By Saint Joseph Central Indians
The Hall of Fame was established in 2012 to recognize outstanding achievement by Central High School alumni. It is the ultimate award presented to individuals, coaches and teams that have brought distinction and excellence to Central through their performance during high school and in their careers.
Mr. Harold “Bud” Epps – Class of ’72
While at Central Harold ‘Bud’ Epps served as team student manager and student athletic trainer for basketball, football and wrestling attending Central High School from 1968-1972.
A 1972 graduate, Epps has spent more than 40 years holding the title of Athletic Trainer. His career began when Central Wrestling and Football Coach John Henage got ‘Bud’ enrolled in athletic training summer camps for students through the Cramer Company. Upon graduation he attended Missouri Western State University serving as a student trainer for football. After one year he transferred to the University of Missouri where he was hired as a full time Athletic trainer from 1975 to 1984 for Norm Stewart and the Missouri Tiger basketball team. He also worked closely with Hall of Fame trainer Fred Wappel and the MIZZOU football team as the Assistant Athletic Trainer. During those years he established working relationships with the Kansas City Chiefs trainers and doctors. In 1984, Bud was hired by the Kansas City Chiefs as Assistant Athletic Trainer from 1984-2005 where he has enjoyed 15 winning seasons including 12 playoff games and 4 AFC Division Championships.
Bud was selected to the 1993 Pro Bowl as the athletic trainer and was named the Kansas City Chiefs employee of the year. Along the way he worked with 77 future inductees of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame who were athletes, coaches, administrators or associated directly with Central High School, Mizzou or the Chiefs. His career included NCAA bowl games, NCAA basketball tournaments, NFL American Bowl games and Big Eight Conference championship teams. Additionally, he was among athletic trainers who successfully convinced the Missouri Legislature to require certification and licensure for athletic trainers.
Epps has been a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, a member of the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society, past Chairman of the Missouri State Board of Healing Arts Athletic Training Advisory Committee and part of the Professional Football Athletic Training Staff of the year in 1991. Bud earned Easter Seals State of Missouri Volunteer of the Year in 1986, 1987 and 1993. In 2020 he was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall Of Fame. To this day Bud still works all home games for the Chiefs totaling 39 years of service.
Mr. Brent Filbert – Class of ’80
While at Central Brent Filbert was a 2 sport athlete in Tennis and Basketball from 1976-1980. Filbert found his calling on the Tennis court. One of the most dominant players to ever play for the Central Tennis team, Brent compiled a 138-9 overall record in singles and doubles. He reached the State High School Championship finals twice and was third once. He led his team to two 3rd place and one 4th place finishes at State. Brent won seven District and City Championships in singles and doubles while leading Central to team titles in each of those seven tournaments. Teamed with his brother Brian, the Filbert twins were United States Tennis Association Missouri Valley Sectional doubles finalist and ranked #3 Nationally. Brent earned a tennis scholarship to Ohio University where he set the team record for most wins by a freshman. He later transferred to the University of Missouri on a full scholarship.
On the hardwood, Brent was a 3 year letter winner for the Indians basketball team where he was a two year starter and team captain earning 2nd team All-City. The Indians won the city championship, Leblond Holiday tournament, Blue Springs tournament, District Championship and were ranked as high as 2nd in the State.
Mr. Filbert earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Missouri and a Law Degree from the University of Missouri Kansas City. He served as a Navy JAG officer for 30 years, retiring as a Captain. He is currently a Mizzou Law Professor, Director of the Veterans Law Clinic and partner with Shook, Hardy and Bacon in Kansas City. Brent is the author of Naval Law, a law textbook used at the US Naval Academy.
