Ring of Honor Induction - 2022

Posted Date: 08/09/2022

Doral Grose (December 10, 1906 – June 11, 1986) was Mr. Dodge City!
Born in Dodge City, Kansas, to Harry & Minnie Sturgeon Grose, he graduated from Dodge City Senior High School in 1925. He attended the University of Kansas where he played for the legendary Phog Allen – whose assistant at the time was James Naismith. He graduated from KU in 1931, returning to Dodge City to begin a forty year career in education as a teacher and coach.
Grose was an accomplished student athlete at DCHS. He earned 7-letters in high school; 3-year letterman in basketball, and 2 letters each in football and track. He played quarterback and receiver for the Red Demon Football team for two years – catching the game winning pass against rival Garden City his junior year. He set two school records on the track team – one of which (100 yard dash) was on the books for 43 years before being broken in 1968 – only four years before his retirement! Finally, he was the captain of one of the most accomplished basketball teams in DCHS history his senior year and was named the Most Valuable Player at the state tournament which was played at KU Field House where he would return to play collegiately the following year.
Upon his graduation from Kansas University, Grose returned to Dodge City and began his teaching and coaching career at Dodge City Junior High School. After one year at the junior high, Doral moved on to the high school where he began a long career as influential member of the teaching staff. He was the Head Boys Basketball Coach from 1933 through 1938. He also served as the Head Track Coach, Head Tennis Coach, and Assistant Football Coach. One of his most proud accomplishments was the Allemande Club – a square dance school club he led with an average membership of 170 students each year.
Mr. Grose taught twelve different courses during his tenure at DCHS, and received his Master’s degree from Colorado State College.
Doral Grose married Nina B. Whitwam in 1933, and they raised a son (Gary) and daughter (Judy) in a house they had built on Central Avenue – a house that often welcomed Coach Allen on recruiting trips to western Kansas as they remained life-long friends. Doral’s daughter (Judy) eventually married Dick Masters – who eventually became the all-time winningest football coach in Red Demon Football history.
Of all these accomplishments, Doral Grose may be most remembered for his published work: Golden Jubilee – of Football and Basketball at DCSHS. His second (unpublished) volume of the book has since been compiled by the DCHS Athletic Department and both volumes are being newly released this fall in his honor.