Hall of Fame
Position: Halfback
Years: 1927, 1929-1930
Place of Birth: Marion Junction, SD
Date of Birth: Mar 29, 1906
Place of Death: Hot Springs, AR
Date of Death: Jul 09, 1974
Height: 6-1
Weight: 200
Other College: Wichita State
High School: Wichita, KS (Wichita Cathedral HS)
The "Wichita Whiz," James Bausch was a world-class athlete who was the decathlon champion at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games and the winner of that year's Sullivan award. Bausch transferred from Wichita University (now Wichita State) to Kansas, angering Wheatshocker fans and officials, who accused the Jayhawks of tampering. After a 4-4 season in 1929 the 200-pound half back led Kansas to its first Big Six championship in 1930. Against Kansas State he returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and added a 60- yard scoring run in the fourth quarter in a 14-0 victory. At the season's end Bausch became the first Kansas player to appear in the East-West All Star Game in San Francisco. As a track athlete, he won Big Six titles in the shot put, javelin, and pole vault. His Olympic javelin throw of 203 feet 3 1/2 inches clinched the gold medal in the decathlon.
