Angie Halbleib-Murphy’s voice cracked. She knew this was going to be the question that made her tear up.
What has Marian E. Washington meant to you, and how did she exemplify the culture she built in 31 years at Kansas?
“Where does one begin?” Halbleib-Murphy asked.
She paused. Where does one end?
Nearly 30 years ago, Halbleib-Murphy joined Kansas women’s basketball. During her junior year, her parents divorced, and the Middleton, Wis., native had to process this miles away from home. Washington, the longtime head coach for the Jayhawks, checked in every day and called Halbleib-Murphy’s mother to make sure she was OK.
Washington continued to show up — during the bad times and the good. There’s a picture on Halbleib-Murphy’s refrigerator of Washington and her mother at her wedding. Two years ago, Washington was there when Halbleib-Murphy’s mother died after a long period of dealing with cancer. Before Halbleib-Murphy’s mom passed, Washington visited her via video call. Washington called Halbleib-Murphy’s brother to check in with him, too.
This is why Washington, a Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame finalist, should be enshrined, Halbleib-Murphy said. Not just because of Washington’s achievements on the court, but because of how the veteran coach consistently…
