Prior to tomorrow night's Homecoming game with Excelsior Springs the Harrisonville Wildcats Football program will announce its inaugural Harrisonville Wildcats Football Hall of Fame Class of 2015. Five members were selected with the honor by earning 80% or higher vote from a 7 person Hall of Fame Committee. This years class is as follows:
Hugh Dunn
Hugh Dunn graduated from Harrisonville High School in 1940. During his days at Harrisonville he ran track and played football from 1937-1939. Upon graduation he would attend Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri beginning in 1941. He would play one season before WWII began. At that time he would put his college career on hold to join the U.S. Army. While in the service he was twice wounded in battle losing a portion of his hand and lower arm. He would receive the Purple Heart with cluster and the Silver Star Medal in 1945. Upon being honorably discharged in 1945 Hugh would return to Missouri Valley College to resume his academic and athletic career. Despite his wartime injuries he would play in the backfield at running back, blocking back and quarterback for the Vikings, leading the team to four undefeated seasons, a 41 game winning streak, and two bowl game victories. He was awarded the Williamson Trophy as the Most Valuable Small College Player in the country in 1947.
Upon graduation he attended the University of Missouri-Columbia to pursue his masters in education. He would then begin a teaching and coaching career in football and track at Macon, Missouri that would last over 40 years. Hugh would end his football coaching career at Macon High School with a record of (234-148-15), six league championships with four playoff appearances. In 1971 Macon High School would name the football field in his honor. In 1972 Hugh was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame, 1974 into the Missouri Valley College Hall of Fame, 1992 into the Missouri Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, 1999 into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, and 2008 into the Harrisonville High School Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame.
Luke Scavuzzo
Luke Scavuzzo graduated from Harrisonville in 1945. He played running back for the Wildcats from 1941-1944. Upon graduation Luke would play football for one season at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He would then join the U.S. Navy for two years from 1946-1948. After returning from the service he would enroll at Missouri Valley College and play football from 1948-1950. During his time on the football team Luke would play guard for the Vikings. The 1948 team that he was a member of would win the Small College National Championship. The 1948 and 1949 teams that he played on were conference champions, and he was named 1st Team All-Conference Guard in 1950. Teams that Luke played on at Missouri Valley College were part of a 41 game winning streak from 1941-1948. He along with those teams were inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
After graduation Luke returned to Harrisonville to work in the family grocery business. His first year back in town he would also help as an unpaid assistant coach (the 1st assistant coach ever) on the Harrisonville High School undefeated (10-0) Mineral Water Bowl Championship team. He would also spend several years doing scouting for the Harrisonville Wildcats football program.
Luke would retire in 1994 as the President and Chairman of the Board of Scavuzzo's Corporation. In 1994 he was inducted into the Missouri Valley College Hall of Fame, and in 2010 he was inducted into the Harrisonville High School Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame.
Gene Roll
Gene Roll graduated from Harrisonville in 1953. He was a member of the 1951 Mineral Water Bowl Championship team. He played on teams at Harrisonville that were a part of a 40 game winning streak from 1950-1954 season's (the longest in the State of Missouri at the time). In 1953 Gene Roll was the winner of the Brutus Hamilton Award for the Outstanding Harrisonville High School athlete.
He would attend the University of Missouri-Columbia on a football scholarship from 1953-1957. Gene would start at fullback for 3 years for the Tigers. He was a 4 year letter man at MU, and was the leading ground gainer in 1955. He was awarded the "Outstanding Back Award" by the MU Quarterback Club for his performance that season. In 1958 he would join the Marine Corps. where he would play football and win 4 national service championships.
After his military service Gene would go on to work 28 years at Union Carbide Corporation, and 10 years at Rohne Ploulenc Ag Company. Gene Roll is a 2007 inductee into the Harrisonville High School Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame.
Robin Wright
Robin Wright graduated from Harrisonville in 1953. He was a member of the 1951 Mineral Water Bowl Championship team. Robin would score both of Harrisonville's touchdowns in a 14-13 win against Higginsville during the Mineral Water Bowl game. He was on teams at Harrisonville that were a part of a 40 game winning streak from 1950-1954 season's (the longest in the State of Missouri at the time). Robin was named to the 1952 Missouri Sportswriters/Sportscasters All-State Team as a 1st Team Back during his senior season. He is the first player in the programs history to honored with the 1st Team designation.
He attended the University of Missouri-Columbia on a football scholarship from 1953-1957. Robin then served in the U.S. Army from 1957-1961 where he quarterbacked two Army National Championship teams. After his military career he would graduate from the University of Missouri in 1961.
