Niobrara County School District Hall of Fame, Class of 2024

ALUMNI HALL OF FAME, CASEY FOSHER

The Fosher name is well-known and long respected in Niobrara County, but Casey raised it to new prominence during his time at Niobrara County High School in the late 1990s. His athletic talent was apparent early. As a freshman on the 1997 state runner-up football team, he helped usher in the Golden Era of Lusk’s dominance in Class 2A.

He earned a white letter in three sports. He led the Tigers to two state championships in football (1999 and 2000) and two 2A state runner-ups in basketball (1997-98 and 2000-01) and track and field (2001). He was part of the 2001 state champion 4x400m relay team and set a school record in the 110m hurdles.

Casey was a finalist for the Milward Simpson Athlete of the Year in 2001. He played in the 2001 Shrine Bowl. He was the only athlete selected to the Casper Star-Tribune Super 25 team three times; he was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2000 and was the 2001 Player of the Year. He was a three-time All-Conference and All-State player and listed in A Century of Fridays as one of Wyoming’s All-Century players.

Casey still holds school records in 11man football for rushing yards in a season (1,829), career rushing yards (4,291), points scored in a season (202), and points scored in a career (422). He was a member of the teams that still hold five team records earned in back-to-back perfect seasons. Those records include points scored in a game (85), longest winning streak (20), fewest points allowed in a season (13), fewest points per game allowed (1.3), and unbeaten teams (2). There are only eight unbeaten teams in school history.

During his years at NCHS, Casey participated in band, choir, Choralaires, Close Up, FCCLA, FBLA, the junior class play, and was a member of the National Honor Society.

Casey was a spectacular basketball player from his first moment on the court at Tiger Gym. He was a three-time All-State player, one of only three, four-time All-SEWAC players, was the 2001 SEWAC Player of the Year, and still holds seven NCHS career school records: all-time scoring (1,792), assists (503), steals (333), field goals made (674), field goals attempted (1,718), free throws attempted (392), and assists in a game (17). In the school records, Casey is second for free throws made (266).

After graduation, Casey was a preferred walk-on at the University of Nebraska, but suffered an injury shortly before the Rose Bowl his freshman year. He transferred to Chadron State College (CSC), and spent four years with the Eagle Football team while obtaining his business degree. In his final semester, he was a walk-on with the CSC basketball program.

Following college, he spent a few years in Fort Collins, CO, working for the Harlem Ambassadors as a client specialist. He also worked with Triple Crown Sports as a tournament director for South Florida Baseball. In July of 2007, he married his wife Tami, and they returned to Chadron the following year. He started a banking career with First National Bank of Chadron in 2010. He remained in banking, and he and his family moved to Kearney in the summer of 2013, where they live today. Casey is currently a Vice President with Exchange Bank and is active in the community and his family’s activities.

ALUMNI HALL OF FAME, JERRY FULLMER

Jerry Fullmer was the third of five boys born to Doug and Luthera Fullmer. He attended Lingle-Fort Laramie High School, where he was a multi-sport letterman.

He graduated in 1967. His football playing career was interrupted twice with injuries, but a productive senior year earned him All-Texas Trail Conference honors and honorable mention on the All-State squad.

He went to the University of Wyoming and graduated with a degree in education in 1971. Jerry married Lynnea in 1969, and following Jerry’s graduation, they lived in Greybull, where Jerry began his coaching career.

In 1975, Jerry made a decision that ultimately became life-altering. The family had a choice of moving to Dubois or to Lusk. When the Fullmers became new parents, they decided to move to Lusk to be closer to a hospital. It was the last move the family made. They never looked back, and both of their children, Krista and Brent, are Niobrara County High School (NCHS) graduates.

NCHS had an unprecedented run of football success under Jerry’s leadership (1975-2004), including five state championships, five additional appearances in title games, and six undefeated seasons. Among those undefeated teams, were two of Jerry’s finest squads that happened to be ineligible for the playoffs due to the reorganization of the classes. The 1991 and 1992 teams went a combined 15-0, and were widely acknowledged as good enough to have won either the 1A and 2A classifications. According to Patrick Schmeidt’s A Century of Fridays, the biggest win in program history was the 1981 state championship against Pinedale. It was a 21-0 win and kick-started a dynasty. While former players have many arguments about which of Coach Fullmer’s teams was the best, it is clear that he had an indelible impact on sports at NCHS.

Coach Fullmer is fifth in all-time wins in Wyoming high school history, for all classes, with 174 wins. The NCHS field was renamed and has been proudly known as Gibson Field at Fullmer Stadium since 2006. Because of his many amazing accomplishments, he was inducted into the Wyoming sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and given a lifetime induction into the National Football Association. And now, in 2024, Jerry is being inducted into the Niobrara County School District Hall of Fame.

While his football accomplishments are known to many, his positive impact of the NCHS math program and school district is equally noteworthy. Jerry taught middle school and high school math for 33 years and coached basketball and track. He later became the athletic director for NCHS (1993-2008).

