Gary Kafer (2022) - Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame

Gary Kafer

Induction:
2022

After winning back-to-back state championships and Texas Relays titles at Gatesville High School, Kafer selected Baylor over the 50 scholarship offers he received as one of the premier high jumpers in the country. As a freshman in 1972, Kafer became the Southwest Conference's first 7-foot high jumper, clearing 7-0 ¼ to win the Fort Worth Coaches Indoor Games.

Kafer cleared the 7-foot mark twice more as a freshman, winning the Texas Relays and Border Olympics, but suffered a knee injury at the conference outdoor meet that year at Arkansas and never got to that height again. Still, he came back to win the SWC Outdoor title as a senior in 1975 with a mark of 6-9 ¼, before returning to Gatesville as a track and girls' basketball coach.