The Guilford community celebrated Basketball Legacy Weekend Jan. 30 and 31. Festivities began Friday night when former players Laura Haynes Spainhour ’98 and Elizabeth Parker Haskins ’76 were honored at halftime of the women’s game. Alumni Dan Kuzma ’64, Bob Kauffman ’68, M.L. Carr ’73 and World B. Free ’73 were honored after the men’s game Saturday night, in addition to legendary coach Jack Jensen.

The unveiling of Haskins’ number 22 and Spainhour’s number 33 jerseys celebrated achievement in two different eras, illustrating the success of Guilford women’s athletics over time.

Haskins scored her single-game record 42 points long before women’s sports were added to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). As the second woman ever elected into Guilford’s Athletics Hall of Fame, her record went unmatched until 2005.

“I remember interviewing her during her freshman year,” said Campus Ministries Coordinator Max Carter of Haskins, who went on to become a Dana Scholar. “To watch her flourish both academically and athletically was just a great pleasure.”

Women’s jerseys eventually shed their collars and sleeves in the two decades between Haskins and Spainhour’s careers. And, as female athletics caught up to men’s in social acceptance, Spainhour helped lead the way.

Recognized as the ODAC’s first four-time All-Conference Honoree, Spainhour won two ODAC Player of the Year awards and was Guilford’s first female All-American. Her school record 2,283 career points ranks in the top 10 in NCAA Division III history.

Crossing both generational and gender lines, Legacy Weekend continued Saturday evening as the men defeated Randolph-Macon College.

Fans, friends and family filled the bleachers behind Kuzma, Kauffman, and teammates Free and Carr. Studying each player as the game progressed, you could almost see them on that same court decades earlier.

Kauffman was a model of concentration. Chin in hands and head always on swivel, he engaged in minimal conversation and never lost the play.

Free’s pin-striped zoot suit, checkered tie and bright red corsage maintained the flashy persona he earned as the first-ever rookie to win the Chuck Taylor Award as National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Tournament MVP.

Carr watched as if his own 1973 NAIA championship team was playing. He yelled at bad calls, cheered for good plays and waited in suspense during tense moments. And yet a smile never left his face as he chatted and laughed with old friends.

As the Quakers took victory and first place in the ODAC, it was obvious that something bigger was driving the crowd’s excitement. By the time Dave Odom, former student-athlete and North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame’s newest inductee, took the microphone, fans had pressed to the court’s edge on all sides.

“The great thing about today is that we don’t have to hurry,” said Odom. “Let’s take our time in honoring these amazing individuals and have some fun.”

Jokes and laughter were plentiful, and a sense of pride was palpable. Solidifying the place of each player and Coach Jensen in Guilford athletics history, the ceremonies went beyond these seven individuals and celebrated the accomplishments of teams and communities.

“If you lettered (with one of these players) or played under Coach Jensen, stand up,” said Odom to begin Saturday night’s festivities. “Let’s honor those that helped (as teammates) and have now come to honor them today.”

Each player was joined by friends or family as their number was retired and replica jerseys were hung from the rafters. In addition, the Quakers’ home court was renamed Jack Jensen Court in honor of Guilford’s most decorated coach.

Although the event honored them, each player credited their accomplishments to others: coaches, teammates, professors, family and friends.

After congratulating Coach Palombo and his team on their victory, Kuzma directed the praise for his two All-Carolinas Conference honors and Guilford-record 23 field goals in a single game toward his former coach, Jerry Steele.

“You started it all,” said Kuzma.

A two-time All-American and Guilford’s career points and rebounds record holder, Kauffman credited his time at Guilford for his successful career in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

“Guilford gave me the chance to go ahead and learn and develop,” said Kauffman. “It gave me the opportunity to grow and it’s a very special institution.”

Winner of two NBA titles with the Boston Celtics, Carr wasn’t joined by his family, but instead by best friend and former Guilford teammate Teddy East.

“There wouldn’t be a championship banner if he (Teddy) didn’t get nine steals and 18 rebounds a game,” said Carr of the ’73 NAIA Championship banner hanging near his newly unveiled jersey overhead. “All of those 10 guys should be up there.”

“When I think back of my time at Guilford, I think of all the great teachers and even the great community,” said Carr. “So tonight, I accept this on behalf of all of them.”

Free had Jensen to thank the most and remembered being recruited by Guilford.

“They told my mom, ‘We can’t offer him the big money, but we can offer him an education and a lot of love,'” said Free. “Guilford, you’ve been very good to me and I want to thank you all for this whole honor. Coach (Jensen), I love you.”

Jensen, who won four of Guilford’s five national championships, including their first in any sport, and who was only the second coach ever to win national titles in two sports, was honored last.

“Jack Jensen’s accomplishments as a coach are well documented and it’s obvious why we’re honoring him,” said Kuzma. “But the real reason for this honor is the way he treats people.”