Robin would go on to work 37 years for the Ward Paper Box Company with the final 16 years as President of the company. He is the son of Glenn Wright who played 12 years as a Major League Baseball player, then was a coach, manager and scout.
Kelly Donohoe
Kelly Donohoe graduated from Harrisonville High School in 1986. Kelly was a 4 year letterman for the Wildcats, and found playing time at quarterback as a freshman. During his 4 years at HHS he would lead his teams to a 38-7 record from (1982-1985). Teams that Kelly played on would qualify for the state playoff 3 out of 4 seasons, (1983 Class 3A State Runners-up, 1984 Class 4A Semifinalist & 1985 Class 4A District Playoff Qualifiers). During his high school career he completed 321 of 591 passes attempted for a 55% completion rate. He would pass for 4,324 yards and 35 touchdowns for a 13.5 yards per pass average.
Kelly was heavily recruited by several Division I college programs including, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Missouri, U.S. Air Force Academy and Alabama. He would eventually choose the University of Kansas. Kelly would play for the Jayhawks from (1986-1989). During his time at KU the teams he played on had a record of 9-34-1. Kelly would pass for 5,382 yards while at Kansas. He still holds the record for the longest completed pass from scrimmage for a touchdown hooking up with Willie Vaughn in 1987 for a 98 yard strike.
After his playing days Kelly Donohoe has gone on to become one of the most successful high school football coaches in the state of Missouri at Blue Springs High School. He has been the head coach of the Wildcats for 16 years, winning three Class 6 State Championships (2003, 2012, 2013), and State Runners-up in (2009).
Here is a list of Kelly's awards and accomplishments for the Harrisonville Wildcats football program:
1983 West Central All-Conference 1st Team Quarterback
1983 Class 3A All-District 1st Team Quarterback
1983 Class 3A Missouri Sportswriters/Sportscasters All-State 2nd Team Quarterback
1984 Team Awards Top Offensive Player
1984 West Central All-Conference 1st Team Quarterback
1984 Class 4A All-District 1st Team Quarterback
1985 Team Awards Team Captain
1985 Team Awards Offensive Player of the Year
1985 West Central All-Conference 1st Team Quarterback
1985 Class 4A All-District 1st Team Quarterback
1985 Class 4A Missouri Sportswriters/Sportscasters All-State 1st Team Quarterback
Hugh Dunn
Hugh Dunn graduated from Harrisonville High School in 1940. During his days at Harrisonville he ran track and played football from 1937-1939. Upon graduation he would attend Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri beginning in 1941. He would play one season before WWII began. At that time he would put his college career on hold to join the U.S. Army. While in the service he was twice wounded in battle losing a portion of his hand and lower arm. He would receive the Purple Heart with cluster and the Silver Star Medal in 1945. Upon being honorably discharged in 1945 Hugh would return to Missouri Valley College to resume his academic and athletic career. Despite his wartime injuries he would play in the backfield at running back, blocking back and quarterback for the Vikings, leading the team to four undefeated seasons, a 41 game winning streak, and two bowl game victories. He was awarded the Williamson Trophy as the Most Valuable Small College Player in the country in 1947.
Upon graduation he attended the University of Missouri-Columbia to pursue his masters in education. He would then begin a teaching and coaching career in football and track at Macon, Missouri that would last over 40 years. Hugh would end his football coaching career at Macon High School with a record of (234-148-15), six league championships with four playoff appearances. In 1971 Macon High School would name the football field in his honor. In 1972 Hugh was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame, 1974 into the Missouri Valley College Hall of Fame, 1992 into the Missouri Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, 1999 into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, and 2008 into the Harrisonville High School Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame.
Luke Scavuzzo
Luke Scavuzzo graduated from Harrisonville in 1945. He played running back for the Wildcats from 1941-1944. Upon graduation Luke would play football for one season at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He would then join the U.S. Navy for two years from 1946-1948. After returning from the service he would enroll at Missouri Valley College and play football from 1948-1950. During his time on the football team Luke would play guard for the Vikings. The 1948 team that he was a member of would win the Small College National Championship. The 1948 and 1949 teams that he played on were conference champions, and he was named 1st Team All-Conference Guard in 1950. Teams that Luke played on at Missouri Valley College were part of a 41 game winning streak from 1941-1948. He along with those teams were inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
After graduation Luke returned to Harrisonville to work in the family grocery business. His first year back in town he would also help as an unpaid assistant coach (the 1st assistant coach ever) on the Harrisonville High School undefeated (10-0) Mineral Water Bowl Championship team. He would also spend several years doing scouting for the Harrisonville Wildcats football program.
