Dalhousie’s Golf Pro Jack Connell and a number of southeast Missouri-area athletes, coaches and teams were ushered into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on September 17th.
A crowd of more than 400 turned out for the Cape Girardeau Hall of Fame Luncheon presented by Sterling Bank on Tuesday at the Drury Plaza Hotel & Convention Center.
It marked the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s first induction ceremony in southeast Missouri since 2016.
“We are excited to celebrate so many great sports stories from southeast Missouri,” said CEO & Executive Director Byron Shive, who took over the Hall of Fame’s leadership role in August 2022. “We have honored a number of folks from this part of the state, but we want to be there more regularly. After all, there are so many people and teams in sports from Southeast Missouri who have made an incredible difference as athletes and coaches. We hope the community will join us in making their day special.”
The Class of 2024 features:
- Kerry Robinson – Southeast Missouri State & St. Louis Cardinals
- Jeff Graviett – Baseball & Softball Coach at Notre Dame Regional High School
- Christine Ridenour Boothby – Southeast Missouri State Track & Field Standout
- Brian Jett – Ste. Genevieve High School Cross Country and Track & Field Coach
- Frank Kirchmer – Valle Catholic High School Radio Broadcaster
- Otto Porter, Sr. – Scott County Central High School & Southeast Missouri State Basketball Standout
- Suzanne Beth Scott – Paralympian Swimmer
- Jack Connell – Golf Teaching Professional
- Bill Zoll – Bernie High School Volleyball Coach
- 1996-2004 Farmington High School Boys Wrestling Era
- 1994-1999 Bernie High School Volleyball Era
- Charleston High School Boys Basketball Program
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame preserves and relives historic moments and accomplishments of Missouri’s greatest athletes, coaches and teams and inspires future generations to achieve greatness. Located in Springfield, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that fundraises each year by organizing and hosting nearly 30 statewide events annually.
Jack Connell – Golf Pro
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame has long honored those who work behind the scenes to make their respective sport even better, and among them in golf is Connell. He has worked in the Cape area as a head golf pro since 1979. He was the Head Professional at Cape Girardeau Country Club from 1979-2000, and has been the Director of Golf at Dalhouise Golf Club since 2000. Along the way, he was the assistant coach at Southeast Missouri State University from 2000 to 2004. Connell has been part of the PGA of America Gateway Section for years. He was a non-member head professional from 1975 to 1984, and has been elected member since 1985. He served on the Gateway PGA Board of Directors from 2018 to current. His passion for the game has not been lost on anyone in southeast Missouri, as he was the host professional for numerous United States Golf Association, American Junior Golfers Association, Missouri Golf Association and Gateway Junior Series events. Additionally, he has been the Director of the Connell Golf Schools for more than 45 years. Connell is a 1969 graduate of Meridian (Ill.) High School and a 1973 graduate of Murray State University in Murray, Ky.
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