Pittsburg State University
Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame

Class of 1996

O. Gene Bicknell
Pittsburg, Kansas
Mertorious Service
O. Gene Bicknell has played a major role in University and athletics fundraising at PSU since 1970 when he helped organize the PSU Alumni Foundation. Bicknell has sponsored an annual charity celebrity golf tournament which benefits the PSU Athletic Department since 1991; and he was the guiding force behind funding for the Gene Bicknell Sports Comple. Additionally, Bicknell has served as chair of the Athletic Advisory Committee and the campaign for Pittsburg State University: the Centennial 2003 Fund.

Ronald Dean Freeman (1978-81)
Boonville, Missouri
Football Athlete
Ronald Dean Freeman was a first-team NAIA All-America defensive lineman at PSU as a senior in 1981. Freeman also was a two-time All-CSIC performer, earning second-team honors in 1980 and first-team accolades in 1981. He recorded 17 quarterback sacks his senior season. Freeman competed in the USFL with the Pittsburgh Maulers and the Orlando Renegades for two seasons (1984-85).

Aaron Lang, Jr. (1981-86)
Coffeyville, Kansas
Track & Field Athlete
Aaron Lang was an 11-time NAIA track & field All-America, competing in individual and relay sprints from 1981-86. Lang placed as high as second individually in the 100 meters in 1985 and was a memeber of PSU's 1985 NAIA National Champion distance medley relay team. He also recorded a total of eight third-place national finishes and one fifth-place national finish during his illustrious career.

Dan E. Thomasson (1982-85)
Wellsville, Kansas
Track & Field Athlete
Dan E. Thomasson was the two-time NAIA National Champion and a four-time NAIA All-America in the javelin. Thomasson placed fifth in the event as a freshman in 1982 and third as a sophomore in 1983, before winning the national title in the javelin in 1984-85. His winning throw of 276 feet, 3.5 inches in 1985 was an NAIA record. Thomasson also was the four-time CSIC champion in the javelin.