General | 8/2/2016 12:24:00 PM

Columbia, Mo. - On Friday, October 7^th in the Dulany Banquet Hall on the campus of Columbia College, President Dr. Scott Dalrymple, along with Athletic Director Bob Burchard will induct the 14^th class of the Columbia College Athletic Hall of Fame. Dr. Dalrymple officially announced today that the class will include basketball player Khamari Ballard, contributor Walter 'Web' Bixby and the 1989 and 1990 women's softball teams.

Khamari Ballard
Khamari Ballard, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, is the son of Barbara Ballard-Jones. Growing up with four other siblings (Anamarie, Allison, Michael and Samory) competition was a part of his life. Khamari attended Provine High School in Jackson, which boasts one of the most successful basketball programs in the state. During his final three years at Provine, the team played in three straight state championship games, claiming a title in the 1997-98 school year.  That year the group was 37-1 and finished the year ranked No. 25 in the USA Today national poll.

Following graduation Khamari attended the University of West Alabama. He was named Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the D-II Freshman All-America team after averaging 13.6 points per game for the Tigers. He then transferred to Northwest Mississippi College and continued his impressive play. There he averaged 13.3 points and nearly eight assists per game. He was named second-team all-conference for his efforts. 

In 2002, Khamari was recruited to Columbia College and his career continued its impressive trend. As a junior, Ballard played in all 34 games while starting 13. He was the team's leading scorer, averaging 17.2 points per game, while shooting 47 percent from the field and 41 percent from the three-point line. For his efforts Khamari was named American Midwest Conference Newcomer of the Year and a first-team all-conference recipient. The team ended its season with a 25-9 record and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament for the fifth straight season. Ballard was named an NAIA second-team All-American following the year.

The 2003-2004 season would be one to remember, as Khamari helped guide the Cougars to a 32-4 overall record. The team was AMC regular season champion, conference tournament champion and earned another trip to the NAIA National Tournament. Khamari led the Cougars in scoring, averaging 22.6 points per game to go along with 2.2 steals per game. He was named first-team all-conference, AMC Player of the Year and became the first player in program history to garner first-team All-America honors. 

On March 9, 2004, Khamari set the school's single-game scoring record by pouring in 52 points in a 119-45 rout of Harris-Stowe State University. His 52 points broke his own scoring record (47) set earlier in the season against the same opponent. In addition to the single-game scoring record, Ballard currently holds the records for most points in a season (791), most made field goals in a season (280) and highest scoring average (22.6). Even though he only played two seasons with the Cougars, he currently sits seventh on the all-time career scoring list with 1,377 points. 

Ballard graduated from Columbia College in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Following graduation he pursued a professional basketball career, competing in professional leagues in Mexico and the United States. Khamari currently resides in Jackson, Mississippi. 

Walter E. "Web" Bixby III
Walter E. "Web" Bixby III ('82) is the Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman of the Board for Kansas City Life Insurance Company, and President of Old American Insurance Company, a subsidiary. Most recently, Bixby was also appointed to the board of the Kansas City Police Employees' Retirement Systems.

He graduated from Columbia College with a bachelor's degree in business administration and was recently named chair of the Columbia College Board of Trustees. He has been a member of the board since 1991.

Bixby further supports his alma mater as a trustee and director of the J.B. Reynolds Foundation, established in honor of his great-grandfather. Additionally, he has served as national steering committee chair for the Columbia College Tradition Meets Tomorrow campaign, which raised more than $11 million and is a member of the Ivy Chain Circle of the President's Society. He is a dedicated fan of Columbia College sports and has been the team's honorary coach at the NAIA basketball tournament for many years.

Bixby is the son of the late Walter E. Bixby Jr., a college trustee emeritus, and the late Mary Martha Musser Bixby ('51). He is married to Tracy and has two sons, James ('05) and Blake.

1989 Columbia College softball team
The 1989 Columbia College softball team set a standard for excellence that has rarely been duplicated at CC. With a roster comprised mostly of returning players, the Cougars posted an amazing 58-5 record (a .921 winning percentage) on the year. Their incredible season put the Columbia College softball program in the national spotlight as it rose to the top of the NAIA, earning a number 1 national ranking.  The pitching staff, anchored by Wendy Mertz and Julie Siebert, allowed only 48 earned runs on the year.  The duo combined to record 291 strikeouts while only walking 81.  As dominant as the pitching was, the offense was just as impressive.  The Cougars averaged 7 runs per game while batting .335 as a team.  The team was also aggressive on the base paths recording 158 stolen bases in 174 attempts.  The Cougars finished the year with a No. 8 ranking in the NAIA national poll to cap off their stellar season. 
 
The team's tremendous season garnered several individual awards, including seven Show-Me Collegiate All-Conference selections, five Academic All-Conference members, the Show-Me Collegiate Conference Player of the Year award, four first-team All-District 16 members, three NAIA Scholar-Athletes and three NAIA All-Americans.  2007 Hall of Fame inductee Coach Chuck Bobbitt, who helped orchestrate the team's 20 win improvement from the previous year, was tabbed as the Conference Coach of the Year. 
 
The 1989 team included Bianca Adair, Lisa Cook, Darlene Crowder, Carrie Dickhans, Shawn Frantz, Janette Hess, Kristy Jacoby, Melissa Kelpe, Wendy Mertz, Audrey Montooth, Lisa Morgan, Karen Rouse, Angela Schroer, Julie Siebert, Laura Small, Wendy Spratt, Ellen Vanscoy and Laura Williams. The Cougars were coached by Bobbitt, with student assistants Jeff Blechle and Darren Litwin.     
 
1990 Columbia College softball team
The 1990 Columbia College softball team began the year with a sense of unfinished business. After an incredible 1989 season that finished just shy of a national tournament berth, the Cougars were determined to improve their fortunes. With a number of key players returning and an infusion of young talent, the Cougars posted a 46-9 record (an .836 winning percentage) on the year. The team won the Show-Me Collegiate Conference Championship as well as the District 16 title to become the first CC softball team to earn a spot in the NAIA National Tournament. The Cougars would finish the year with a No. 5 ranking in the final NAIA national poll.
 
Leading the way was Coach Chuck Bobbitt, who in his seventh season had built Columbia into a national power. The team's tremendous season garnered several individual awards, including five Show-Me Collegiate All-Conference selections, five Academic All-Conference members, Show-Me Collegiate Conference Player and Coach of the Year awards, four NAIA Scholar-Athletes and three NAIA All-Americans.  Behind her incredible season at the plate, Wendy Spratt became the first softball player named to the NAIA 1^st Team All-American squad.  She batted .480 on the year, a single season record that stood for 21 seasons.  Outfielder Laura Williams (2^nd Team) and pitcher Wendy Mertz (Honorable Mention) were both honored by the NAIA for their outstanding seasons as well.    
 
The 1990 team was made up of three seniors, one junior, five sophomores and four freshmen. Team members included Bianca Adair, Kelly Childs, Melissa Davis, Carrie Dickhans, Kristy Jacoby, Wendy Mertz, Audrey Montooth, Lisa Morgan, Marlesa Perry, Karen Rouse, Wendy Spratt, Laura Williams and Julie Wyrick.  The Cougars were coached by Bobbitt. Melissa Kelpe, Darren Litwin and Dana Pearce served as student assistants, while Amy Kurth served as Athletic Trainer.