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2004 Chandler Sports Hall of Fame Inductees |
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Brenda Arbuckle Brenda was the driving force behind two state championships at Chandler High School. She led the team to 55 straight wins. In addition to excelling at basketball, she also played varsity volleyball. She was named to two Arizona Republic All State teams and was named Player of the Year for volleyball. She attended Oregon State University where she was named to the All PAC 8 Team. |
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Mike Desper Mike Desper coached the girls basketball team at Chandler High School, compiling a record of 187-55. His overall coaching record at all schools was 248-97. He guided the wolves to three state championships and was the Arizona Republic Coach of the Year. He has served on numerous boards, including the Nike High School Advisory Board and the Phoenix Mercury Advisory Board. |
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Zora Folley Zora Folley was a skilled boxer who fought Cassius Clay for the heavyweight title of the world in 1967 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This 6’1” boxer had a professional record of 79 wins and 11 losses (43 of those wins were knockouts). In his 1967 vie for HeavyWeight Champion of the World, Zora lost in the seventh round. |
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Cindy Johnson Cindy was an All State performer in softball, and track and field. She won seven individual state titles in the shot put and discus. She set a national record (since broken) in the discus in 1982 when she threw 176’3”. Cindy attended the University of Southern California on a softball scholarship. |
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Kenneth Knox Ken Knox played football for Chandler High School from 1929 through 1932. As quarterback in 1930 he led Chandler to a co-conference title. In his senior year he scored 105 points (16 touchdowns and 9 PATs) which is still in the top five all time for Chandler High School. He was Chandler High School’s first All State football player. After high school, Ken played football at the University of Arizona where he earned All Border Conference Honors. Ken Knox went on to become a football coach at Chandler High School, a school principal and Superintendent of Schools. |
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Bob Martinez Bob Martinez is a four letter winner in baseball at Chandler High School, and he still has one of the highest batting averages in Arizona History, .659. Bob also played football and basketball. Martinez went on to play baseball at Arizona State University. He has been active in the community and continues to work with Pop Warner and Chandler Youth Baseball. |
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Dave Van Gorder Dave Van Gorder excelled in both basketball and baseball while at Chandler High School, however it was in baseball that he received All State Honors. Out of high school, Dave attended University of Southern California where he earned All-American Honors for the National Champions in 1978. He played professional baseball for 9 years for the Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles. |
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Wardlow Ray One of Chandler’s first three sport stars, Ward participated in football, basketball and track. He was an All State player in basketball. Ward still holds one of the longest interception returns (79 yards) in the football record books. Ward graduated from high school in 1929 and continued raised a family of athletes (grandson Mario Ray inducted into the Chandler Sports Hall of Fame in 2006). |
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Gordon Rule Gordon Rule is one of the biggest athletic stars to come out of Chandler. Gordon was an All State athlete in track, basketball and football. He won several state titles in high hurdles and still holds the record more than 40 years later. During high school, Gordon was the captain of all three teams, as well as co-Valedictorian of the senior class of 1962. He attended Dartmouth College where he attained Honorable Mention All American, as well as All Ivy, All New England and All East First Team selections. He later went on to play professional football for the Green Bay Packers. |
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Clarence Skousen Clarence Skousen played football and basketball for Chandler High School in the early 1920s. He later became head coach of the 1949 Chandler High School state championship football team. He coached at Chandler High School for 8 years compiling a record of 49 wins, 22 losses and 2 ties. His coaching tenure was interrupted for 3 years while Clarence served in WWII. |
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Dale Smith Inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1979, Dale Smith won the title of World Team Roping Champion in 1956 and 1957. In 1959 he went to the National Finals Rodeo in three events- team roping, tie-down and steer roping- becoming the first man in Pro Rodeo history to accomplish that feat. He served as RCA and PRCA president for 16 years, longer than any other person. |
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Bob Tarwater From 1946-1950, Bob Tarwater lettered 13 times while attending Chandler High School. He lettered 4 years in baseball and track, and once in basketball; however he is mostly known for his prowess in football. He received 8 letters in football. He was an integral part in the 1949 state championship team. He scored 120 points, which is still the second most in school history, and is listed among the best in nine categories, including rushing yards, season and career. Bob was also the Student Body President, and an Arizona Republic All State football team member. Bob has remained involved in athletics in Chandler and has been the President of Pop Warner and Chandler Little League. |
| 1949 Chandler High School Football Team Clarence Skousen and Kenneth Knox coached the Chandler Wolves on to the school’s 1st State Championship in any sport. The team outscored their opponents 311 points to 60, on their way to a perfect 10-0 season. Players: Carl Beecroft, Dale Willis, Oscar Delci, Charles Nickell, Everett Worthington, Norman Wooten, Eddie Felix, Billy Brown, John Bear, Steve Fromm, David Altoff, Donald Dees, Ario Pew, Jack Worthington, Arthur Odom, Bob Tarwater, Bernard Barnum, Odis Felkins, Enez Vallejo, Andy Carillo, Louis Baldenegro, Wiley Felkins, Walter Connor, Louis Tarbart, Konrad Monti, Billy Durham, Jack May, Randall Hand, Joe Woods, John Clem, Floyd Johnson, David Hampshire and Rudy Serrano. |
