GBHS picks Hall of Fame class

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Lt. Col. Sean M. Murphy

Murphy reported to the Air Force Academy to begin basic cadet training after graduating from GBHS in 1988. He played football the first year and competed in track and field for the next two years. He also continued to maintain an outstanding academic record.

He was an outstanding football and track athlete at Great Bend High School. He received many area regional and state honors in both sports. Sean was voted the outstanding offensive and defensive player of the year his senior year. He also set the school records in the 100 meter, 200 meter and 400 meter dashes. His 100-meter dash record was broken in 2003; however, he still holds the school records in the 200- and 400-meter dashes. He was also the GBHS student body president his senior year. During his high school career, Sean maintained a high level of academic study, graduating in the top 10 percent of his class.

Sean graduated from the Air Force Academy in the spring of 1992 with a degree in civil engineering and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant. He was assigned to flight school at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Okla., where he received his wings in 1993. His first assignment was as a pilot of the C-5 Galaxy, the Air Force’s largest airplane.

Over the next few years he was assigned several top-secret missions around the world (a chronology of his tours of duty and his promotions is listed). He has served in the Air Force for 15 years.

He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in December 1996 and is presently assigned to the 1st Airborne Command Control Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base. His present mission is to provide the president, Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense with an Airborne Survivable Communications Control and Command Operations Center for Directive of U.S. Forces in time of peace and war.

Sean is married to the former Bobbi K. Higgins of Geneseo, and they have two sons, Benjamin and Zane. His parents are Joseph A. and Roma L. Murphy of Great Bend.

Tim Weiser

Weiser graduated from GBHS in 1976, and went on to earn his BS from Emporia State University in 1981 and MS from ESU in 1982.

As deputy commissioner of the Big 12 Conference, Weiser serves as chief operations officer in the day-to-day functions of the Big 12 Conference office, as staff liaison to the Board of Directors, in conjunction with the Big 12 legal counsel, oversees and manages the chief financial officer and corresponding operations, serves as commissioner in the commissioner’s absence and supervises and directs assistant commissioners for football and men’s basketball.

“I know the positions he has held, the committees he has been appointed to and the honors he has received have been highlights for Tim in his athletics career. But I also know he takes the most pride in the work he has done to better the world of college athletics for the student-athlete,” said Dan Beebe, Big 12 commissioner.

“Tim has been successful at every stop through his illustrious career, always working toward developing successful programs and providing excellent facilities but most importantly working for and promoting the student-athlete,” Wetzel said. “Tim has been very influential nationally and with the NCAA in improving programs and developing new innovating ideas. Throughout his career, Tim has always referred to his experiences and the people of Great Bend as the cornerstone of his success and work ethic.”