Shelbyville Hall of Fame inductees emphasize themes of appreciation and relationships

The three 2025 Shelbyville High School Alumni Hall of Fame inductees and their representatives waxed nostalgic about their formative years at SHS and recounted special hometown memories during Thursday night’s induction ceremony at the Golden Bear Room and the reception held at the Golden Bears home football game on Friday evening.

Jack Horner (photo, right), Jack Krebs (photo, left), and the family of Willard Kehrt acknowledged the extensive positive impact the school and its staff had on their development and ultimate successes in life.

Recently retired Major Health Partners President, CEO and 1975 Golden Bear graduate Jack Horner spoke about the excellent instruction he received from teachers such as Bill Murphy in math and Louis Kuhn and Lawrence Phillips in English and literature during his time at SHS.

Horner remembered that his SHS teachers were truly concerned with him and his classmates learning.

“Educators help shape character,” declared Horner. “Outside of parents, nothing else does more. Education is the profession that creates all other professions.”

The former MHP executive recalled fun times performing with the school band and countless fond memories with dear friends. He also related a story about how SHS principal George Boyd demonstrated a special sense of faith in him during his first week of high school in the fall of 1971.

“I was falsely accused of pulling a fire alarm which was a major violation,” said Horner. The assistant administrator was dubious about Horner’s defense and the new freshman was about to face serious consequences when principal Boyd inquired about the situation. “He told me he believed me and sent me back to class. Someone believes in you, that makes a big difference in your life.”

Horner stated that the incident from some 54 years ago resonates with him to this day: “I know it made a great difference in my life.”

Horner graduated from the Purdue University School of Pharmacy in 1981 and began his career as a pharmacist at Hook’s Drug Store on South Harrison Street. He joined MHP in 1985 and served as its president and CEO for 17 years. He is credited with creating the vision for the new MHP Medical Center that opened in 2017 and for significantly expanding MHP services throughout the Shelby County community.

Those include the establishment of the MHP Community Health and Wellness Center/YMCA and the Sue Ann Wortman Nephrology Center.

Horner’s achievements have been recognized with: The 2019 Shelby County Senior Services Person of the Year Award, the 2020 Indiana Hospital Association Distinguished Service Award, the 2024 Purdue College of Pharmacy Distinguished Alumni Award and The Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award.

Horner expressed heartfelt appreciation to parents James Sr. and Emma, brothers James, Jr and Bill, and children Allison, Jessica, and John.

Willard Kehrt (photo), SHS class of 1930, was inducted posthumously. Kehrt distinguished himself as one of Indiana’s all-time greatest basketball players and coaches during his long and storied career.

Kehrt was a three-sport standout athlete at both the high school and collegiate levels. He was named one of Shelbyville’s ten best basketball players ever by the Indianapolis Star in 2020.

Kehrt excelled in basketball and baseball at Indiana University. He was awarded the Balfour Award as the basketball team’s most outstanding player in 1935 and the received IU’s Gimbal Mental Attitude Medal as a representative of all IU sports.

He coached Terre Haute Garfield for 26 years and led teams to the Indiana basketball state championship game in 1947 and again in 1963. Kehrt’s team lost to his alma mater in 1947 as Shelbyville claimed the title contest by a 68-58 verdict.

Family member, 1982 Shelbyville graduate and former New Palestine High School boys and girls basketball coach Brian Kehrt accepted on behalf of Willard Kehrt. Brian pointed out that Garfield had an enrollment of around 300 students when Willard coached them to the state final games.

“That’s kind of ‘Hoosiers’ material,” said Brian.

Willard coached three future Olympic gold medalists during his years at Garfield. Clyde Lovelette and Terry Dischinger received gold medals as members of United States Olympics championship basketball teams; Lovelette at the 1952 games in Helsinki and Dischinger at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Greg Bell won a gold medal in the long jump at the Rome Olympics in 1960.

“Those three did special things and you just feel like Willard had his hand on all three of those people,” said Brian.

Lovelette went on to play on three NBA championship teams and Dischinger became a three-time NBA all-star.

Willard Kehrt finished his coaching career with 450 wins and was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1973 (photo).

“As good a player and coach as he was; he was an even better human being,” said Brian.

The younger Kehrt recalled numerous conversations with Willard with some lasting late into the evening. Brian credits Willard with convincing him to become a coach and educator. “I can’t thank him enough for that.”

Willard Kehrt died following an auto accident in 1996 at the age of 84. In addition to Brian Kehrt, Willard was represented at the festivities by additional family members Kehrt Etherton and the Joseph family.

Jack Krebs (photo) has long been regarded as one of Shelbyville High School’s greatest athletes.

“Jack was an inspiration to those of us growing up in the 1950s,” said Reverend Bill Horner who attended the induction. “There were many tremendous athletes and Jack was at the top of the list.”

Jack grew up on the southeast corner of second and Tompkins Streets in Shelbyville. His mother and father operated Krebs Grocery and the family lived above the store.

“Mom was a big Shelbyville sports fan,” said Krebs. “The 1947 basketball team frequently had lunch at the store. I remember after a couple of losses during the championship season; mom gave Bill Garrett a pep talk there in the store. It must have worked because they didn’t lose again that year.”

It would be difficult to imagine any individual fulfilling one’s potential to a greater extent than Krebs. The four-sport Golden Bears star earned the Paul Cross Award for basketball, the Kiwanis Award for football and was the track MVP. He was a key player on the 1958 sectional championship basketball team and twice qualified for the state track meet.

Krebs continued his athletic prowess at Butler University where he played football, basketball and participated in track and field.

He has been inducted into the Butler University Athletic Hall of Fame five times. He was a starting player on undefeated football teams in 1959 and 1961 and a starting guard for the 1962 Bulldogs basketball team that qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

He twice qualified for the NCAA National Track and Field Championships and was named the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce’s 1962 Indianapolis Amateur Athlete of the Year.

The Butler golf team asked him to fill in one day when illness struck and they were short of players. Jack was excused from track practice that day and finished as the medalist for the golf meet.

An 11-inch growth spurt in early adolescence resulted in his losing all his hair. He was subsequently diagnosed with Alopecia totalis (complete loss of hair on the scalp). It was a devastating blow, however he was continually embraced by the SHS community.

“People didn’t know for a long time because I always wore a hat,” said Krebs. “When I started playing in high school and jogged out for warm-ups people would say, ‘Is that Jack Krebs?’”

Krebs graduated from Butler, became a CPA, and settled in the Greenwood area. He was chief accountant and operations manager for Gene Beltz Shadeland Dodge for 37 years. Jack and his wife are active in the Butler alumni community and are members of the Pillar Society (a group that recognizes Butler alumni with more than $100,000 in lifetime contributions to the university).

Jack paid tribute to his wife, Betty, who is currently ill and was unable to make the induction program.

“We began dating in high school,” said Jack. His daughter Courtney and grandson and son-in-law were in attendance.

“I know that my father considers this a huge honor and is extremely thankful,” said Courtney.

Krebs’ high school teammate and fellow SHS Hall of Fame alumnus Gary Long (photo, left) remembers Jack’s remarkable athletic abilities.

“We had some tremendous athletes during that period but Jack stood out,” said Long. “He was the best.”

Shelbyville Central Schools Director of Student Services and SHS Alumni Hall of Fame program coordinator Andy Hensley provided a brief history of the hall of fame and lauded this year’s inductees.

“The SHS Alumni Hall of Fame was created in 2008 to recognize remarkable graduates of Shelbyville High School who have achieved and contributed so much,” said Hensley. “We now have 46 members and this year’s class continues that tradition of excellence.”