Dr. Mary Jo Wynn called Missouri State head volleyball coach Melissa Stokes on Jan. 10 to ask if she would sit at her table during the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies on Jan. 27.
"Of course," Stokes replied. It was yet another opportunity to spend time with her mentor, and she always held dear the special moments she could be in a photo with Wynn and Linda Dollar — a photo that would include the only three volleyball coaches in the program's history dating back to 1958.
"I don't know if you can find another place in the country where you can see only three volleyball coaches in the history of the program together as late as last year," Stokes said. "That was pretty special for those two, in particular, to still be so supportive of me and not only our program."
Related:Mary Jo Wynn — pioneer of women's sports at Missouri State — dies
But there won't be an opportunity to take that photo this year.
Wynn passed away Tuesday. She was 87 years old.
Wynn left an impact on countless women as a trailblazer for women's athletics at Missouri State University.
Wynn, who retired in 1998 after 41 years at the institution formerly known as Southwest Missouri State University, remained a fixture on campus.She was the university's first director of women's athletics in 1975 and finished her career as a senior associate director of athletics.
She was also the first woman to be named a Missouri Sports Legend by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
Cheryl Burnett — the legendaryLady Bears head coach who led then-SMS to the Final Four in 1992 and 2001 — said to understand Wynn's impact, you have to look at all that is offered for women's athletics on campus now and then recall the early 1950s, when Wynn was a student.
"There was nothing for women's athletics when she was a student," said Burnett, who was hired in the mid-1980s and spent 18 years as a coach at the university. ..."She certainly had her fingerprints on, and originated, everything that had to do with women's sports."
Burnett added: "It's really hard to explain Dr. Wynn because there is truly no one like her."
Over the decades, and up until mid-January, Wynn was a constant presence at sporting events. Burnett said student-athletes and coaches marveled at her stamina and love of the university and its teams.
"She was at everything," Burnett said.
Burnett said Wynn worked to help each sport achieve at the highest level possible and was interested in seeing teams celebrated at the national level. "We knew that she was dedicated to the core in support of students and athletic (teams) that were trying to reach the pinnacle."
Current Lady Bears head coach Kellie Harper saw the same thing, and she's trying to make sure her other players see it as well.
Harper said she kept her team updated on Wynn's condition.When she passed, Harper reminded her team what Wynn did for them.
Sports: MSU sends shock waves after dominating Loyola
After all, it's important to understand a school's legacy, according to Harper. It's something the legendary head coach Pat Summitt instilled in her during her playing days at the University of Tennessee.
"To me, someone who didn't work directly with her, but it is reaping the benefits of what she did," Harper said. "I'm so honored to have known her and to be a part of something she had a huge hand in. I think it's really important that everyone here — our student-athletes, especially the women — understand all of this just didn't happen.
"It took pioneers and people pushing and fighting for many years to give us opportunities, and she was one of those pioneers, and we're grateful and thankful for everything she's done for us."
Wynn was also a fighter, according to Lady Bears legend and current assistant coach Jackie Stiles. Seeing that fight helped her in her own recent battle against eye cancer.
"She's been there for me every step of the way," Stiles said. "I saw her Sunday at our home game and saw her in the hospital on Tuesday, which definitely broke my heart. She's been such a rock for me and so many in this community and so many that were in this community."
Stiles said the Lady Bears program wouldn't have made any Final Fours without Wynn's impact.
"It was tough," Stiles said of visiting Wynn in the hospital. "It was so hard to see a strong woman like that, but she's in a better place now and we're definitely going to miss her."
In recent days, Stokes — the MSU volleyball coach — has been finalizing the schedule for the annual Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational the volleyball team hosts every year. She found that ironic.
Stokes also visited Wynn in the hospital. She told her that she loved her while grabbing her by the hand. Wynn opened her eyes and squeezed her hand in Stokes' final moments with her.
Stokes thought of Wynn as almost like a mother in the sense of how she could warm her up with nice greetings and compliments. She'll miss trips to Wynn's lake house, where the two would sometimes sit on the dock for hours.
Stokes is still going to attend the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame induction — and will sit with other women impacted by Wynn such as Burnett and others.
Stokes knows she's going to see Dollar — one of the MSU volleyball program's three head coaches in its history — and it will be difficult to not be able to take the photo of the three.
But it is sure to be a special day to remember someone who made such an impact.
"We three just shared a really special bond," Stokes said. "I don't think Missouri State athletics would be where it's at without the vision and the goals she had."
News-Leader reporter Claudette Riley contributed to this report
Read more:
What we'll remember from 2019's Tournament of Champions
'Unsanitary conditions' alleged at SGF school
Former NBA player Mike Bibby coaches Phoenix school at Tournament of Champions
