The Three Rivers College Athletic Hall of Fame added a pair of legendary basketball players, its winningest women's sports coach, the man who redefined Rocky Raider as a mascot and one of the top baseball pitchers in program to its membership Friday evening.

Sam Weaver, Stephanie Dorris-Miller, Jack Childress, Jake Baehr and Alan Mahaffey were inducted into TRC's Athletic Hall of Fame in a ceremony at the Westwood Center, within walking distance of the college campus.

Leading the way was Weaver, who spoke last on Friday night. He was the on-the-court leader of the Raiders' 1979 first-ever national championship team, being named Most Valuable Player at the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament — thanks in part to a 34-point performance in Three Rivers’ double-overtime win against Western Texas in the semifinals. That Western Texas squad was coached by legendary coach Nolan Richardson and featured future NBA standout Paul Pressey.

Ironically, Weaver said his road to national tournament MVP began when head coach Gene Bess told him he'd been snubbed for all-conference and all-region honors.

“I was really (ticked) off and I wanted to show people that I could play — and I still wanted to help my teammates to be the best that they could be,” Weaver said. “They were talented, they were tough, they could play, they could do a lot of things — and we continued to work together. … Did I think I was going to make MVP? I didn't even know they didn't had MVP. I was on the sideline celebrating and the guy goes, 'And the MVP of the national tournament 1979 is Sam Weaver!'”

After Three Rivers, Weaver began a long coaching career at Southeast Missouri State University (1981-87), helping SEMO win four regional championships, four conference titles, and finish as the national runner-up in 1986.

Dorris-Miller led off the evening. She was a standout on the Lady Raiders' first-ever NJCAA Tournament team in 1995, earning all-Region XVI honors as she finished her two years at Three Rivers with 921 points and 348 assists. She also had 234 assists as a sophomore, a single-season school record which still stands.

“Thinking back to my time at Three Rivers, I have a whole gamut of emotions,” Dorris-Miller said. “Possibly a little PTSD from some of the trauma I endured in basketball practice, a lot of running. We did a lot of running — and if we weren't running, we were in a defensive stance. … (But) that pain has. subsided and I'm flooded with a lot of wonderful memories. I'm very blessed.”

Dorris-Miller was one of many players to play for Childress, who coached women's basketball, volleyball and softball at Three Rivers between 1990 and 2015. He also was an assistant baseball coach for a time in the 1970s.

As a head coach for Lady Raiders athletics, Childress racked up more than 1,100 career wins, including leading the women's basketball team to two NJCAA Tournament appearances, including a fifth-place finish there in 2004. He coached 10 Three Rivers basketball teams to 20 or more wins and the 2004 team won a school-record 29 games.

Childress also won more than 600 games as a softball coach and served seven seasons as head volleyball coach, winning 123 games at the helm of that program.

“I've had a lot of help with this thing from my daughter (Christa Dupont) and my wife (Linda),” Childress said. “They just took everything that I put down, basically … but they're pretty good. I'm honored to be here with this very talented group of individuals being inducted into 2026 Three Rivers Hall of Fame.

“I want to recognize many blessings God has granted me and the individuals who have supported and mentored me through the years … Gene Bess, (former baseball coaches) Roger Pattillo, Dave Jarvis, Stacey Burkey, (longtime booster) Terry Hicks, Brian Bess, my daughter and my wife. I've been very blessed. Receiving this award (also) means I was blessed with some amazing players, because that's how you win.”

Meanwhile, Mahaffey tossed a pair of no-hitters at Three Rivers and set a school record with a 1.28 earned-run average across 85 2/3 innings over two seasons. He earned all-American honors for the Raiders before going on to pitch for the Arkansas Razorbacks. He was later drafted by the Minnesota Twins and made it to Class AAA in a six-season minor-league career.

Later, Mahaffey coached the Springfield-based Midwest Nationals, where he coached a pair of first-round draft picks and future Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel.

“When I got on campus, I didn't know what to expect for my first practice as a freshman,” Mahaffey said. … (From there) to my sophomore year, throwing two no-hitters and being (named) all-American. It was a wild ride, filled with challenges, growth, moments and lifelong friendships that I'll never forget.”

Baehr was arguably the definitive Rocky Raider, logging 10 years as Three Rivers' mascot between 2003 and 2013 and is known as “The Most Winningest Mascot in Juco History,” given his longevity as Rocky Raider. He also spent a season in Springfield as Louie the Redbird for the Springfield Cardinals in 2008, while continuing to serve as Rocky Raider and finishing his bachelor's degree at Hannibal-Lagrange University.

Baehr also helped train future mascots from 2007-10 while working for the Universal Cheerleading Association, traveling and teaching mascots at Texas A&M, Arkansas and many more Division I programs. He also competed and placed in many UCA national mascot championships.

Baehr also related a story from a Raiders men's basketball postseason game that has inspired him through the years.

“I remember Coach Bess looking at somebody, and he said, 'Son, you need to get humble, and you need to start moving that ball,'” Baehr said. “And I never forgot those words. And so now I get to travel all over the United States and I get to stay humble. I always think to myself, 'What can I do for the person standing in front of me?' So I challenge you here for the rest of your life, 'What can you do for the person standing in front of you?'”

The Hall of Fame ceremony is part of the college's alumni reunion festivities, which wrap up Saturday with the Three Rivers men’s and women’s basketball teams taking on Mineral Area in a pair of key Region XVI contests. The women play at 2 p.m. and the men play at 4 p.m., with Friday's inductees being honored between the women's and men's games. In addition, TRC graduates and former students will receive free admission for these games.

Mike Buhler - Daily American Republic