On October 21, 2023 the following were inducted into the Baxter Springs Sports Hall of Fame:

• Don Karnes
• Kelly St. Clair-McAllister
• Brian Taylor
• Brad Smith
• Wayne Metcalf

Don Karnes

Coach Don Karnes taught and coached at Baxter Springs High School for many years. He was a positive influence on hundreds of students, many of whom are community members now serving in our great town! He had a tremendous impact on BHS Athletics over the years as Head Baseball Coach, Head Girl’s Basketball Coach, and through the Field of Dreams non-profit.

He has been married to his wife, Betty for 60 years and has 2 children. Brenda Locke and her husband Tim, and Jeff Karnes, and his wife, Tracy. They have 4 grandchildren, Abigail Deiter, Allison Clendenin, Carly Locke, and Simeon Karnes. Coach Karnes was Head Coach of the Girls Basketball team for 17 years.

During his tenure as head coach the girls averaged winning 16 games a season for all 17 years. They won Sub-State 4 times, Sub-State Runner-Up 3 times, CNC League Champions 5 times, and were Mid-Season Tournament Champions 8 times. This includes 36 CNC Conference players and 4 All-State 4A players, of whom 10 played College Basketball. As Head Baseball Coach FOR 25 years, his overall record was 434 games won to 103 games lost. The boys won 8 CNC League titles, 18 Regional titles, and 5 State Championships. 43 players advanced to College Baseball and 3 advanced to the Professional level. Coach Karnes was State of Kansas 4A Coach of the Year 3 times, 3A State Coach of the Year 1 time, CNC Coach of the Year 3 times, and Joplin Global All-Area Coach of the Year 6 times. He was selected as coach for the East/West All-Star games 4 different years, as well as being selected to attend the ABCA 1997 Regional Coach of the Year Awards Ceremony in San Diego, California.

He was recently inducted into the 2023 Kansas Baseball Association Hall of Fame. As President of the Baxter Springs Field of Dreams Corporation, it was Coach Karnes’ dream and mission to provide the BHS Baseball and Softball teams with a complex of their own. Coach Karnes and his wife donated 12 acres of land and a non-profit organization was formed with other board members in 1999. They held fundraisers and sought donations while so many people worked at the field, donating their time and talents. Coach Karnes’ vision and action for this stadium has resulted in the BHS men and women playing on one of the nicest facilities in the 4-State area. The complex is debt-free and will be the property of USD 508 in 2024.

Kelly St. Clair-McAllister

Kelly St. Clair, a 1986 graduate, was raised in Baxter Springs. She was involved in many activities throughout her high school career. Athletically, she participated in volleyball, track, and softball, but above all, excelled in basketball. Kelly led her team to numerous championships and averaged over 35 points per game her senior year. According to coach Don Karnes, “She literally dominated the area. She was amazing.” Because of that, she was named, “Miss Kansas Basketball Player of the Year in 1986”.

Kelly went on to play one season at the University of Missouri and graduated from the University of Kansas in 1993 with a BS in Pharmacy. In 1995 she was quoted, “I always enjoyed playing. Basketball was just another way for me to get out in the community. And the people here were always very supportive. I still get that warm feeling every time I come home to visit.” She felt so strongly about this, she returned to Baxter Springs in 2015 and opened Monarch Pharmacy as a way to give back to a community that means so much.

Career Total Points 2.203, Rebounds 897, Steals 286, FG 53%, FT 78%, Averaged 25 ppg Honors - Valedictorian BHS Class of 1986, Academic National High School Girls, Basketball All-American 1986, All CNC 4 years, All Area 3 years, All-State 2nd Team - Sophomore, All-State 1st Team - Junior & Senior, All State All Classes - Junior & Senior, KSN Player of the Year, All American Honorable Mention - Junior, Gatorade Circle of Champions Kansas Player of the Year - Senior, and 1986 Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year.

Brian Taylor

Brian Taylor was born on April 4, 1964, to Shel & Carolyn Taylor, and a 1982 graduate of Baxter Springs High School. He was raised in Baxter Springs and had an early interest in baseball and enjoyed his time on teams at the Baxter Springs Little League and later the Babe Ruth field. He was a pitcher and played first base during his Little League years. Brian was always a slugger and a great team player. When you are raised by Sheldon Taylor, who coached many successful Babe Ruth teams, you learn how to affirm your teammates and work as a team player. Starting in Jr. High, Brian showed progress in the high jump, showed a talent for punting the football, and loved playing on the golf team. but excelled on the basketball court.

Brian earned all-state honors in Football, Basketball, and Baseball his senior year, but excelled on the basketball court. He averaged 27 points and 17 rebounds and led his team to a 20-2 record and a trip to the state basketball tournament. At one time, Brian held regional and state records in the high jump. While at BHS, Brian loved sports, but also enjoyed lead roles in the high school musicals directed by Phyllis Abbott. Brian was recruited heavily for college basketball. He played 2 years at Allen County Community College, and the remainder of his college years were spent at Missouri Southern State University. While at MSSU, Taylor played first base for 2 years on the baseball team and also lettered on the Lion basketball team. He earned a degree in Education. The value of teamwork carried on into Brian’s career as a teacher and coach at Carl Junction and Riverton, and later in a successful career in sales with the Fletcher Auto Group. He reluctantly left teaching to provide a living for his three sons. Those three sons, Tucker, Sam, and Ace Taylor are Brian’s strongest legacy. Fred Warden, a former teammate at MSSU had this to say about Brian Taylor, “He was super positive, a high-energy kind of guy. He was the ultimate teammate for sure.” Our family is profoundly grateful that this Hall of Fame has been established. In doing this, our: son, brother, spouse, friend, and dad can live on, because we lost him way too soon.

Brad Smith

Little League State champions 11/12 yr old All Stars 1990, 1991, Senior League State champions, 13 yr old All Stars 1992, State champions 14/15 yr old All Stars 1993, 1994. High School Baseball 1st team all-conference 1994(?), 1995, 1996, 1st team all state 1995, 1996, Top 18 in the state 1996, 1st team all area 1995(?), 1996 Class 4A state tournament 1993 - 3rd place, 1994 - 4th place, 1996 - 2nd place American Legion State Champions Class AA 1995, 1996. Football, 1st team all-conference 1995, 1st team all state 1995, 1st team all area 1995 College - 1997 - Missouri Southern State University, 1998 - Cowley County Community College, 1999-2000 UNC - Charlotte, 1998 Jayhawk East Conference Player of the Year 1998 NJCAA National Champions - Cowley County Community College - Record 54 - 9. The team was inducted into the KS Sports Hall of Fame. Conference USA Newcomer of the year 1999, Professional - Texas Rangers Baseball Club, 2000 - Pulaski Rangers - Rookie league, 2001 - 2007, United States Navy, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom.

Wayne Metcalf

Wayne came to Baxter Springs in 1955 from Crane, Missouri. He attended Barber School in Texas and in December 1955, married Mary. They have 5 children, 10 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. Wayne started volunteering at the Baxter Little League in 1966 and became the League President in 1969.

In 1973, he became Little League District 2 administrator. For the past 63 years, he has been a member of the ‘Chain Gang’ for Baxter High School Football, while serving as the official Scorekeeper for Baxter High School Basketball for 67 years. During that time he has only missed 6 games.