KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Charlie Burri, the "Godfather" of Missouri Western athletics, has been selected for induction to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, announced Missouri Sports Hall of Fame CEO and Executive Director Byron Shive on Thursday.

Burri is one of 19 honorees that will be inducted on Sunday, April 23, at the LEX at Municipal Auditorium. 

A native of St. Joseph, Burri has been a fixture at Missouri Western since 1967, when he was offered the role of athletic director for the new formed college. He also was appointed chair of the physical education department, basketball coach and golf coach.

It was Burri's vision that laid the foundation for Missouri Western athletics today. The most visible reminder of Burri's vision remains in the facilities built under his watch. What was once a hillside with a flat patch of grass at the bottom became Spratt Stadium, home of the Griffons football, soccer, and lacrosse teams and a centerpiece of the longtime training camp site of the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Next up was the construction of the Looney Complex, now the home of the Griffons basketball and volleyball teams. At one point, the NBA's Kansas City Kings even played a game inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.

Facilities were not the only part of Burri's legacy that still makes an impact today – in 1970, Burri formed the Gold Coat Club, which continues to provide vital support for Missouri Western student-athletes.

Along the way, the softball team won a national title, the golf team made several national tournament appearances, and the football team earned bowl victories. He retired in 1984, but has remained a supporter of the Griffons athletic department. He has been inducted into the National Association of College Directors of Athletics Hall of Fame and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.

Upon his retirement, Burri became the first-ever inductee into the Missouri Western Hall of Fame, and served as chair of the Hall of Fame committee until 2012.

Burri graduated from Christian Brothers High School (now Bishop LeBlond High School), the St. Joseph Junior College and Northwest Missouri State University.

Joining Burri at the Kansas City enshrinement on April 23 will be former Kansas City Chiefs President Carl Peterson, who will receive the President's Award, along with Lorenzo Cain (Kansas City Royals); Matt Besler (Sporting KC); Muna Lee (Central HS/LSU/Olympic Track and Field); the Rockhurst HS Football Program; Vic Bonuchi (Excelsior Springs HS Football Coach); Don Edwards (Jefferson HS basketball coach); Blair Kerkhoff (Sportswriter, Kansas City Star); Claude English (Park University); The 2002-10 Archbishop O'Hara High School Volleyball Teams; Tom O'Brien (HS Tennis coach); the 2003 William Jewell College women's soccer team; Karen Schull MacGee (Golf); Larry Lady (Commissioner, Heart of America Athletic Conference); Michael Watson (UMKC); Karen Kornacki (KMBC); the 2007 Benton High School Girls' Basketball state championship team, and the Northeast Nodaway High School Girls Basketball teams from 1973-79 and 1982.

For more information on the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, visit www.mosportshalloffame.com.