Wade Stinson
A native of Randall, Kan., Wade R. Stinson became KU's Athletics Director on July 1, 1964, succeeding Arthur C. "Dutch" Lonborg. Stinson graduated from KU in January of 1951 with a degree in buisness. After receiving his diploma from Randall Rural High School, Stinson entered the U.S. Army as a 17-year-old enlistee. A year later he was commissioned as a second lieutenant of infantry from Officers Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. Released from the Army during the summer of 1947, he enrolled at Kansas without a scholarship and competed on the freshman football squad at a time when the varsity was Orange Bowl bound. Stinson earned his first letter as a 180-pound halfback in 1949. He became known to his teammates as a "complete player" - one who could do everthing well and was regarded as an exceptional blocker, dependable pass catcher and a speedy, shifty runner. During his senior year in 1950 under the late J.V. Sikes, Stinson rushed for a total of 1,129 yards to set a KU single-season rushing record that stood for 20 years. He finished the season as the No. 5 rusher in the nation. Following his senior campaign he received the Ormand Beach Memorial Trophy, an annual award given to the team's Most Valuable Player as voted by members of the squad. He also was named to the all-conference team and chosen to participate in the North-South Shrine Game. During his reign as Athletics Director, which spanned eight years from 1964-1972, Stinson brought in some of the most successful coaches in Kansas history starting with Pepper Rodgers, who led KU to a Big Eight co-championship and Orange Bowl trip his second year. In basketball, Ted Owens' teams earned five post-season tournament bids and won 20 victories or more five times over a six-year span. In track, Bob Timmons' teams won national championships in indoor and outdoor track while claiming 18 Big Eight titles in cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field. Stinson also upgraded the athletics facilities with several major projects. His first improvement program at the stadium was the addition of 6,500 choice seats on the east side, bringing the seating capacity to 51,500. He also oversaw the installation of Tartan Turf in Memorial Stadium. This was a quarter of a million dollar undertaking that was complete in 1970 and gave the Jayhawks "all-weather" surfaces for both fooball and track. The previous year an eight-lane Tartan track was installed at the stadium. Another of his major projects was the construction of an annex to Allen Fieldhouse for athletics department offices, a weight training facility, film rooms and a lounge. In 1976, Stinson was awarded an NCAA Silver Anniversary Award.  These are awarded to former student-athletes from NCAA member institutions who have achieved personal distinction since their graduation.  It is awarded on the 25th anniversary of the end of the awardees' intercollegiate athletics eligibility.  Stinson married former Virginia Coppedge of Kansas City, also a 1951 graduate. They had three children Wade, David and Nancy.

Teams:
Football 1948
Football 1949
Football 1950

All-Conference
1950 - Football