Luke would retire in 1994 as the President and Chairman of the Board of Scavuzzo's Corporation. In 1994 he was inducted into the Missouri Valley College Hall of Fame, and in 2010 he was inducted into the Harrisonville High School Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame.
Gene Roll
Gene Roll graduated from Harrisonville in 1953. He was a member of the 1951 Mineral Water Bowl Championship team. He played on teams at Harrisonville that were a part of a 40 game winning streak from 1950-1954 season's (the longest in the State of Missouri at the time). In 1953 Gene Roll was the winner of the Brutus Hamilton Award for the Outstanding Harrisonville High School athlete.
He would attend the University of Missouri-Columbia on a football scholarship from 1953-1957. Gene would start at fullback for 3 years for the Tigers. He was a 4 year letter man at MU, and was the leading ground gainer in 1955. He was awarded the "Outstanding Back Award" by the MU Quarterback Club for his performance that season. In 1958 he would join the Marine Corps. where he would play football and win 4 national service championships.
After his military service Gene would go on to work 28 years at Union Carbide Corporation, and 10 years at Rohne Ploulenc Ag Company. Gene Roll is a 2007 inductee into the Harrisonville High School Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame.
Robin Wright
Robin Wright graduated from Harrisonville in 1953. He was a member of the 1951 Mineral Water Bowl Championship team. Robin would score both of Harrisonville's touchdowns in a 14-13 win against Higginsville during the Mineral Water Bowl game. He was on teams at Harrisonville that were a part of a 40 game winning streak from 1950-1954 season's (the longest in the State of Missouri at the time). Robin was named to the 1952 Missouri Sportswriters/Sportscasters All-State Team as a 1st Team Back during his senior season. He is the first player in the programs history to honored with the 1st Team designation.
He attended the University of Missouri-Columbia on a football scholarship from 1953-1957. Robin then served in the U.S. Army from 1957-1961 where he quarterbacked two Army National Championship teams. After his military career he would graduate from the University of Missouri in 1961.
Robin would go on to work 37 years for the Ward Paper Box Company with the final 16 years as President of the company. He is the son of Glenn Wright who played 12 years as a Major League Baseball player, then was a coach, manager and scout.
Kelly Donohoe
Kelly Donohoe graduated from Harrisonville High School in 1986. Kelly was a 4 year letterman for the Wildcats, and found playing time at quarterback as a freshman. During his 4 years at HHS he would lead his teams to a 38-7 record from (1982-1985). Teams that Kelly played on would qualify for the state playoff 3 out of 4 seasons, (1983 Class 3A State Runners-up, 1984 Class 4A Semifinalist & 1985 Class 4A District Playoff Qualifiers). During his high school career he completed 321 of 591 passes attempted for a 55% completion rate. He would pass for 4,324 yards and 35 touchdowns for a 13.5 yards per pass average.
Kelly was heavily recruited by several Division I college programs including, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Missouri, U.S. Air Force Academy and Alabama. He would eventually choose the University of Kansas. Kelly would play for the Jayhawks from (1986-1989). During his time at KU the teams he played on had a record of 9-34-1. Kelly would pass for 5,382 yards while at Kansas. He still holds the record for the longest completed pass from scrimmage for a touchdown hooking up with Willie Vaughn in 1987 for a 98 yard strike.
After his playing days Kelly Donohoe has gone on to become one of the most successful high school football coaches in the state of Missouri at Blue Springs High School. He has been the head coach of the Wildcats for 16 years, winning three Class 6 State Championships (2003, 2012, 2013), and State Runners-up in (2009).
Here is a list of Kelly's awards and accomplishments for the Harrisonville Wildcats football program:
1983 West Central All-Conference 1st Team Quarterback
1983 Class 3A All-District 1st Team Quarterback
1983 Class 3A Missouri Sportswriters/Sportscasters All-State 2nd Team Quarterback
1984 Team Awards Top Offensive Player
1984 West Central All-Conference 1st Team Quarterback
1984 Class 4A All-District 1st Team Quarterback
1985 Team Awards Team Captain
1985 Team Awards Offensive Player of the Year
1985 West Central All-Conference 1st Team Quarterback
1985 Class 4A All-District 1st Team Quarterback
1985 Class 4A Missouri Sportswriters/Sportscasters All-State 1st Team Quarterback
