Bio

The accomplishments of Ken Ashley in Willamette track and field set a standard by which all future Bearcat stars are judged in the sport. In 1959 and the early 1960ís, Ashley won the Northwest Conference and the NAIA District 2 high jump titles all four years. His success did not end at the regional level, however, as he won NAIA championships in 1960, 1961 and 1963-his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. His best mark of 6-foot-9 3/4 stood for 17 years and still ranks as third best in school history. Ashley was also an outstanding basketball player, winning All-Northwest Conference honors his senior year when he set rebound records of 36 in a single game and 14.6 per game. Those records remained intact as of his induction in 1991.