Hoosier Icon – Kent Benson

 How does a person reach icon status? Why are legends important to our culture and society? 

All cultures have icons, myths, stories, legends, and folklore. They show what groups of people think about the world and how it is perceived.

Regarding becoming an icon - ``It is a combination having to do with their style, makeup, character and performance.” says Jeffrey Wildfogel, a consulting professor of psychology at Stanford. “They are some model of the ideal; something we are supposed to be in our dreams.”

If you grew up in Indiana then it is quite possible that you know the meaning of “Hoosier hysteria.” Most believe Hoosier Hysteria to be the IHSAA basketball tourney at the end of each school year. Over time “Hoosier hysteria” has become the general term used to describe our love for the game of basketball. 

Its hard to drive across this state and not see a basketball goal in a driveway, nailed to a garage or barn, or just standing in the street weighted down with sand bags or cement blocks. 

The birth of Indiana’s passion for basketball can be traced to the game’s inventor himself: Dr. James Naismith. Though he invented the sport in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891, basketball’s inventor noticed how quickly the sport had caught on in Indiana.

Naismith came to Indiana in 1925 to see Indiana’s popular high school tournament. Shortly after, he wrote: “While the game was invented in Massachusetts, basketball really had its origin in Indiana, which remains the center of the sport.”

Like many Indiana kids, I spent most Friday nights in the stands at Richmond Senior High watching one of the greatest students and teachers of the game of basketball coach the Red Devils. That man and eventual legend was Coach Baumgartner. 

Coach Baumgartner was 350-135 all-time in 20 seasons as a head coach with 17 sectional titles, nine regional titles and four North Central Conference titles.

“He put Richmond basketball on the map” said Jan Clark a Richmond sports writer.

Not too many coaches in Indiana wanted to play his teams. … They knew they had their hands full.”

Clark stated “I can recall the packed gyms at the New Castle Fieldhouse of more than 9,000 people to see the regional each year when Richmond would usually have to get past Muncie Central, New Castle or both. And year after year, Baumgartner put them in position to do so. Before he took over, Richmond had won a sectional just three of the previous seven years, but won it in each of Baumgartner’s 12 seasons.”

In 1973 Richmond and Coach Baumgartner had to get past the eventual Mr. Basketball – Kent Benson. 

Kent Benson known as Benny to his friends was one of the best big men in Indiana basketball history. His playing career numbers while at New Castle, he scored 1,496 points and had 1,585 rebounds in 3 varsity years. 

During his senior year, he averaged 27.6 points and nearly 30 rebounds per game on a team that finished 20-5 and reached the regional final. Benson’s season performance won him the 1973 Indiana Mr. Basketball award.

Kent, a 6’10” senior went on to play for another legendary coach. A fellow by the name of Robert Montgomery Knight. In 1975-76 Indiana basketball won 32 games and is the last college team to accomplish this feat. Benson was selected as the 1976 Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA Tournament. On the season, he averaged 17.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and shoot 67.8% from the field.

Kent credits an 8th grade teacher with giving him the advice of his lifetime. Benson calls them the 6 D’s.

Desire

Determination

Dedication

Discipline

Direction

Decision

I had the honor of meeting this “Hoosier legend” at the Christian Center’s 2022 Annual Banquet in Anderson. Kent was humble, gracious, and eloquent as he spoke to a group of like minded Christians that were gathered together to celebrate standouts in their organization. 

As I approached this larger than life and living legend to ask if he would take a picture with a Richmond Red Devil, he booed me but then he put his arm around me as the picture was taken.

Aside from the 6 D’s that have guided Kent’s life he also shared with us one of his favorite Bible passages – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” Ecclesiastes 9:10

I’m thankful to be considered as a leader amongst my peers and grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to meet one of the icons from my childhood.

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