2007 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

2007 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

Dr. Lafi I. Jafari '67

Biography: Born in Jordan, Jafari attended public school in Ramallah. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at William Penn the fall of 1961 and graduated in 1967. He then attended Iowa State University, earning his M.A. and Ph.D. in education. He taught briefly at Creighton University. Jafari was active in international export, selling his business in 1991, and is now considered one of the largest private home owners in Omaha, Nebraska. He has two grown sons.

Career Achievements: Lafi Jafari was the national champion of Jordan from 1957-60 in track and field and in bicycling. In 1960, he represented Jordan in the Arab Olympic games in Morocco. While at Penn, he participated in track and field as well as cross country. He also competed at the Drake Relays. In 1958, the track program was restarted at Penn and Jafari was challenged to break previous records set by Penn athletes who were Olympic contenders. In 1962, he ran the outdoor mile in 4:26.9 at the Central College Invitational, and his best time in the 880 was 1:59.7 at the Graceland College meet. Jafari was the highest place finisher in track after the program was re-established. An outdoor enthusiast, Lafi has been a member of a bicycling group that has annually biked throughout Europe.

Greg Hafner '73

BIOGRAPHY: Born in Muscatine, Iowa, Hafner attended Louisa-Muscatine High School in Letts, where he participated in football, basketball, track and baseball. Hafner was team quarterback and a linebacker. He graduated in 1969 and started school at William Penn that same year. Following his graduation from Penn in 1973, Hafner coached football at Twin Cedars (Bussey, IA) during the 1973-77 seasons. After a stint in business and a spot on the Penn football coaching staff, Hafner returned to high school coaching at Like City (IA). In the summer of 1979, the family moved to Pittsburg, Kansas. Receiving his master’s degree, Hafner spent the next 26 years in Frontenac (KS) where he taught two years, was principal six years and school superintendent 18 years. Hafner retired in 2006 and moved to Oskaloosa, where he now serves as an assistant coach to his son, Statesmen Head Football Coach Todd Hafner. Hafner and wife, Karen, have been married 26 years and have three sons—Todd, Aaron and Dusty—and six grandchildren.

CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS: Hafter won conference football championships as head coach of Twin Cedars (1977 record 7-2) and at Frontenac (twice). At Pittsburg State, Hafner coached linebackers, working under his former college coach, Ron Randleman, and with college teammate, Bruce Polen. While in college, Hafner was a three year starter at safety and was captain of the 1972 team that went 10-1, won the Iowa Conference and the Boot Hill Bowl in Dodge City, Kansas, beating Emporia State 17-14. During Hafner’s three years as a starter, the Statesmen set an Iowa Conference record that stands today for fewest yards allowed per game. The Statesmen never finished lower than third in team defense and led the league twice. He was twice selected all-conference and twice all-district. During his four years as a Statesmen, Penn compiled a record of 28-10.

Gordon Roth '76

BIOGRAPHY: Born in Wayland, IA, Roth attended WACO High School and after a prep career in all sports attended William Penn beginning in 1972. Roth graduated from Penn in 1976 with a B.A. in economics and business administration and graduated from Drake University with a M.S. in accounting in 1977. Roth started his career in public accounting at Deloitte & Touche in Des Moines (1977-90), and then founded Roth & Company PC, a public accounting firm, in 1990. The firm grew from four to 35 employees in 2000. Roth then joined brother Bryon Roth at Roth Capital Partners, LLC, an investment banking full service-dealer broker with 150 employees in Newport Beach, Ca, in 2000 as company CFO & COO, where he remains. Roth and his wife, Tami, have a nine year old son, Emerson. Roth is or was a member of American Institute of CPAs, Iowa Society of CPAs, former board of trustees member for William Penn University, Iowa Special Olympics, Boys & Girls Club of Central Iowa and the Des Moines Rotary Club. Roth was also a founding partner of the “former” Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League.

CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS: During his four year football career as a defensive back, the Statesmen compiled a record of 35-7-1, won or shared two Iowa Conference titles, played in the Boot Hill Bowl (Penn 17-Emporia State 14), the Poultry Bowl (Penn 7-Guilford 7) and the NAIA playoffs (the lone Penn team to make the NAIA playoffs).

During Roth’s three years as a starter, the Penn defensive team finished first in IIAC team defense every year. Roth was selected all-conference twice and all-NAIA District his senior year.

Mike Barnes '90

BIOGRAPHY: Following his final season of collegiate eligibility, Mike Barnes signed a professional baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1978. Following his release in 1980, Barnes played locally in semi-pro leagues, but suffered a knee injury that ended his career. He served as head baseball coach at Camden Community College two seasons, then returned to William Penn and obtained his degree in 1990. He currently teaches graphic arts at Pennsbury High in Fairless Hills, PA. Barnes has been head bowling coach for 11 years, winning 10 conference titles, and also serves as assistant baseball coach. Barnes and wife, Mary, have been married three years and live in Levittown, PA.

CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS: Barnes was named Iowa Conference MVP in 1977 and 1978. He led the conference in doubles and runs in 1977, runs and stolen bases in 1978 and led the Statesmen to their first IIAC baseball title, ever, in 1978 while batting .400. Barnes was twice named all-district. In 1978 Barnes was signed by Murray Cook, head of the Pirates farm system and sent to Charleston, South Carolina, an “A” ball league. The following year he played at Salem, Virginia where he made the all-star team, batting .301 (second in the league). Barnes was called up to ‘AA’ Buffalo at the end of the season. The following season he played at Buffalo.

Megan Bumann Lehman '01

BIOGRAPHY: Bumann came to William Penn from Ida Grove, IA in 1997, following graduation from Battle Grove-Ida Grove High. Bumann graduated from William Penn in 2001 with a B.A. in accounting and a minor in business administration. Currently employed by the state of Iowa, Bumann, who was married May 19, 2007, to husband Brad, lives on an acreage in Eddyville where she enjoys riding horses, helping her husband farm, playing co-ed volleyball and boating at the lake.

CAREER ACHIVEMENTS: Bumann lettered four times in both volleyball and softball. Relying on a fast ball and pin point control, she had a pitching record of 59-23 in four seasons, was twice All-Iowa Conference, once NCAA All-District, and her senior year was selected as an All-American. Her career statistics would have been higher, but she missed most of her junior year due to injury. Bumann posted an ERA .076 in 1999-2000 and .90 in 2000-01, including a conference ERA of .68. During her four years, she compiled a conference record of 25-13. In 2000-01 Bumann set a school record for career strikeouts with 523. Bumann had eight shutouts her senior year and 14 for her career.