\nPlease join us for our Annual Chamber Dinner. \;
\n\nWe will elect new members to our board of directors\, and honor our Member of the Year and Business of the Year. \; Our keynote speaker this year is Stan Weber. \; \;
\n\nWhat can we learn from sports? Sports can teach us the excitement of competition\, the value of hard work and preparation\, the sting of defeat and the thrill of hard-fought victory.
\n\n\nStan Weber has experienced all of this: As a player\, a commentator and as a dad.
\n\nAs his last child reaches the end of his collegiate athletic career\, Weber recently reflected on the value of athletics &ndash\; not just the lessons for sports\, but lessons for life.
\n\nWeber is a lifelong sports fan. &ldquo\;No one I&rsquo\;ve met yet loved sports as much as I do\,&rdquo\; he said.
\n\nHe couldn&rsquo\;t get enough: &ldquo\;When I was four years old\, I&rsquo\;d be watching games on TV. My friends wanted me to come out and play\, but I&rsquo\;d tell them to wait until halftime.&rdquo\;
\n\nWeber grew up playing multiple sports\, living in the suburbs of west Wichita. He attended school in the nearby rural community of Goddard\, population 5\,084 people. Now\, that&rsquo\;s rural.
\n\nWeber was an outstanding athlete\, named MVP of the Shrine Bowl his senior season. He was even named by the Wichita Eagle as the state&rsquo\;s Male Athlete of the Year. He was recruited elsewhere by future superstar coaches such as Jimmy Johnson and Pat Dye\, but chose Kansas State. He appreciated the whole package of K-State&rsquo\;s sports\, academics&hellip\;and especially the people.
\n\n&ldquo\;I came to K-State because of the people\,&rdquo\; Weber said. &ldquo\;These are true Kansans with a love for each other.&rdquo\;
\n\nHe overcame an injury to win the starting quarterback job in his junior year\, became a team captain and led the team in rushing while earning Academic All-American honors his senior season. He also met his future wife\, K-State cheerleader Nancy Freshnock of Manhattan.
\n\nWeber earned a bachelor&rsquo\;s and master&rsquo\;s degree in accounting and pursued a career in the Kansas City area. Today\, he is president of Tower Properties in Kansas City\, Kansas.
\n\nIn 1987\, Weber got a call from the K-State athletic director asking if he would be a commentator on the K-State sports radio network. &ldquo\;I&rsquo\;m not trained and I&rsquo\;m not sure you want me\, but I do love football\,&rdquo\; he replied.
\n\nIn the broadcast booth\, he joined Mitch Holthus\, who at that time was the Voice of the Wildcats. &ldquo\;Mitch taught me how to do this\,&rdquo\; Weber said.
\n\nIn 2005\, Weber started broadcasting basketball as well. He is now in his 35th year of broadcasting the Wildcats. He has covered more than 425 consecutive games&hellip\;and counting.
\n\nStan and Nancy Weber have four children\, two girls and two boys. &ldquo\;Brittani is our oldest daughter\,&rdquo\; he said. &ldquo\;She was the leader and now she and her husband Tyler have three kids of their own.&rdquo\; Daughter McKenzi played volleyball at K-State.
\n\nThe Weber&rsquo\;s two sons are Stanton and Landry\, both of whom have followed in their father&rsquo\;s footsteps\, playing football and studying accounting at K-State. Stanton became a special teams captain. Landry became a starting wide receiver.
\n\nBack in Stan Weber&rsquo\;s senior season\, he led K-State to a 24-7 win over KU. His boys have continued that tradition as well\, with a combined 11-0 record over the University of Kansas.
\n\nLandry\, the youngest son\, is completing his final year of eligibility as K-State heads to a bowl game. &ldquo\;Whether it&rsquo\;s been football or a dance recital\, it&rsquo\;s been 25-plus years of competition\,&rdquo\; Stan Weber said.
\n\n&ldquo\;I thank God for this opportunity\,&rdquo\; he said. &ldquo\;I understand how hard it is to play at this level. It&rsquo\;s been a great joy. We&rsquo\;ve also taught our kids that there&rsquo\;s a responsibility that goes with it.&rdquo\;
\n\n&ldquo\;I love sports\, not just the competition\, but what it teaches you about life.&rdquo\;
\n\nWhat can we learn from sports? We can learn the importance of hard work\, putting the team first\, persevering through the highs and lows. We commend Stan Weber for making a difference by sharing these experiences with family and with fans. These are lessons for life\, and a legacy.
\n LOCATION:The Fuel House 611 W 2nd Street Bonner Springs\, KS 66012 UID:e.3272.1562 SEQUENCE:3 DTSTAMP:20260411T033642Z URL:http://bsedwks.chambermaster.com/events/details/chamber-annual-dinner-1562 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR