Delvy Lewis cringes as Ron Paradis gives him a smooch on the cheek Wednesday during the reception before the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Council Hall of Fame
Updated June 23, 2010 at 11:45pm
Delvy Lewis cringes as Ron Paradis gives him a smooch on the cheek Wednesday during the reception before the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Council Hall of Fame
Not only was the former Washburn Rural and Kansas basketball star among the five-member induction class into the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Council Hall of Fame, but Lewis was on hand to accept the honor — a huge victory in itself.
"It's nice to get this while you're alive," said the 66-year-old Lewis, who is fighting a battle with bone marrow cancer. "They gave me three to five years to live and that was seven years ago, so I'm two years on the good side.
"I've had two bone marrow transplants and my numbers are continually rising, but hey, I still play golf."
With the health battles that both Delvy and his wife, Karen, have fought, Lewis said he's increasingly appreciative of all the good things that have come his way, including Wednesday's honor.
"This is really for God's glory because I wouldn't be here," Lewis said. "We're all on borrowed time, we just don't know it."
Lewis was inducted Wednesday night along with North Carolina coaching legend Dean Smith, former Washburn Rural and Kansas State basketball player and Topeka sports personality Ron Paradis, former Seaman and Washburn basketball star Shelley (Foster) Duffey and Topeka West coaching legend Joe Schrag.
Lewis said that it was particularly gratifying to be able to enter the Topeka Shawnee County shrine with former teammate Paradis.
"I don't have any bad things to say about Ron," Lewis said. "He was a fabulous player and made me a better player. It's awesome to be able to go in with Ron."
Lewis was also able to share Wednesday's occasion with his 83-year-old mother, who was in attendance.
"And I have my three daughters here and a lot of friends, so this is fun," Lewis said.
A 1962 Rural grad, Lewis helped the Junior Blues win a state championship in '60 and post a 67-7 record during his three high school seasons. An All-Stater at Rural, Lewis went on to earn All-Big Eight first-team honors his senior year at KU. Lewis served as team captain his senior season.
Paradis, also a '62 Rural grad, was a four-year starter for the Junior Blues, helping Rural win a state title in '60. Paradis was a two-time All-State pick. Paradis is the career leading scorer at Rural with 1,609 points.
Paradis went on to become a three-year letterman at Kansas State and played for the Wildcats in the 1964 Final Four. Paradis was inducted into the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1986 as both a player and as a sportscaster.
Schrag was inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005. He also is a member of the Topeka West Athletic Hall of Fame, the Kansas Relays Hall of Fame and was a recent inductee into the Kansas State High School Activities Association's shrine.
Schrag coached eight state championship teams in track and cross country at Topeka West.
Duffey was an All-State basketball player at Seaman, leading the Vikings to a state championship her senior season. She was a three-time All-American at Washburn and still ranks second on the Lady Blues' career scoring list. Duffey was inducted into the WU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.
A 1949 graduate of Topeka High, Smith is best known for his legendary career as the head basketball coach at North Carolina. Smith coached the Tar Heels to two national championships and 11 appearances in the Final Four. Smith was inducted into the basketball hall of fame in 1983 and coached the USA team to the gold medal in the 1976 Olympics.
Rick Peterson can be reached at (785) 295-1129 or rick.peterson@cjonline.com Topeka Capital-Journal