Jerry served on the Helpmate Board of Directors, Town of Lusk Recreation Board, and the Niobrara Country Club for Several years.

Since retiring, Jerry and Lynnea enjoy watching their grandchildren Eric, Nathan, Lauren, and Ryann, and try to make it to as many of their activities as possible. The Fullmers are now snowbirds, wintering in San Tan Valley, Arizona. Jerry continues to cheer on his beloved Chicago Cubs and the University of Wyoming. He enjoys as many fishing or poker outings as he can.

ALUMNI HALL OF FAME, JAMES GRIFFITH JR.

James Bradshaw Griffith Jr. was born in Laredo, Texas, but became a forever Wyomingite 31 days later when the family returned to Lusk. He was raised around The Lusk Herald as his parents, James B. and Nellie Snyder Griffith, were the owners, editors, and publishers.

Jim was actively involved during his time at Lusk High School. He was elected Class President twice, and as Student Council President (1944-45). He participated in the junior and senior class plays, yearbook staff (1944-45), the L Club, and served as Co- Editor of The Spotlight (1944-45). He played football and basketball for two years and was voted to the All-State second team after the 1944 football season and he was a football Co-Captain in his senior year. In his career Jim helped the Tigers to a 15-2-1 record.

He joined the US Navy following graduation and served from 1945-47 as World War II was coming to a close. He then enrolled at the University of Wyoming and played football for the B team for one season. Jim graduated with a degree in Business Administration in 1950 and returned to Lusk to become co-publisher at The Lusk Herald. He quickly established himself as a prominent member of the Niobrara County GOP.

Jim, in tandem with Gerry Bardo, ran The Lusk Herald for many years, where he was an avid promoter of both the community and the state. When Seattle held the World’s Fair in 1962, Lusk represented Wyoming for “Wyoming Day.”

While other states maybe sent a marching band or a choir, Jim helped organize a melodrama/traveling medicine show with Lusk citizens, mainly teachers and their children, providing the cast. Jim himself was the ringmaster/snake oil salesman, leading the shows the pun-filled, groan-inducing follies. It was quite the hit in Seattle.

Monuments are usually erected to outstanding individuals, historical location or events, and typically placed where the largest number of people will be able to see them. The monument to Madame “Featherlegs” Shepherd was different in all respects. In conjunction with Bob Darrow, the pair set out to find and memorialize her. The dedication on May 17, 1964 tuned out to be a delight, with over 600 fed before the food ran out. Perhaps Featherlegs wasn’t the most virtuous woman of the old west, but she did provide the incentive to pay off a portion of a chapel mortgage.

In 1970, Jim was elected as Wyoming State Treasurer, and in 1974, began an eight- year tenure as State Auditor. While working as State Auditor, Jim established a state audit program of federal leases. Wyoming became the first state to audit federal mining production and royalties, and approximately $41 million in revenue was recovered for Wyoming. He also served on federal committees for two Secretaries of the Interior and helped re-organize the financial management of the Department of the Interior.

As the State of Wyoming began to plan the building of a women’s prison, Jim spearheaded the effort to have it located in Lusk. It was a slow and competitive process. Other communities also wanted to host the facility. According to Jim’s 1988 memoir, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Wyoming Capitol,” he wrote “Lusk and nearly everyone therein had been kind to me and especially helpful in raising my daughters. If I could ever help the people of Lusk I would pull out all stops.” He put his words into action as he did all he could to help Lusk in its efforts to become home to the Wyoming Women’s Center which opened here in 1982.

Jim was a past president and honorary life member of the Wyoming Press Association. He was also a member of the Lusk Congregational Church, a Mason, member of the Scottish Rite, a Shriner, member of the American Legion, and past- president of the Lusk Lions Club. In 1987, Jim was named a University of Wyoming Distinguished Alumnus. The honor was announced, and Jim was recognized at halftime of a 52-10 Cowboy win over SDSU.

Jim suffered from multiple sclerosis. In spite of the crippling disease, he achieved many career successes, made lasting contributions to Lusk and Wyoming, and raised a wonderful family.

ALUMNI HALL OF FAME, PAUL KRUSE

Paul Richard Kruse was born in Lusk and grew up on his parents’ ranch north of Lance Creek. He was the youngest of A.D. Flores and Hazel Rowse Kruse’s three children. He attended Cow Creek Rural Elementary School until fifth grade when he came to school in Lusk.

Paul was a key member of Lusk’s 1969 and 1970 back-to-back Class A State Champion Basketball teams, and was an All-State player in 1970. He still holds the school record for career field goal percentage (.597), rebounds in a season (385), and he is tied for first for rebounds in a game (29). He is 16th in all-time scoring with 914 points and fourth in career rebounds with 643. After his senior season, Paul was named Honorable Mention on the All-American team.

During his four years at Niobrara County High School, he participated in band, chorus, Future Teachers of America (Treasurer in 1969-70), Spanish Club (President 1969-70), Letterman’s Club (Secretary 1969-70), and was a member of the Student Council (1969-70). He was vice president of his senior class and student of the month (1970). Paul also participated in three musicals and the Junior Class Play.

