CenterHS 1970 KCMo

04/06/2026

Max Hayes – Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

Categories: Coaches
Year Inducted: 1990
Sports: Basketball
Teams: Center High SchoolUniversity of Kansas
October 8, 1928—February 8, 2024

Max Hayes’ was born on a farm in Smith County, Kansas. He attended Smith Center High School where he starred in track, basketball and football.
As a first-generation college student, Hayes left home to attend college at the University of Kansas in 1947. There, coach Phog Allen (MSHOF 1952) urged him to try out for the football team and gave him a job as a student worker/trainer. Hayes graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and later moved to Goodland, Kansas in 1953 where he taught and coached basketball and football. In 1959, Hayes coached his boys basketball team to their undefeated State Championship. He received the Sam Dubin Award for Outstanding HS Coach in 1959 as the committee also awarded the Outstanding Professional Coach Award to Hank Stram (MSHOF 1996 and 2004). Both Hayes and the team were inducted into the Kansas High School Basketball Hall of Fame.
In 1961, Hayes and his family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, for a position at Center High School, where he taught and coached basketball. In 1964, Max received the Eddie Ryan Award for Coach of the Year. In 1966, he earned a master’s degree in Ed. Admin.
In 1965, Hayes started a Golf program at Center High School. As head coach of the golf teams, they achieved seven Conference Championships (1969,1970,1974,1975 and 1976) and six State Championship Meets. His teams were pitted against area schools like Pembroke Hill Academy, which included Tommy Watson.
The 1976 basketball team proved to be yet another highlight in Hayes’ career. At the State Championship game, his undefeated Center High School basketball team beat the undefeated St. Louis Central High School. Hayes received many awards including Coach of the Year by the Sportswriters-Sportscasters Association of Missouri. Both Hayes and the ’76 Team were inducted into the MO HS Hall of Fame.
Max retired from coaching boys basketball in 1979. He later coached the girls basketball team from 1982 to 1988.
Hayes was also an avid golfer.
After retiring from 35 years of teaching and coaching in 1988, Max decided to join Reece & Nichols as a residential real estate agent and continued this new career for 20 years.

04/01/2024

Classmates, Dennis Matula, passed away in 2022.
Thanks to Diane (Oakley) Northcraft Clark for sending Nan Berry the information to share with us.

Below is the link to Dennis's obituary.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/dennis-matula-obituary?id=36880477

His obit describes his life, and all the good things he did at the end.
RIP, Dennis.

View Dennis Matula's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

02/26/2024

How many classmates remember Heidi, Miss Heibreder, the Art teacher? She only taught at Center Sr our Junior and Senior years. Fifty-three years after graduation we connected and had fun catching up. She had a huge impact on my life and I was surprised when she told me she did not believe she ever made a difference. Would any of you want to get together to surprise her, or to share your fond memories, or funny, meaningful,or art stories with her? Thanks everyone! ~ Marty Wiedenmann Jarvis

02/19/2024

Class of 1970 -

I received word of the passing of long-time high school coach, Max Hayes.
Below is the link to his obituary.

View Max Eugene Hayes's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

11/15/2023

All CHS Class Dinner (every other month)

Upcoming Dinners @ 6pm, food by 6:30

11.17.2023 Guest: Mr. Jim Lemery, a beloved Center North math teacher
1.19.2024

RC's Restaurant
330 E 135th St, Kansas City, MO 64145

RSVP to Lynn (Joseph) Fairbanks (‘69)
913-338-3585

10/21/2023

Nan Berry sent out an email, for those of you who missed it, we lost Cindy (Duffy) Donegan early this year. RIP Cindy.

Celebrate the life of Cynthia Donegan, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of McGilley State Line Chapel.

10/04/2023

September 27th at the Red Door Inn in Lenexa was a Big Hit! If you were there, please share you photos in the comments. Thanks Jackie Norman Arnold for sharing these, and thanks Bob Arnold and Rosie Siler for pulling it all together! ❤️ Nan Berry counted: there were 44 classmates in attendance, along with 17 spouses/guests, some coming as far away as Maryland, Florida, and California.

10/04/2023

09/21/2023

LAST CALL - The Class of 1970 Reunion is only one week away. Please join us:

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH

RED DOOR GRILL, 15918 W. 88th Street, Lenexa, KS

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

$25.00 Per Person - CASH at the door

CASH BAR/HORS D'OEUVRES

Casual Dress

Hope To See You There!

08/25/2023

Many of you may remember Shirley Albright from high school, because she worked in the admn building. She was also Patty’s mom.
RIP sweet Shirley, you were a wonderful lady to all of us.

View Shirley M. Albright's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

06/17/2023

Sad. No, it’s inexcusable.

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