Mr. Brian Filbert – Class of ’80
While at Central Brian Filbert was also a 2 sport athlete in Tennis and Basketball from 1976-1980. Filbert found his calling on the Tennis court. Brian is considered one of the most dominant players to ever play for the Central Tennis team, he compiled a 139-7 overall record in singles and doubles. He reached the State High School Championship finals three times, once in singles and twice in doubles. Alongside his brother Brent, he led his team to two 3rd place and one 4th place finish at State. Brian won seven District Championships in singles and doubles while again leading CHS to team titles in each of those seven tournaments. Teamed with his brother Brent, the Filbert twins were United States Tennis Association Missouri Valley Sectional doubles finalist, ranked #3 nationally and he was a Bronze medalist at the Olympic Sports Festival. Brian attended the University of Missouri on a full scholarship. He placed second in the Big 8 Conference in singles and third in doubles for the Tigers.
On the hardwood, Brian was a 3 year letter winner for the Indians basketball team where he was a two year starter.
Mr. Filbert earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri Kansas City. He is a retired special agent for the FBI. During his tenure in the FBI he led major investigations into the Attacks of 9/11, Oklahoma City Bombing, the shooting of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. He received numerous commendations for his investigations and convictions of corrupt congressmen, state treasurers, mayors and law enforcement. Post FBI he became a nationally recognized expert in the baking industry in combating terrorist financing, human trafficking and money laundering as the Executive Director for JPMorgan Chase and a Senior Director for Ally Bank.
Mr. George Hayward – Class of ’70
While at Central George Hayward was a two sport athlete in football and baseball from 1966-1970 and earned his stripes officiating in the NFL from 1991-2016. Hayward starred on the Central gridiron earning All-City and All-District honors for the Indians. Upon graduation he took his talents to Missouri Western State College where he played linebacker for the Griffons football team from 1970-1974.
After graduating with a bachelor of science in education from Missouri Western he began officiating bantam rec league and high school football games. It was under the Friday night Lights that Hayward developed a passion for officiating. George moved from Division II to Division I in 1984 when the Big Eight Conference hired him as a line judge, a role that set him on a path toward the NFL.
In 1991, Hayward began his 25-year run as an NFL official, which included 23 playoff games, four conference championship games and the pentacle of them all, Super Bowl XLI (41) in 2007. Hayward worked 425 NFL games before retiring. In all, George spent 42 years running up and down the sidelines as a football official.
Mr. Hayward has been inducted into the Missouri Western State University Hall of Fame (2016), the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame (2017) and most recently the St. Joseph Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.
The 1981 Central High School Lady Indian basketball team created quite a stir in the hallways of CHS. Led by Legendary Coach Mary Kay Hyde, the 1981 team compiled a 27-1 season record – proving to be one of the most successful teams in Central High School history.
1981 was a banner year for the Lady Indians basketball team; Not only did they complete the regular season undefeated at 22-0, they were the #1 ranked team in Class 4 throughout the season. They won their first 26 games, steamrolling their opponents by an average of 28 points per game. Central scored 1,399 points, a 63.6 points per game average, while allowing only 795, a 36.1 points per game.
The Lady Indians were City Champions, District Champions, Sectional Champions and Quarter Final Champions…. earning a trip to the Final Four in Columbia, Missouri. Unfortunately, they suffered their first and only loss of the season, a 60 to 50 heart breaker, to St. Louis Southwest in the semifinals. The next day they bounced back to secure a 3rd place finish over St. Joseph’s Academy by the score of 59 to 50.
Many individual players on the ‘81 team received special recognition during their High School careers. Kathleen Dudley earned All-City, All District, All Metro and 2nd team All-State in 1982. LeeAnn Martins Francis earned All-City (3 yrs), All-District (2yrs), All- Metro (2yrs) and first team All-State honors in 1980 and 1981. Crista Troester earned All-City (4X), All-District (3X), All- Metro (3X), second team All-State in 1980 and first team All-State in 1981 and 1982. Crista was inducted as an individual into the Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2015.
1981 Team members included :
Darcy Ahrens
Lisa Blair Beavers
Jill Collins
Janice Droghei
Kathleen Dudley
Sandy Lincoln
Dana Marriott Browning
LeAnn Martens Francis
Paula Pennell
Sheri Piepergerdes
Brenda Euler Stevens
Crista Troester
Legendary Head Coach – Mary Kay Hyde
and Assistant Coach – Mary Nichols
By Saint Joseph Central Indians