Historic Olympic oak dedication Oct. 12

The Olympic oak tree honoring the gold medal win for two former University of Wichita basketball players and a former coach will be dedicated at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 12, near the Charles Koch Arena ticket office on the Wichita State University campus.

The formal dedication is sponsored by the Wichita State Historic Preservation Committee.

Ted Ayres, WSU vice president and general counsel, will serve as emcee for the ceremony and give a history of the oak. Mike Kennedy, “voice of the Shockers,” will share background information on the 1936 basketball team that helped the United States bring home a gold medal from the Berlin Olympics.

WSU President John Bardo, Donald Gilstrap, dean of University Libraries, and Anne Hassler, director, McPherson Convention and Visitors Bureau, will also give remarks.

The unveiling of the plaque will be followed by a performance of the WSU Alma Mater by vocalist Alyson Holladay. After the ceremony, refreshments will be served in the Koch Arena concourse.

Confirmed guests for the event include Gregg Marshall, head coach of the WSU men’s basketball team, and Jody Adams, head coach of the WSU women’s basketball team.

Rich Hughes, author of the book “Netting Out Basketball 1936” about the gold medal team, will also attend.