Emporia State University Athletics

Wayne Goldsmith played football and ran track for Emporia State University between 1938 and 1942.  He was a star in the Hornet backfield as well as the captain of the track team.  Goldsmith lettered in both sports all four years and received many awards for his exceptional athletic abilities, including several all-conference and all-state honors.  Highlights of his athletic career included scoring three touchdowns during the Hornets’ 47-6 trouncing of the College of Emporia in the final meeting between the two intra-city rivals in 1940.  He also held the meet record for the 440-yard high hurdles at the Drake Relays and was selected to play on the Kansas All-Star team coached by the legendary Fran Welch.  Upon his graduation, Goldsmith was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers professional football team, but declined their invitation.