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By GORDON FIEDLER JR.

Salina Journal

The effort to name the Bicentennial Center's basketball court after former Salinan and Division I women's basketball coach Kurt Budke officially can begin its second phase after Salina city commission action Monday.

Commissioners unanimously endorsed the proposal to honor Budke, who died with four others in a plane crash Nov. 17, while on a recruiting trip for his Oklahoma State University's women's basketball team.

Armed with commission approval, Budke's former little league coach Larry Britegam and Mark Chaput, who played on Sacred Heart High School's 1979 state championship basketball team with Budke, now can begin planning a dedication ceremony scheduled for March 24 during the NCJAA Women's Basketball Championship tournament in Salina.

Signature on court

Plans call for the official unveiling of Budke's signature on the court between the third-place game and the championship game.

What's revealed that night will be a temporary decal displaying his signature and the words, "Kurt Budke Court."

The permanent designation will be painted later. Both the decal and the permanent designations will be in two places on the court and will be 12 to 15 feet in length.

"Everything we're doing is by private donation," Chaput said. "There will be zero cost to the taxpayer."

Britegam, president of Sunflower Bank, said the Kurt Budke Court Fund as been established to receive donations, which may be sent to the fund in care of the bank, 2070 S. Ohio.

Britegam estimates the final cost for the court painting, a plaque to be placed in the Bicentennial Center's lobby and other remembrances could cost between $1,000 and $10,000.

"Kurt represented the people of Salina," said Chaput. "He was such a generous man, such a kind man. He represented perfection and bringing out the best in kids."

Budke set scoring and rebounding records during his high school years and continued the superlatives as a coach. In seven years, his Trinity Valley Community College (Texas) teams won four national titles and twice finished runner-up. Budke's junior college coaching record was 273-31, meaning he won about 90 percent of his games.

He coached at Allen County Community College before going to Trinity Valley. From there, he coached at Louisiana Tech University before moving on to coach the women's team at Oklahoma State.

He is believed to be the only Salinan to have coached at the Division I level.

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