ELMER SCHAAKE
1911 – 1966
Inducted – 1972

Elmer Schaake was a unanimous All–Big–Six Conference halfback and captain for the 1932 Kansas Jayhawks. As a sophomore in 1930, he started for KU’s conference-champion team in the same backfield with Jim Bausch, Carnie Smith and Ormand Beach. He also started for Kansas University’s Big–Six champion basketball team in 1933. Schaake played one season of professional football in 1933 with the Portsmouth Spartans, which became the Detroit Lions of the National Football League the following year. He went on to coach for 30 years, beginning at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas where he coached from 1934 to 1937. He later spent five years at Lawrence (KS) High School where he compiled a 29–11–4 record and served one year as an assistant for the University of Kansas before moving to California to coach at the college, junior college and high school levels. Born February 7, 1911 – Lawrence, Kansas. Died January 24, 1966 – Burlingame, California. Graduated Lawrence (Kansas) Memorial H.S., 1929; State Teachers College of Central Missouri, 1934.