Leading the Way: Famous Kansans

Her first basketball was a stuffed sock. By the time Lynette Woodard was 10, she was in demand as a basketball player. The 5' 11' native of Wichita made her mark in basketball at Wichita North High School, the University of Kansas, as an Olympic gold medal-winning team member, and as the first female Harlem Globetrotter. In 1985 Lynette Woodard was selected by Ms. magazine as one of 12 "Women of the Year."

Willard began his professional life as a farmer in Pottawatomie County. At age 29 he became a professional boxer, losing his first fight. By 1915 he was taking on the world heavyweight champ. Dubbed "The Great White Hope" during this period of open discrimination, Willard beat the champ Jack Johnson, the first African American heavyweight champ. The fight lasted 26 rounds. Four years later Willard was beaten by Jack Dempsey.

Nine-year-old Mike Torrez broke a few car windows as he polished his pitching and hitting skills. His father paid to replace the broken glass and pushed Mike toward his dream of professional baseball. Even before he finished high school in Topeka, Torrez was being courted by the big leagues, yet Torrez put his education first. After graduation he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. Ten years later he won two games in the World Series to help the New York Yankees win the 1977 World Series. During his professional career Torrez played for seven major league teams. His pitching beat every team in both the National and American leagues. Torrez was the first major league pitcher to accomplish this feat.