The Southwestern track team won a lot of big meets when Wes Busbee was on the squad, but as legendary coach Freeman Marr pointed out, “You could count on Wes to score a lot of points in five events. He was crucial to our winning the meet. Even more important, Wes was a great leader and one of the finest young men ever to run track for Southwestern.”
Wes Busbee was the top point producer for the track team during his junior and senior seasons. In dual meets participants were limited to five events. Had it not been for this rule, Wes could have competed in several more events and won many meets by himself. His teammates recognized his skills and twice selected him as team captain for the 1960 and 1961 track seasons. At the completion of his senior year, Wes received the Gold Award as the Most Valuable Performer on the team. Wes was also a member of the football team his freshman and sophomore year, but a knee injury early in his sophomore year ended his gridiron career prematurely.
Wes was very involved in campus life and received numerous awards as a result of his character, outgoing personality and leadership. He was selected as Mr. Southwestern, as well as King of the April Fool Court in 1961. He also received the Colonial Dames of America Award and was recognized by the Kappa Sigma fraternity national chapeter for his remarkable citizenship. Wes was tapped by Omicron Delta Kappa and was recognized by Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
Wes Busbee joins a select and prestigious group of student-athletes whose picture resides in both the Rhodes student body and athletic halls of fame. For the impact he had on campus life, and the dedication and success he achieved on the track, Rhodes is honored to induct WESTLEY FLOYD BUSBEE, JR. into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame, this 10th day of October, 2003.
