The 2024 Colby Community College Hall of Fame class has been announced and includes softball All-American Lynnette Bohannon, basketball star Curtis Gates, supporters Kenton and Sheila Krehbiel, and former administrator and coach Dr. Gary Schultz.

A reception will be held in their honor beginning at about 5:45 p.m. at the conclusion of the men's basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Colby Event Center. A brief ceremony is also scheduled at halftime of the men's game.

The CCC Alumni Hall of Fame was established in 2012. In June each year, a committee selects individuals or couples who have contributed substantially to the college through personal time, effort and interest, or have contributed significantly to the lives of others after being part of Colby Community College. Previous inductees are listed at www.colbycc.edu/hof.

Lynnette Bohannon

Born and raised in Pueblo, Colo., the late Lynnette “Bo” Bohannon graduated from Pueblo County High School in 1998 after lettering four years in softball. She continued to shine in her time as a Trojan from 1998 to 2000, when she set several season and career school records, many of which still stand today. She capped her sophomore year in 2000 by being named to the Jayhawk Conference, Region VI, and All-America teams.

Bohannon is Colby’s single-season record-holder for hits (99), RBIs (80), and total bases (206). Her eight triples in a season and 13 over a career still rank first.

For several years, her batting average (.455), hits (155), RBIs (105), and runs (100) were the highest marks posted over two seasons.

Upon receiving her associate degree from CCC, she continued her academic and athletic journey in New York at the University at Albany, SUNY. She played softball for the Great Danes for two years while majoring in Spanish and minoring in French.

Bohannon’s adventurous spirit led her to a unique career path after her time in Albany. She obtained her commercial driver’s license (CDL) and worked as an over-the-road truck driver for several years. Her love for travel took her across the country, allowing her to explore new places. During this time, she lived in various cities in Virginia, including Hampton, Norfolk, and Newport News.

After several years on the road, she returned home to Pueblo to be closer to her family. During this time, she pursued a new passion: sign language interpretation. She enrolled at Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs and, in 2015, earned her degree and began working as an interpreter. This role allowed her to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

While Lynnette was deeply involved in her career as an interpreter, she remained connected to her family's excavating business and worked part-time alongside her father, Wick.

In 2020, Lynnette's journey took another meaningful turn as she became a Reiki master. Drawn to holistic healing and the opportunity to help others on a deeper level, she began practicing Reiki at the Pueblo Holistic Wellness Center.

Tragically, Lynnette's vibrant life was cut short when she lost a yearlong battle with cancer on June 5, 2023, at the age of 43. Despite her immense challenges, Lynnette continued approaching life with the same courage, kindness, and sense of humor that had defined her. She will be remembered for her ability to uplift others, unwavering work ethic, and infectious laughter.

 

Curtis Gates

Remembered as one of the greatest to don a Trojans basketball uniform, Curtis Gates captivated fans with his high-flying dunks and scoring ability. Gates, who tragically lost his life in 2001, left an indelible mark on the court that still resonates today.

Known to his friends as “Pearly” Gates for his flashy moves, Gates averaged 39 points a game his senior year at Wells High School in Chicago before joining the Trojans in 1983 under Coach Jack Renkens.

During his freshman campaign, the 6-foot 2 inch, 196-pound Gates put his name atop the Colby record book. In addition to pouring in 808 points that year, he established single-season marks for points in a game with 45 against McCook, most field goals (310), free throws made (188), free throws attempted (275), and dunks (73).

As a sophomore, Gates reset the standard with 81 dunks and broke his single-game record with 46 points against Highland College. He positioned himself to also hold the second spot for points in a season with 721. As a team, the Trojans thrived, finishing with a 28-5 record while averaging 82 points per game.

Gates remains Colby’s career-scoring leader with 1,529 points, 465 more than the next player on the list. 

The prowess of a player at a small northwest Kansas school drew the attention of recruiters across the country. Coach Renkens told the Salina Journal in a Feb. 3, 1985 interview that "more than 50" major college coaches inquired about Gates. After earning his associate degree at Colby, Gates accepted a full-ride scholarship to the University of Central Florida.

Following college, Gates returned to Chicago to care for his family and work at Federal Express. In 1994, he was in the spotlight again when he starred in the critically acclaimed documentary Hoop Dreams, which followed the aspirations of his younger brother, William Gates, and fellow Chicagoan Arthur Agee as they chased their dreams of playing professional basketball.

Curtis's life was cut short when he was shot to death on September 10, 2001, at the age of 36. Despite his untimely passing, his legacy continues.

He is survived by his wife, Beatrice, their three children—Sparkiesha, Curtis Jr., and Jamese—and six grandchildren.

 

Kenton and Sheila Krehbiel

Throughout their lives, the Krehbiels were driven by a desire to serve, lead, and help those around them. Kenton and Sheila (Nonamaker) Krehbiel both attended Brown-Mackie School of Business in Salina, where they began a lifelong partnership, first as students, then as professionals, and later as pillars of their community.

After getting married, Kenton and Sheila were employed at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City. In 1973, they moved to Colby to operate Murphy’s Cafe. Their first interaction with Colby Community College came in 1974 when they purchased an advertisement in the college yearbook, an event that brought the cheerleaders to the cafe for a memorable photograph.

