Letter To The Editor

PROTECTED CONTENT

If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.

Username

Password

Login

Lost your password?

Username and Password Help

Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.

Email

Submit

← Back

Dear Editor:

 The articles in the February 19 and February 26 editions of the Herald about the 1973-74 championship South Shelby Lady Birds made me want to draw further attention to one member of that team: Nancy Rutter.

As the article said, she went on to play at Mizzou, and, all of these years later, Rutter still has several records on the books there.  Going through the 24/25 Mizzou Basketball Yearbook which I just obtained the other day, I find these records for Rutter.

Individual Game Record: Points Scored on Opponent’s Court:  40, Nancy Rutter at Graceland (January 5, 1977)

Individual Season Records:

Points Scored: In 4th place, 667, Nancy Rutter, 1976-77

Field Goals Made: In 7th place, 228, Nancy Rutter 1976-77

Field Goals Attempted: In 4th place, 535, Nancy Rutter, 1976-77

Free Throws Made: In 1st place, 211, Nancy Rutter, 1976-77.  The 2nd place record is for only 176 free throws.

Free Throws Attempted: In 1st place, 280, Nancy Rutter 1976-77.

Rebounds: In 2nd place, 356, Nancy Rutter, 1976-77 and in 9th place, 274, Nancy Rutter 1977-78.

Rebound Average: In 4th place, 10.2, Nancy Rutter, 1975-76.

Individual Career Records:

Scoring: In 7th place, 1,643, Nancy Rutter, 1974-78

Points Per Game: Tied for 8th place, 15.3, Nancy Rutter 1974-78

Field Goals Made: In 9th place, 581, Nancy Rutter 1975-78

Free Throws Made: Tied for 2nd place, 481, Nancy Rutter, 1974-78

Free Throws Attempted: In 2nd place, 645, Nancy Rutter, 1974-78

Rebounding Average: In 4th place, 8.8, Nancy Rutter, 1974-78

Considering that it has been 47 years since Rutter played at MU, the fact that she still holds so many records is an undeniable testament to her ability.  

 Over 20 years ago, I was wearing an MU sweatshirt and was walking through a park in Minneapolis.  A woman approached, and, I think that she remarked on my MU apparel. Or, she might have even been wearing an MU shirt, too, and we both commented on each other’s shirts.  At any rate, we started talking about Mizzou and Missouri and then it came out that I had gone to North Shelby and she to South Shelby.  Once I heard her name, I remembered her being a star on that SS team and at Mizzou.  So, we were talking about small towns and small schools in northeast Missouri while being in Minneapolis!  I was excited to write home to my folks in Shelbyville and to Ronnie in Columbia that I had run into Nancy Rutter in a park!  It was definitely something “to write home about.”

 Sincerely,

 Jane Ralls

727 Cedar Creek Rd.

Hannibal, MO 63401-7004

573 719 3089