Bolivar, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University Athletics is set to celebrate the newest members of the SBU Athletics Hall of Fame this Friday as the 2026 class is officially inducted during Homecoming Weekend.
The 2026 SBU Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place Friday, October 2 at 7 p.m. during the Southwest Baptist Celebration inside Meyer Recital Hall. The ceremony is open to the public, and all SBU alumni, students, faculty, staff, Bearcat fans, and members of the community are welcome to attend and help celebrate this year's class.
The 2026 Hall of Fame class includes Charles "CPat" Taylor, Fred Towns, Christina Zentai, and the 1983-86 Original Football Team. Together, the class represents decades of excellence, leadership, and commitment to Southwest Baptist University.
Taylor served as SBU President from 1996-2018, becoming the longest-serving president in university history. Throughout his 22 years of leadership, he was a tremendous supporter of Bearcat Athletics and played an instrumental role in several projects that continue to impact SBU student-athletes today.
Towns was one of the most dominant men's basketball players in program history from 1974-76. He remains SBU's career leader with 15.9 rebounds per game and ranks second in program history in both career rebounds and scoring average. Towns passed away in 2023 and will be represented by his daughter, Megan Towns.
Zentai was a four-time All-American for SBU women's tennis from 2013-16. She finished her career with a remarkable 90-4 doubles record and 72-7 singles record while helping the Bearcats reach four NCAA Elite Eights, including a Final Four appearance.
The 1983-86 Original Football Team helped lay the foundation for Bearcat Football. Of approximately 150 student-athletes originally recruited to launch the program, 15 remained through the entire four-year journey, helping establish a program built around perseverance, servant leadership, and developing Christian young men through football. This group includes: Steve Sweet, Kyle Reid, Jim Madden, Mark Cutts, Junior Logue, Neil Sharum, Ray Godfrey, Kevin Patterson, Andy Yohn, Mel Mercer, Todd Barnett, Keith Julian, David Angle, Mett Henenberg, Scot Echols, and Doug Lunsford.
The celebration will continue Saturday, October 3, as the Hall of Fame class participates in the SBU Homecoming Parade before being recognized during the Bearcats' Homecoming football game.
SBU Athletics invites everyone to join in celebrating the accomplishments and lasting impact of the 2026 Hall of Fame class Friday night at 7 p.m. in Meyer Recital Hall.
