Richard Stein
Athlete
Class of 1956
Basketball, Baseball, Track
Rich Stein earned seven varsity letters: three in basketball and baseball and one in track. Due in large part to his efforts, McKendree College won three Prairie College Conference Championships in basketball during Rich’s tenure. He was the sparkplug guard for the 1956 team that played in the Illinois NAIA State Championship Playoffs.
Certainly, Rich had his share of high scoring games, but his forte was always being a great team player. Consistently, Rich played hard and made the clutch shot when it mattered most. His prowess as a free-thrower is also legendary. He once mad over 30 free throws in a row and came within eight shots of the national record!
Additionally, as Rich’s nominator so eloquently proclaimed, Rich Stein’s assets could not always be listed in numbers. Since graduation, Rich continues to use his work ethics and team approach in various aspects of his life. As a teacher and coach with the Pontiac School for 32 years, Rich went out of his way to assist, encourage, and motivate many young boys. He also served as a resource for his community, notably the many times he volunteered with the city of O’Fallon for park projects, science fairs, and other youth events.
