have excellence in longevity. Men and women who went through the progression of their career, no matter what their trade was, whether they were a player, whether they were a coach, in all cases these folks were mentors.”

The inductees for 2026 are as follows:

• Jesse Barbosa – Christian Brothers Boys Basketball
• Jeff Brown – Central High School/Missouri Western Basketball
• Tony Dudik – Central & Bishop LeBlond High School Coaching Mentor
• Gary Hazelrigg – Athletic Training/Sports Medicine Pioneer
• Lisa Hughes – Central High School and MWSU Women’s Basketball Record Holder
• Jim Perry – Golf and Basketball Coaching Icon/Three-Time State Championship Coach
• Bob Roth – Hillyard Companies President & Chairman/Basketball History Development
• Paul Schoenlaub – Running & Endurance Record Holder
• Ron Selkirk – Tennis Player, Coach and Mentor
• Jennifer Trotter – Missouri Western & MIAA Elite Softball Coach
• 1992, 1993, 1994 – Central High School Boys State Golf Champions (Three-Peat)
• Patty Sutton – Special Olympics Area Athlete of the Year presented by the Hook Family

The induction ceremony will take place on Sunday, August 23, at the Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center, honoring the legacy of Frank O’Malley, a founding figure of the St. Joseph Sports Commission. Esely reflected on O'Malley's contributions, noting he was “its first chairman, put together its first marketing plans and was very instrumental in getting the entity off the ground in 1997.”

Ron Selkirk's family attended the announcement, with his wife, Marilyn, expressing pride in his dedication to tennis. “When I wrote Ron’s obituary, I said he dedicated six decades to the sport he loved, and he did that,” she shared. Inductee Jesse Barbosa, who was present, expressed his gratitude, stating, “It’s just tremendous. I’m deeply honored. It’s just hard to put into words.”

The St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame was established in 2020 to honor individuals and teams that have significantly influenced the sports landscape in Buchanan County. The inaugural class was inducted in September 2021. This year, 46 individual and 10 team nominations were submitted, showcasing the deep talent pool in the community.

Additionally, the Fifth Annual Coach Bill Snyder Woman of Impact Award will be presented, recognizing a female athlete or coach who has made a notable contribution to sports in Buchanan County. The event will kick off with a social hour at 4 p.m., followed by the awards presentation at 5 p.m. Tickets for the ceremony will be available for $25 each starting in late June at stjomosports.com.