Highland Community College Athletic Hall of Fame
Inducted August 29, 1998
Dean Barber, a sophomore from Highland, Kansas, had an outstanding record with the Scotties last year. Dean, a chunky 190 lbs., has the natural physical build and instincts for a truly great guard. Add to this his keen desire and enthusiasm, and you have one of the Scotties' great linemen. He is outstanding in all departments," stated the 1956 HCC Football Press Guide. Dean was a stalwart member of the 1956 undefeated football team, that was the Interstate Conference Champions, and nationally ranked in the NJCAA polls. Coach Roger Grunwald used these phrases to describe Dean's play, "a stand-out defensively; keys Highland's stellar line; quick, strong, and agile defender; and usually is on the bottom of every tackling pile". Dean's great desire and love of competition in the game of football contributed to his being named All Conference First Team in the Interstate Conference. Dean continued to be a no nonsense guy who dealt with people straight as long as they dealt him straight. He helped a countless number of students with a job or loan based simply on the promise of its return. Coaches with fund raisers always received Dean's sponsorship or donation. Student athletes always had a fan as Dean quizzed them about a game.
