KSHSAA
TOPEKA, Kan. - Five individuals have been selected for induction into the Kansas State High School Activities Association Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Awards will be presented during the 2026 season in conjunction with a KSHSAA-sponsored state function/championship, or locally at the inductee's request. The time and location of each induction ceremony will be announced at a later date at www.kshsaa.org.
The Class of 2026 Hall of Fame inductees include:
Richard Bechard, Lenexa - Administrator
In 2021, Richard Bechard became the first Kansan in history to earn the Certified Master Athletic Administrator designation from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA). The NIAAA later inducted Bechard into its hall of fame in 2023. Bechard’s athletic director career began at Stockton High School in 1986 before taking the same role at Holton HS in 1990. Richard oversaw the athletic programs for the Wildcats for 16 years. During that time he was named the District 2 Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Administrator Association (KIAAA) Athletic Director of the Year twice and the KIAAA Athletic Director of the Year in 2003. Bechard served on the KIAAA Board of Directors from 1994-2013. In 2004, he was given the NIAAA State Award of Merit. Bechard’s next stop came in Overland Park where he held the Blue Valley District Athletic Director position from 2006-2014. The NIAAA continued to recognize Bechard's commitment to leadership in 2015 by awarding him the NIAAA Award of Merit - the organization’s highest honor.
Mike Bradley, Wetmore - Student
Mike Bradley was a three-sport standout at Wetmore High School. Just looking at his senior year in 1979, Bradley was an All-State Football selection, Kansas Player of the Year (now Gatorade Player of the Year) in basketball and set the 100, 200 and 400 meter records at the 1A State Track Meet. Bradley led Class 1A in scoring his junior and senior year, averaging 25 points per game and 12 rebounds. Track was his most prolific sport with 14 conference championships and won his first state title in 1978 in the 440-yard dash. In the summer of 1979 at the National Junior Olympics, he ran personal best in the 400 meters of 47.56 seconds, the fastest ever ran by a Kansas high schooler at the time. His athleticism transpired to the college ranks where he competed in three sports at Coffeyville Community College. After transferring to Kansas State, Bradley became a two-time Big 8 Champion and a three-time NCAA All-American in track. Later he became a member of the 1993 Pan American Games team in Caracas, Venezuela where he helped win gold in the 4x400m relay.
Elizabeth “Betsy” Dutton, Sterling - Faculty
Betsy Dutton lead speech, debate and theatre programs at Sterling High School for 41 years before her retirement in 2023. Dutton led her speech teams to 27 KSHSAA State Championships and added seven more debate championships. In 2017, Dutton was inducted into the Kansas Speech Communication Association Hall of Fame. The student impact was immeasurable but if you tried: 106 students medaled in state debate and 345 in competitive forensics including 86 state champions. Dutton started her coaching career while she was still a student at Sterling College where she is now a member of the institution’s Arts Hall of Fame. Dutton’s efforts were honored by the KSHSAA when Sterling High School was named the Performing Arts School of Excellence in 2021. The award recognizes accomplishments in speech, debate, music and theater. The theater at Sterling High School is named the “Betsy Dutton Theatre.”
Bill Johnson, Norton - Faculty
Bill Johnson taught, coached and was an administrator for over 30 years. During his time leading the Norton wrestling program, he was a six-time Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association (KWCA) 3-2-1A Coach of the Year. In 2013 he was named the Kansas Coaches Association Coach of the Year. Johnson was honored twice by the National Wrestling Coaches Association with coach of the year honors in 2017 and 2020. He coached 49 individual state champions and 156 state medalists, while compiling a remarkable career dual record of 256-79. From 2000 until his retirement from coaching in 2021, his teams finished in the top five at the state tournament 19 times including 11 team state titles. Johnson wrestled for Fort Hays State University becoming a three-time All-American and won the 118-pound national championship his senior year. In 2022, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame honored Johnson with the Lifetime of Service to Wrestling award. After his coaching career Johnson became the athletic director at Norton High School until May of 2025.
Barry Sanders, Wichita - Student
From Wichita-North High School to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, Barry Sanders is a Kansas legend. Taking over as the starting running back in game three of his senior season, Sanders finished with 1,417 yards rushing on 139 carries. In 1986 he was named to the All-City Team, Honorable Mention All-American and later the MVP of the Kansas Shrine Bowl. Sanders was a three year participant in football and basketball at Wichita North HS. Football accolades for Sanders after his departure from Wichita are second to none. While at Oklahoma State, Sanders laid claim to the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, and a Unanimous All-American honor. Sanders was the 3rd overall pick in the NFL Draft to the Detroit Lions in 1989. He was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 1994 and 1997 and the league’s Co-Most Valuable Player in 1997. During the 1997 season, Sanders set an NFL record by gaining over 100 yards in 14 consecutive games - totaling 2,053 yards for the season. In 2004, Sanders became the fifth native Kansan to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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The Hall of Fame is housed in the Kansas State High School Activities Association offices, 601 SW Commerce Place in Topeka and is open Monday–Friday during business hours (directions at www.kshsaa.org). The Hall of Fame is also available via the KSHSAA “Gallery of Champions” at http://www.kshsaachamps.org/.
The honorees were chosen from nominations reviewed by a selection committee. To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, an individual must have made an unusually outstanding contribution in interschool activities, either as a student with exceptional talent, or as an adult working with youth (such as an activity coach, director or sponsor, an administrator, an official or a contributor). Hall of Fame inductees may no longer be active in the field for which they are nominated (exception: contributor with over 30 years of outstanding service).
Each year schools and communities throughout Kansas submit many nominations of individuals who have made tremendous contributions in the field of interschool activities. Hall of Fame information is available on the KSHSAA website at www.kshsaa.org. Nomination forms are available by contacting the KSHSAA. Any nominations to be considered for induction in 2027 must be received by or postmarked to the KSHSAA no later than the first business day of November.