Recipients of the 2004 Colby Community College Honorary Associate Degree in recognition of their service to Northwest Kansas, Kenton and Sheila have impacted the college in multiple ways over five decades. To encourage students’ musical growth, they established the Krehbiel Family Instrumental Band Scholarship in 2014. The couple were foster parents for the men's and women’s basketball teams, forming deep and lasting relationships with student-athletes. Kenton held a position on the Endowment Foundation board before being elected to the CCC Board of Trustees in 1989, where he served until his passing on Nov. 4, 2020. During his tenure, he was essential in hiring three college presidents and expanding the institution’s facilities and services.

Sheila worked for the Prairie Drummer newspaper for three years and later dedicated 35 years to Sunflower Bank, becoming a familiar and trusted face in the Colby business world. Kenton found his niche in public service, working at the Colby Super Market before beginning a long career with the U.S. Postal Service in 1978. In 1997, he was appointed postmaster of Goodland. He assumed the Colby postmaster role in 2004 and held it through his retirement in 2012.

The Krehbiels’ community contributions extended well beyond their professional careers. They were active members of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and Celebration Community Church. For 14 years, they were leaders for the Tumbleweed 4-H Club, fostering a spirit of leadership and service among the youth. Kenton joined the Kiwanis Club in 1974 and held numerous local and state positions. His dedication to the organization was evident in his leadership of various committees, including the Thomas County Junior Miss pageant and the Kiwanis pancake feed, where he became known for making pancakes from scratch using a recipe from Sheila’s mother. His vision and passion were instrumental in growing the Pete Henry Foundation to its current level of success.

Sheila, too, made her mark through involvement with the Genesis-Thomas County Food Pantry, where she has been a board member for 24 years. She has volunteered in the office at Heartland Christian School for three years. In 1990, she helped organize the Prairie Rose Harmony ladies' barbershop chorus, and she remains the only charter member still active, serving as treasurer for over three decades.

Kenton and Sheila raised two daughters, CCC alumnae Sharon and Brenda, who, along with their families, have carried forward their parents' values of service and community. Sharon, with her husband Mike Hansen, resides in Kansas City, Mo., while Brenda and her husband, Adam Inman, live in Manhattan. Kenton and Sheila took great pride in their five grandchildren: Jacob and Caleb Hansen, and Avery, Brady, and Colby Inman.

The Krehbiels embraced the opportunity to travel, not just for leisure but to expand their worldview and enrich their family’s experiences. They attended 14 international Kiwanis conventions, opting to drive across the U.S. rather than fly. As a result, they visited 48 states, explored 38 state capitals, and ventured into Mexico and across Canada.

The family legacy continues to grow. In memory of Kenton, the Kiwanis Club of Thomas County/Colby launched a campaign in 2023 to fundraise for the Kenton Krehbiel Inclusive Playground at Villa High Park in Colby. The plan is to renovate the park equipment to make it accessible for all children.

 

Dr. Gary Schultz

Upon his arrival in 1972, Gary Schultz began a 24-year tenure at CCC that touched many people as a track and cross-country coach and administrator.

Before his roles at Colby, his resume included teaching and coaching, and he led Bucklin and Phillipsburg high schools to their first-ever cross-country state championships.

His Colby teams had several firsts, including the first track win at the Air Force Academy. He also introduced and coached CCC’s first women’s track program in 1974. Forty-eight school records were broken during his tenure, mainly with athletes he recruited from Western Kansas.

In addition to his coaching achievements, Schultz’s work as the financial aid director and dean of students helped elevate CCC until his retirement in 1996. Under his leadership, the college achieved record enrollment, and he oversaw multiple successful accreditation reaffirmations. He presented at several state and national conferences and was a consultant for the North Central Association when he visited several community colleges to assist with the accreditation process.

While president of the Rocky Mountain Financial Aid Administrators, Schultz was a key figure in creating a week-long summer training program for financial aid staff across the U.S. He also was president of the Executive Committee of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and was employed by the U.S. Department of Education to train financial aid professionals.

Schultz was active in Colby's community. He served as president of the Kiwanis Club and Phi Delta Kappa, which presented him with the Outstanding Educator Award. He also took on leadership roles in the Colby Ambassadors and Colby United Methodist Church.

He and his wife, Ronita, have three children: Brad, a sales and management professional; Mark, a Christian music artist and 2021 CCC Hall of Fame inductee; and Susan, a landscape architect. They are proud grandparents to 11 grandchildren. 

After leaving Northwest Kansas, the Schultzes moved to Liberty, Mo., where Gary was vice president of Target Marketing and a graduate school instructor for Baker University.  Following his work with Target, they moved back to Kansas, where they reside in Overland Park.

In retirement, he still rides his bicycle approximately 40 miles a week. He has completed the Bike Across Kansas ten times, the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) five times, and the Bike Tour of Colorado.  He also spends considerable time on the golf course, plus serving as an election supervisor in every election.

Schultz earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Fort Hays State University and a Doctor of Education from Kansas State University. With multiple degrees and various positions throughout his career, the title that still brings him the most pride is "Coach."

"When someone calls me 'Coach,' I usually thank them," he said. "It’s a great title."