09/22/2026
Our founder is a Hall of Famer! 🏆 Congrats to Dean Berry on his induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Every kid who's ever laced up for CYBA owes a piece of that to you, Dean.
🏆 MEET THE CLASS OF 2026: DEAN BERRY 🏆
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is proud to welcome Columbia youth sports leader Dean Berry into the Class of 2026!
In 1992, Berry—owner of Hager Radiator Shop—founded the Columbia Youth Basketball Association to give local children an opportunity to play basketball in a recreational environment.
With support from his wife, Lori, along with Columbia College’s Bob Burchard (MSHOF 2013), Ann Forgy and Lynn Allen, the organization grew from 40 fourth-graders playing in a rented church gym into Mid-Missouri’s premier recreational basketball league.
Today, the league serves more than 1,000 players across 100 teams annually. Its partnerships with Columbia Public Schools, Columbia Parks and Recreation and the Day Dreams Foundation allow games to be played in high school, college and church gyms throughout the city. Berry also created a scholarship program to ensure financial hardship would not prevent children from participating.
Berry stepped aside in 2025 after 33 years of leadership, leaving behind an organization that has helped develop future varsity athletes—and, even more importantly, given generations of children confidence that carries far beyond the court.
Join us in celebrating Dean Berry and his remarkable impact on youth sports at the Columbia Enshrinement!
📅 Sunday, October 25
🥂 Reception at noon | Ceremony at 1 p.m.
📍 Wyndham Executive Center-Columbia Mall
🎟️ Reserve your seat today by visiting the link below!
