The Richmond Kiwanis Club established a tradition in 1937 that continued on Friday, Feb. 27, when it hosted its annual luncheon for players and coaches from the six Wayne County schools prior to boys sectional action.
During the single-class era, all Wayne County schools were assigned to the same sectional. With the change to class basketball based on enrollment, Wayne County school will be at three different sites. The Richmond Red Devils are assigned to the 4A Greenfield Sectional. Cambridge City Lincoln will host a 1A sectional that includes Seton Catholic, and Hagerstown will host a 2A sectional that includes Centerville and Northeastern.
The players and coaches of each team were introduced before Ray Tolbert, the featured speaker addressed the crowd. Tolbert, a graduate of Anderson Madison Heights High School, where he played for Phil Buck, was named the 1977 Indiana Mr. Basketball after averaging 25.1 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots as a senior.
Tolbert, a member of both the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and the Indiana University Athletic Hall of Fame, went on to play for Bob Knight at Indiana University. He played on the National Invitation Tournament Championship team in 1979 and was the MVP, as well as winning a gold medal in the 1979 Pan Am games.
He played on back-to-back Big 10 championship teams in 1980 and 1981 and was voted IU MVP and Big 10 Player of the Year in 1981. Tolbert helped lead the Hoosiers to the 1981 NCAA National Championship. Tolbert enjoyed a 10-year professional career, including two stints in the NBA.
At 6-foot-9 with a booming voice, Tolbert is an imposing figure who immediately captured attention when he stepped to the microphone. He shared many stories from his playing days and offered advice to the assembled players. Tolbert talked about the adjustments he had to make when he went to Indiana University to play for Bob Knight. He later reaped the rewards with championship rings, a college degree and lifelong memories.
Tolbert wanted to go to UCLA and play for John Wooden, but his parents nixed that idea and he went to Bloomington. Tolbert grew up in a rough area of Anderson, Indiana, but he still remembers the advice his mother gave him to help him overcome the adversity and challenges of his environment: “If you can take it, you can make it,” she said. It is advice he now gives others. He was raised to respect his parents and his coaches and he took academics seriously.
“The more you know, the more you can grow,” he told the players in attendance.
Tolbert also said that while not everyone can be the leading scorer for their team, every player can do things, both offensively and defensively, that helps their team win. Tolbert was also quick to credit his teammates who helped him succeed, reminding the players present that basketball is a team sport.
Tolbert urged each player in attendance to perform as well as they possibly can when the sectional game starts, reminding them that it will be an experience they will never forget. He advised the players not to be afraid to take a good shot. Tolbert made a promise to the players: “I promise you that if you do the best you can and give it your all, win or lose, you will always have the respect of your coaches and teammates and your opponent.”
Tolbert said that in basketball and in life, it is not where you start that is important. It is where you finish. Tolbert’s life story is living proof of the accuracy of his statement.
A version of this article appeared in the March 4 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.