Springfield in Greene County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Gene Verlon Bess
Photographed By Jason Voigt, April 5, 2021
1. Gene Verlon Bess Marker
Married to Nelda (McCann) Bess on May 27, 1961
Father to Garron, Janell and Brian
Grandfather to Taylor, Kolby, Kiley and Bryelle
1953 graduate of Oak Ridge H.S., where he played all sports
1957 - B.S. degree from Southeast Missouri State University
1974 - Ed.S. degree from Murray State University
Coached H.S. basketball 1957-1969 with a combined record of 250-90 Lesterville HS, MO
1957-59 Anniston HS, MO 1959-64 Oran HS, MO 1964-69
Coached at Three Rivers College, in Poplar Bluff, MO 1970-2016 with a record of 1,231 and 360, winning NJCAA National '79 and '92 championships
All-time winningest college basketball coach
Named NJCAA Coach of the Year, 1979 and 1982
Named Region 16 Coach of the Year 22 times
First college coach to reach 1,000 and 1,200 wins
1983 inductee into Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame
1989 inductee into NJCAA Hall of Fame
2005 inductee - Southeast Missouri Amateur Baseball HOF
2006 inductee into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
2011 inductee into Region 16 Hall of Fame
Received Semoball Lifetime Achievement Award, 2015
Inducted in MO Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, Gary Filbert Lifetime Achievement Award, 2015
Recognized as a
Missouri
this page online
November 2016
Erected 2016 by Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is March 3, 1935.
Location. 37° 7.243′ N, 93° 13.017′ W. Marker is in Springfield, Missouri, in Greene County. Marker can be reached from East Stan Musial Drive south of U.S. 60. Marker is outside the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3861 E Stan Musial Dr, Springfield MO 65809, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Charles Graham "Charlie" Spoonhour (here, next to this marker); Cheryl Burnett (here, next to this marker); Gary R. Pinkel (here, next to this marker); William L. (Bill) Rowe (here, next to this marker); The Catch (here, next to this marker); Dr. Mary Jo Wynn (here, next to this marker); Jerry Hughes (here, next to this marker); Jon Thomas Sundvold (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springfield.
Also see . . . Gene Bess on Wikipedia. (Submitted on May 20, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
Photographed By Jason Voigt, April 5, 2021
2. Gene Verlon Bess Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 117 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 20, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
