Sonny Maynard

Sonny Maynard passed away on April 6, 2025, in Olathe, Kansas, leaving behind a legacy of perseverance, achievement, and trailblazing leadership. Sonny was an early black coaching legend and pioneer instrumental to integrating the all white, Johnson County Community College in 1969 when the college was first established inside a small church in Merriam, Kansas.

Sonny led a purpose driven life through his strong faith in God as a devoted (Christian and member served at Legacy Christian Church (Overland Park, KS) and its Olathe, KS campus. Sonny was a true blue and awesome role model as both a father and husband and he will be sadly missed by many.

Born on October 25, 1934, in Bristow, Oklahoma, to Roosevelt and Elizabeth Maynard, Sonny rose from humble beginnings to become a celebrated athlete, coach, and mentor. As a gifted basketball player, he attended Booker T. Washington High School in Cushing, Oklahoma, where he led his team to three consecutive national black high school championships and earned All-State honors. In his senior year, he was named Oklahoma's Most Valuable Player (MVP). His favorite song, "My Girl" by The Temptations proved to be a life-long inspiration dedicated to his beautiful wife, and high school sweet heart, Edna Maynard, who was a basketball queen at Booker T. Washington.

Growing up as a child in the mid 1930s, and from a family with little means, Sonny was best known as being a kind, humble, friendly, sweet and charismatic person, who was an exceptionally gifted athlete. He viewed the world as an opportunity to be the best he could be. Throughout his struggles against systematic racism he never gave into hatred and remained strong and optimistic in his effort to triumph over segregation and Jim Crow discriminatory laws. His unbroken spirit allowed him to achieve success with determination and pride.

The prestigious high school MVP recognition opened the door to numerous scholarship opportunities that resulted in Sonny being heavily recruited by many talent scouts across the nation representing large and small colleges. Some of the larger colleges include; Kansas University (Kansas) whereby coaches had planned to have Sonny to always pass the ball to former NBA great Wilton Chamberlain, University of Notre Dame (Indiana), Grambling State University (Louisiana) and Colorado State University (Colorado).

Sonny continued his athletic career at Cowley County Community College in , Arkansas City, Kansas, becoming a two-time All-American (1955-56, 1956-57). While in Ark City he pitched and played center-field on its semi pro baseball team - the May Builders and later managed and coached both the May Builders baseball and basketball teams, a position that lasted from 1957-1967. During his time as manager and coach Sonny he attended Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, where he earned a bachelor's degree and all-regional honors, and accepted a position in 1958 as recreation director at the Winfield State Hospital and Training Center - a position he held until 1969. For many years after leaving Winfield State Hospital. Sonny remained involved in helping the mentally challenged by volunteering his time and efforts in the Special Olympics held annually in Winfield Kansas.

He later received a master's degree from Oklahoma State University (OSU) in 1963 and was a few credits short from receiving a doctors degree from the university.

In 1969, Sonny broke racial barriers as the first Black coach at Johnson County Community College (JCCC), founding its baseball program and leading the Cavaliers to 504 victories and three Junior College World Series appearances in 1974, 1980 and 1984. In five of those 14 seasons, Maynard led JCCC to 40 or more wins. and 19 of his players were drafted by professional baseball teams

He also coached the JCCC women's basketball team to a historic turnaround season in 1986. During that time he coached two All-Americans in which one, Lisa Kirby was his beloved play daughter, who achieved top scorer in National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) history,

His coaching excellence extended to roles with the Kansas City Royals as an associate scout and as a coach for the Japan-USA All Star Series in 1980.

Sonny was honored with multiple Hall of Fame inductions across Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, including JCCC (1992), Southwestern College (1999), Cowley County (2000), and both the Conoco AAU and Missouri Valley AAU Halls of Fame.

His character was perfectly demonstrated via excerpts from his favorite poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling. "If you can stay calm when everyone around you is panicking and holding you responsible for their panic; if you can be confident even when no one trusts you, while still taking other people's concerns into consideration; if you can be patient; if you can avoid lying even when people lie about you; if you cannot hate anyone even when they hate you; if you can be virtuous in these ways, but still not think too highly of yourself; If you can mingle with the masses without losing your own moral compass, or travel in the highest society without becoming haughty; if neither your enemies nor your friends can hurt your feelings; if you can treat everyone with respect, but avoid idolizing anyone in particular; if you can fill up every second of unrelenting time with worthwhile action, then the world will be your oyster-And, more importantly, you will be a true man, my son."

In 1997 Sonny retired from JCCC as a coach and counselor before his official retirement age of 65 and settled in Overland Park with his wife, and thereafter in Olathe, Kansas.

Sonny is remembered by his wife Edna Maynard; son Alvin Maynard; daughter Che'rell Bilquist (Dennis); grandson Skyler Taylor (Mandi); great-grandson Atticus, great-grand daughters Zaylie, Mara, and Thea; siblings Billie Jean Braggs, Ada Mayberry, Lorene "Lody" Winn, and Roy Winn; and a host of numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and close friends.

Sonny is predeceased by his parents Roosevelt and Elizabeth Maynard, stepfather Richard Bill Winn, sister Vivian Winn, brother Doyle Winn and two beloved Yorkshire Terriers - Sabrina and Tameka.