Karen Gordon

Gordon was a three-sport athlete for Missouri Southern, competing in basketball and softball from 1975-79 and in volleyball in 1975. She was one of two original women’s athletics scholarship recipients, and did not disappoint, as she went on to earn first team All-CSIC honors in basketball. Gordon was voted the basketball team’s MVP and was named to the MAIAW All-Tournament Team.

She earned a bachelor of science degree in education as a health and physical education major in 1979, and at the time of her induction was a teacher and coach in the Springfield (Mo.) School District. There, Gordon taught and coached eighth grade girls’ basketball at Reed Middle School and was assistant basketball and track coach for Hillcrest High School.