Received varsity letters in football, basketball and track

All-State in basketball

Was named Most Valuable Conference basketball player

Participated in basketball at the University of Illinois

Max Baumgardner is graduate of the SHS Class of 1949. During his high school athletic career, Max received 10 varsity letters – two in football, two in track, three in basketball, and three in baseball.

A clever pass receiver and a tough defensive end, Max and his football team went undefeated his senior year.

Finishing first in the 120 high hurdles, at the Twin City Track Meet his senior year, he captured the meet record with a time of 16 seconds. At the Geneseo Relays, Max and his 320 high hurdle shuttle broke the meet record with a time of 43 seconds. The team finished the season with the Conference and District Title.

A prominent pitcher for the varsity baseball team for two years, he maintained a batting average of .438 his senior year. The team was named Conference Champions and had a record of 11-1-2 for the season.

"Old Reliable," as Max fondly dubbed in basketball, ranks as one of the best basketball players to play for Coach Gene Hall. Using his massive height to great advantage, he worked well under the basket for rebounding and tip-ins. The Conference MVP and an All-State basketball member, Max was one of the best centers in the Conference. With his help, the team succeeded in being the first team to qualify for the "Sweet Sixteen" State Finals in Champaign, Ill.

After graduating from SHS in 1949, Max continued his education and basketball career at the University of Illinois. The team proceeded to win the Big Ten Championship in 1951 and 1952 and finished third in the NCAA Tournament in 1951 and 1952, as well.

Upon his college commencement in 1954, he joined the Air Force where he piloted an F-4 Phantom Jet on 100 combat missions over North Vietnam. After serving in the Air Force for a total of 26 years, he retired at the rank of a Colonel in 1980. Moving to Upland, Calif., Max received a job at General Dynamics as a product line manager.

Max Baumgardner passed away on April 20, 1996, following a long battle with cancer. When he was asked about his athletic career shortly before he died, he responded, "My participation in athletics has been directly responsible for what success I made of my life. The one man who made this all possible was the former Sterling High School basketball coach, Gene Hall. Without his continued guidance and encouragement, during my young years, none of this would have been accomplished."