Jerry Adair - Class of 1955

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Kenneth Jerry Adair played for the Sand Springs High School baseball, basketball, and football teams from 1952 through 1955 and is considered to be on the greatest athletes in Sand Springs history. The Jerry Adair Baseball Complex in Sand Springs' River City Parks is named after Adair. Adair lettered three times in football, three times in basketball, and three times in baseball during his high school career.

During his senior year, Adair earned the nickname "Iceman" for his coolness during a football game against Ponca City. Adair was the starting quarterback and PAT kicker for the Sandites and led his team from a 20-0 deficit to a 21-20 victory. 

Adair was selected to the Daily Oklahoman All-State football team, but turned it down because he wanted to make All-State in basketball. He succeeded in making the All-State basketball team and was chosen as the Most Outstanding Player after the '55 All-Star game.

Adair enrolled at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) in 1955 on an athletic scholarship to play both basketball and baseball. At the time, freshmen weren't allowed on the varsity teams. Adair was the second-leading scorer during both his sophomore and junior years on the basketball team.

Adair was the starting shortstop on the '57 and '58 baseball teams and led in batting with a .438 average his junior year. He was the first-ever player from OSU named to the All-Big Eight Team. He was also selected to the All-American Second Team by the ABCA. 

Adair played semi-pro during the summer of '58 for Williston, North Dakota in the Western Canada Baseball League and led the team with a .409 average. He led in home runs and was second in RBI. He also went 3-0 as a pitcher and batted .444 over fourteen playoff games and helped his team win the League title.

Adair signed with the Baltimore Orioles for $40,000 in '58 and made his career debut at shortstop in a 4-3 loss to the Washington Senators. He reportedly had a larger signing offer from the Red Sox, but turned it down.

Adair set a Major League record for second basemen, going 89 games and 458 chances without error from 64-65. 

Dennis Stanford - Class of 1969

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Dennis "Denny" Stanford was the starting center fielder for Charles Page High School from 1967 through 1969 and made the All-State team his senior season. He also played on the 1966 State Championship football team and earned All-Conference and All-State Honors.

Stanford played collegiate baseball at Crowder Junior College where he earned All-District honors in 1970, then played at the University of Tulsa where he earned All-Conference honors in 1972 and 1973. TU won conference championships both years.

Stanford went on to teach science, including twenty years at Union Public Schools where he retired. 

1967-1968 CPHS Basketball Team.

1967 CPHS Football Team.

Richard Luce - Class of 1956

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Richard Luce played baseball, basketball, and football for Sand Springs High School from 1954 through 1956 and made the All-State Team in baseball. Luce was the Senior Class President in 1956 and was a member of Boys' State that year.

During his senior season, Luce batted .412 and once had three home runs in a double-header.

Sandite football went 4-6 his senior season and Sandite basketball went 16-13.

He went on to play baseball for Oklahoma Baptist University from 1957 through 1960 and was named to the Shawnee Oklahoma All-Star team in 1959.

Bill Bigby - Class of 1951

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Bill Bigby's 1951 High School photo.

Bigby's wife accepts an award on his behalf. 

William Dan "Bill" Bigby played baseball, football, and basketball for Sand Springs High School from 1948 through 1951 and was named to the All-State Baseball team. 

Sandite Football went 3-6-1 in the 1950 season.
Sandite Basketball went 22-5 for their second-straight Verdigris Valley Conference Championship in the 1950-1951 season.

After graduating Sand Springs, Bigby attended the University of Oklahoma and married his high school sweet heart, Rosemary Wallace. He paused his education to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and attained the rank of Sergeant, then graduated from the University of Tulsa.

Bigby served the City of Sand Springs as a councilman and Mayor while working for Saint Francis Hospital. He also coached future Sandites in both baseball and basketball. 

Bigby passed away on October 5, 2013. 

Eugene Palmer - Class of 1950

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Eugene Palmer's 1950 yearbook photo.

A member of the Palmer family accepts a plaque on Palmer's behalf.

Eugene Palmer attended Sand Springs High School from 1947 to 1950 and was a talented player on the baseball, football, and basketball teams. In his senior year he received the Apollo Cup and was named Commander Mills Outstanding Player.

He was Co-Captain of the football team from 1949 to 1950 and was named to the All-Conference teams for both football and basketball, and was an All-State Honorable Mention for football. He played halfback for the football team for two years and played three years as a forward for the basketball team.

Sandite Football went 7-4 his senior year, falling in the first round of the playoffs.

Sandite Basketball went undefeated for the Verdigris Valley Conference Championship in the 1949-1950 season and finished with a 27-1-1 record.

Eugene married Mary Rose "Moe Palmer" on November 11, 1950 and had four children: Gary, Pam, Marilyn, and Scott.

Palmer worked at Hoerner Box in Sand Springs, which later became Stone Container, where he retired after 47 years of service.