Early in the 1970's several dedicated Kansas Shriners began to develop and promote the idea of a joint effort of all 5 Kansas Shrine Centers to produce a high school All-Star Football Game in order to raise funds for, and awareness of Shriners Hospitals for Children. It is interesting to note that the farsighted people developed their plans separately and in completely different cities.
On the 29th day of October, 1973, a representative of each of the Kansas Shrine Centers (J. Willis Toothaker of Hoxie, Robert C. Morrison of Wichita, Ralph Taylor of Pittsburg, William N. Bond of Shawnee Mission, and Jack A. Quinlan of Topeka) met and signed the articles of incorporation forming The Shrine Bowl of Kansas, Inc.
According to the bylaws the Shrine Bowl has two primary functions:
1. The financial aid and support of the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
2. The promotion of Kansas High School sports and the top athletes.
Although developed as an All-Star Football game, patterned after the East/West Shrine Football Classic and the Nebraska Shrine Bowl, the Kansas Shrine Bowl has grown to include an All-State Marching Band, an All-Star Cheer Clinic & Camp, a High School Football Combine & Clinic, and an All-Star Cross Country Race.
Each year the Kansas Shrine Bowl generates over $50,000.00 in profit and has produced six figure profits in several years. It sends 100% of those profits to the hospitals. At least half of the amount sent to the hospitals is used in Kansas for Kansas patients.
Additionally, the Kansas Shrine Bowl produces a first-class, state-wide, family event that brings honor and recognition to game participants, their schools, and their communities.
There are over 2,407 past Kansas Shrine Bowl All-Stars representing 344 different high schools and over 289 different coaches have coached in the game.
Two coaches have coached five times in the Kansas Shrine Bowl game. CJ Hamilton, Silver Lake, coached in 1977, 1985, 1986 (head), 2003 and 2004 (head). Larry Garman, Pittsburg, coached in 1983, 1984 (head), 1989, 1995, and 1996 (head).
The only coach to have led both the east and west squads was Paul Dennis. In 1980 he was the west squad head coach (out of Abilene when it was considered a west school); and in 1989 he was the east head coach (again out of Abilene, but by then the dividing line had been redrawn and was an east school).
And a bit of Shrine Bowl history trivia… In the 1988 Kansas Shrine Bowl the Head Coach for the East, John Garber was also coaching his son, Matt, a 1988 All-Star. The West Head Coach, Roger Barta, also had his son, Brooks, a 1988 All-Star, to coach in that game. A few weeks after that game Matt and Brooks found themselves teammates on the KSU football team. In 2000 Brooks Barta was the head coach of the East Team and in 2008 Matt Garber was the East Head Coach. |