Richard “Dick” Cummins, class of 1947, has been inducted into the Franklin College Athletic Hall of Fame as a player.
Cummins lettered four years in football, serving as the Grizzlies’ captain for two years. He also lettered in basketball and served as the team’s captain for three years.
In addition to athletics, Cummins also served as the president of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, and served on Student Council, the Interfraternity Council and the “F” Men’s Club.
When Cummins graduated in 1947 with a degree in physical education, he began coaching basketball at Bainbridge High School in Putnam County. He went on to teach and coach at Charlottesville High School in Hancock County and Manual High School in Indianapolis.
In the years that he coached, Cummins’ teams won eight invitational tournaments, three sectionals, two county tournaments, one regional, one semi-state, and the afternoon game of the 1961 State Finals.
Cummins coached the famous VanArsdale twins (Dick and Tom), who won the 1961 Trester Award and were voted Indiana’s Co- Mr. Basketball. They went on to illustrious careers at Indiana University and in the National Basketball Association.
After a distinguished 21-year career as a secondary school administrator in the Indianapolis Public Schools, Cummins retired from Northwest High School as vice principal in 1984.
Cummins passed away in 1990, at the age of 67 and is survived by his wife of 42 years, Ann Cummins of Greenwood.
Cummins continues to be honored in many ways. He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and received Franklin College’s Athletic Achievement award in 2002.
In 2004, Manual High School honored him with a dedication naming their gymnasium the Richard C. Cummins Gymnasium.
Becky Buening, class of 1980, has been inducted into the Franklin College Athletic Hall of Fame as a player.
While a student at Franklin College, Buening played volleyball for two years and both basketball and softball for four years. In 1980, she graduated with a B.A. is sociology.
Buening, who played basketball under former head coach and 1990 Franklin College Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Ruth Callon ’52, finished her career as the school’s all-time leader in points (1,124) and rebounds (598). She still ranks in the top 10 in both statistical categories.
Prior to attending Franklin College, she played only volleyball, as the high school she attended did not offer softball or girls’ basketball.
Since graduating from Franklin College, slow-pitch softball has continued to be a large part of Buening’s life. She has played on a variety of co-ed and women’s league teams, playing tournaments in California, North Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia.
In 1983, Buening won the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Women’s Class C National Championship. Furthermore, in 2003, she was named to the All National USSSA Women’s Class D Team.
In addition to playing softball, Buening has also played some very competitive volleyball over the years. Her most memorable seasons were playing on a team that included her six sisters.
Buening recently celebrated 25 years at Kroger Company’s central marketing office, where she is now a senior accountant. Over the course of her career, she has had 16 recorded years of perfect attendance.
Buening is single and lives in Indianapolis. She has two brothers and six sisters, including Jan Buening who attended Franklin College from 1978-81.
Steve Gardner, class of 1987, has been inducted into the Franklin College Athletic Hall of Fame as a player.
While at Franklin College, Gardner played on the golf team, serving as captain both his junior and senior years. He was also named the team’s MVP all four years.
In 1986 and 1987, Gardner was named to the NAIA Academic All-America Golf Team and in 1987 was named to the NAIA All-American Golf Team.
While on campus, Gardner also served as the vice president of the Young Entrepreneur’s Club for three years and founded the Rho Upsilon Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity his junior year. His senior year, Gardner served as the chapter’s president. He was also a resident assistant for three years.
When Gardner graduated from Franklin College in 1987 with a degree in business, he turned to professional golf. He participated in several mini-tours from 1987 to 1990. He later worked in golf research and development for Wilson Sporting Goods from 1990-1993.
After working in a variety of positions with Spalding Sports Worldwide, Gardner accepted a position with Acushnet Company as a Titleist sales representative, covering the Chicago market. In 2000, he was promoted to the San Francisco market as the Titleist Golf Ball sales representative, where he is currently employed.
Gardner lives in San Ramon, Calif., with his wife Sween and their children, Cameron, Madison and Jack.
Scott Roberts, class of 1991, has been inducted into the Franklin College Athletic Hall of Fame as a player.
Roberts was a varsity starter for the Grizzlies all four years. During his college career, Roberts helped orchestrate an era that included an Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference (ICAC) championship in the league’s inaugural season, a four-year team record of 73-35 and a conference record of 28-10.
Roberts was named All-ICAC as a junior. As a senior, he was Conference Co-Player of the Year and honored as NAIA All-District. He concluded his career as Franklin’s career scoring (1,923 points) and rebounding (870) leader.
Roberts graduated from Franklin College in 1991 with a degree in sociology. After graduation, he played basketball overseas in Melbourne, Australia, and Oskarshamn, Sweden from 1992-1994.
When Roberts returned to the State, he served with the Indiana State Police in Merrillville from 1995 to 1997. He then became an agent for the United States Secret Service from 1997 to 2002. While working in the Secret Service, Roberts was stationed in Chicago, Ill., and Palm Springs, Calif. He served on the personal security detail of former President Gerald R. Ford.
Since leaving the Secret Service in 2002, Roberts has lived in Australia with his wife, Kylie (a native of Australia), and their two sons Jackson and Mitchell. Roberts is co-owner of The Hotel Australia.