Paul received recruiting letters from more than 200 colleges and universities because of his talent in basketball. He chose the University of New Mexico (UNM) and played for UNM from 1970-75. The 1974 UNM team won the Western Athletic Conference championship, was ranked as high as eighth nationally, ended the season with a record of 22-7, and had a final ranking of 18. He was a member of the World University Games team that won the Gold Medal in 1974.

As a student at the university, he became active in student politics and served as Senator At Large in the Student Senate in 1973. In 1973-74, Paul was elected president of the New Mexico Student Council for Exceptional Children. He majored in special education and minored in psychology. He graduated with a BA in 1975. He worked as a teacher and chairman of the special education department at Eisenhower Middle School in Albuquerque, where he designed and directed an innovative academic program for 150 gifted and impaired students in the fourth- largest school district in the United States.

In 1981, Paul graduated from the UNM Law School and went to Washington D.C. as a counsel and staff representative for Senator Malcolm Wallop. For three years, as Senator Wallop’s assistant, he developed and coordinated legislative strategies for environmental and water issues. During the late 1980s, he was a lobbyist for Pennzoil, and in 1991 he became the Associate Solicitor for Energy and Resources for the US Department of the Interior.

Following that, Paul traveled around the world before returning to Wyoming and taking a job as assistant director of Federal Land Policy for the state. In 1998, he stepped away and started a private consulting practice specializing in natural resource issues. In 2007, Paul ran for the United States Senate seat which was vacant because of Senator Craig Thomas’ death.

“Tall” Paul’s physical size made him imposing in stature, but his intelligence and natural composure allowed him to become one of Niobrara County’s finest diplomats. In addition to being the tallest Tiger ever, he most likely has the most visits to the White House. His true strength was befriending people from all walks of life. Paul had no children but was a father to every child he knew. He had a special affection for his nieces and nephews and bragged about them every chance that he could.

ALUMNI HALL OF FAME, JASON MILLER

Jason Miller was raised on the family ranch near Lance Creek and is a great ambassador for Lance Creek. He is the youngest of Pat and Beverly Miller’s three children. The Miller family has longstanding ties to rodeo. Jason’s father competed at Casper College and the University of Wyoming (UW). His mother was a longtime Niobrara County educator. Jason followed in his parents' footsteps, attending Casper College and earning a degree from UW in secondary education. He competed in rodeo at both schools. He did his student teaching at Niobrara County High School.

While at Niobrara County High School, Jason participated in football. He was a four-year wrestler serving as co-captain during his senior year (1991-92). He qualified for state wrestling twice and state rodeo three times. His state rodeo qualifying events were team roping (1989) and saddle bronc (1990). He qualified for Nationals in saddle bronc and steer wrestling (1992), where Team Wyoming placed seventh in the final standings. Jason’s talent in steer wrestling blossomed into a storied career.

While attending college, Jason was a 4-time qualifier for the National College Rodeo Finals. In June of 1996, he competed at the National College Finals in Bozeman, MT in team roping for the Wyoming Rodeo Club. The Wyoming team finished 12th. Jason and his partner were just out of the top ten team ropers.Jason earned his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association card in 1994 and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas five times in steer wrestling.

In several of his peak years, he was sidelined by injury. He just missed the top 15 in 2009 (he stood in 17th place at the end of the regular season), and in 2012, he missed the NFR by $55. He first qualified for the NFR in 2006, finishing ninth in the regular season before finishing in 14th place at the finals. In 2008, he sat in sixth place after the regular season, moving up to third in the finals. In 2011, he had a strong third-place finish, and in his final qualification in 2013, he ended up 13th.

The highlight of his nine-year career came in 2007. He qualified for the PRCA Finals Rodeo, won the steer wrestling average, and was crowned World Champion Steer Wrestler. In the ten-round competition, Miller established dominance early. He finished in second, fourth, and first place respectively in the first three rounds. He placed seventh and tenth in the next two rounds. At the end of these five rounds, he sat first overall with a time of 21.8. Although the margin of Jason’s lead in the average expanded and contracted, it held all ten nights. After a fourth-place finish in the sixth round and a pair of seconds, he got his ninth-round steer on the ground in 4.4 seconds. Amazingly, that time only earned him 12th place for the round. In the final round, his 4.8 time tied him for third place and gave him a ten-round score of 42.7 seconds, earning him the World Champion title.

Other major accomplishments during Jason’s rodeo career include: four-time Mountain States Circuit Champion, Canadian Finals qualifier in 2007, and a competitor at the Calgary Stampede where he won four rounds and he qualified for the $50,000 round. Jason won at Cheyenne Frontier Days; the Fort Worth Stock Show; the Denver Stock Show; Odessa, TX; Ellensburg, WA; Cody, WY; Laughlin, NV; Lufkin, TX; Kissimmee, FL; Caldwell, ID; Moses Lake, WA; Puyallup, WA; Omaha, NE, and many other rodeos across the country.

Jason retired from professional competition after the 2013 PRCA finals and ranches with his wife Jenne and children Maggie and Mack.

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