Bio

Considered to be one of the best players to ever play for the Cowley College women’s basketball team, Pam (Fritz) Peeples will be honored for her contributions to the Lady Tiger basketball program by being inducted into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, January 27.

Peeples grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, before coming to play basketball at Cowley College in Arkansas City, KS.

“When I was first there, I saw hay rolling around in the road, and I thought I was in a movie,” Peeples said. “The only time I saw hay rolling around in the road was when I was watching a Western movie. After that, I liked the school very much.”

Peeples played for the Lady Tigers during the 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons, helping lead Cowley to a Region VI title and a trip to the NJCAA National Basketball Tournament as a sophomore.

The Lady Tigers compiled a record of 48-13 during Peeple’s two years at the school and were back-to-back Jayhawk East champions.

“It was great playing for Coach Linda Hargrove,” Peeples said. “She made playing for her easy.”

Peeples credits Coach Hargrove for making the teams she played on feel like family.

“We got along well, so it was easy to play with each other,” Peeples said. “When we played, we played hard and had fun playing together.”

When Peeples graduated from Cowley, she held six offensive records at the school. She remains in the top 10 on the all-time scoring list with 876 career points.

“Pam was very athletic and ran the floor well,” Hargrove said. “She was a good jumper and controlled the boards as well as being a very good defensive player and strong scorer around the basket.”

She went on to achieve a scholarship to play basketball at the University of Indiana, where she helped the team to 28 wins in two seasons. She was named a Second Team All-Conference selection as a senior.

“Pam ended up being one of the better players in the Big 10 at Indiana after leaving Cowley,” Hargrove said.

After graduating from the University of Indiana, Peeples and her husband, Herman, began to start a family. The couple have three children and three grandchildren.

Peeples was a stay-at-home mom until one morning while taking her kids to school, she found out what she wanted to do.

“So I started working in the school cafeteria, which was good for me. I was home before my kids came home, and I could clean my house and cook,” Peeples said. “I was also able to help my kids with their homework.”

Looking back on her days playing basketball at Cowley College, Peeples has fond memories of Sue Darby.

“Ms. Darby was dear to my heart. I loved her then, and I love her now,” Peeples said. “Being that I was from out of town, she really made me feel like family. I often stayed at her home and had fun with her family. Also, when Tricia and Peeples were at Indiana University, she recalled a large contingent of Cowley people attending one of their home games.

“Ms. Darby and her family, Coach Hargrove and her family, Coach Debbie (Nittler) and her family all came to the game,” Peeples said. “It was great! Like I said, we were family.”

Peeples is looking forward to returning to Arkansas City and is honored to be selected for induction into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame.

“I am happy that I made an impact playing basketball,” Peeples said. “I am so excited that I can share it with my family and grandkids. This is a great accomplishment for me, but I give all the credit to God. Thank you all for showing so much love to a girl from Columbia, South Carolina.”