LINWOOD B. SEXTON
1926 – 2017
Inducted – 2001

One of the first black athletes to compete in the Missouri Valley Conference at a time when racism prevented him from staying in the same motels or sharing meals with his Wichita University teammates, Linwood Sexton fought hatred with dignity and unfairness with grace. His courage in the face of the physical and verbal abuses he absorbed as a star athlete for Wichita U. made Sexton a legend and one of the most loved and respected sports heroes in state history. His magnificence on the fields of play was matched only by his qualities off the field. And Linwood Sexton was a star whose Wichita East High School Aces track team won two KU Relays championships, two state team titles including an undefeated track season in 1944. That year, he won the state meet 100 yard dash with a time of 10.4, the 220 with a time of 22.5 and anchored the winning 880–yard relay. He went on to become a Wichita U. letter-winner in football, basketball and track. Three times Sexton was named All–Missouri Valley first team as a running back. He was ranked among the nation’s leaders in rushing and total offense for three seasons. Sexton’s 1,995 career rushing yards and 2,260 all–purpose yards rank among WSU’s all–time top 10. His number 66 was retired before he graduated from the University and he was a charter inductee to WSU Hall of Fame in 1979. Sexton has spent a lifetime of service to the Wichita community and WSU where he has received numerous honors for his commitments. Numerous scholarships bear his name, he is a past member of the Alumni Association Board of Governors and WSU Board of Trustees and the Kansas Board of Regents. He has received the Alumni Achievement Award, the WSU Board of Trustees Award and numerous other honors for his service to the community. Born April 16, 1926 – Wichita, KS Graduated Wichita East H.S., Wichita (KS), 1944; Wichita University, 1948.

Presented by Larry and Carolyn Williams