Pittsburg State University
Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame

Class of 1997

Gene Irvin
Adrian, Missouri
Meritorious Service
Gene Irvin has played a major role in the University athletics fundraising at PSU since the early 1970s. Irvin has served as Chairman of the PSU Foundation, Chairman of the annual Football Letterman's Golf Tournament and has served on the Athletic Advisory Council since its inception. He was a four-year football letterwinner (1956-59) and was a member of the Gorillas' first undefeated NAIA National Championship squad in 1957.

Al & Lottie Kendall
Pittsburg, Kansas
Meritorious Service
Long-time University employees, Al and Lottie Kendall were regarded as a second set of parents by numerous Gorilla student-athletes for nearly a half-century. Their level of support and ability to make student-athletes feel at home were unprecedented. The couple owned and operated a grocery and sandwich store from 1929-57 on the site where Hughes Hall now stands. The couple also was responsible for numerous in-kind gifts to the University and PSU Athletics throughout the years.

Gene Stegeman (1984-87)
Overland Park, Kansas
Football Athlete
Gene Stegeman was a second-team NAIA All-America quarterback as a senior in 1987. Stegeman also was a three-time All-CSIC selection, earning second-team honors in 1985 and first-team accolades his final two years (1986-87). He rushed for 1,517 yards and 37 touchdowns, recording the highest rushing total for a PSU quarterback at the time. Stegeman also passed for 2,157 yards and 20 TDs and posted a 30-4-0 record as the Gorillas' starting quarterback.

Monte Weathers (1984-87)
Riverton, Kansas
Football Athlete
Monte Weathers was a two-time All-America running back for the Gorillas. Weathers earned first-team NAIA All-America honors as a senior in 1987, after earning honorable mention All-America recognition on the Associated Press Little All-America team in 1986. He also was a four-time All-CSIC performer, earning second-team honors in 1984, honorable mention honors in 1985 and first-team notation in 1986-87. Weathers rushed for 3,192 yards on just 335 attempts, averaging an amazing 9.53 yards per carry for his career. He also was a three-time NAIA All-America in track & field and was a member of PSU's 1987 NAIA National Championship 4x100m relay team.