Glen L. Piper

Glen L. Piper, 84 was born June, 28, 1939 to William Piper and Ina Speer Piper in Cottonwood Falls, Arizona.  He passed away on May 21, 2024 at Pratt Regional Medical Center in Pratt, Kansas.   When Glen was five months old, his father died from a work-related accident, so his mother moved him and his older brother, Roy, to Dodge City, Kansas near family.  Glen was an outstanding athlete in baseball and basketball and graduated from Dodge City High School in 1957.  Glen was the first high school All-American basketball player for Dodge City High School and for the state of Kansas, and was featured in Sports Illustrated magazine.  He was recruited by over 20 Division I Universities, but chose to attend the University of Colorado, where he could play both basketball and baseball.  After getting injured at CU, Glen returned to Dodge City where he was recruited to play basketball and baseball for Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma.  He became a college All-American while at NWOSU in both baseball and basketball, setting numerous university records.  Glen also received the Outstanding Education Major of the Year while attending NWOSU, obtained his Master’s Degree in Education, and met his future wife, Donna Schupbach of Burlington, Oklahoma, who was also a student at NWOSU.  On June 7, 1963 Glen and Donna were married at Donna’s family home in Burington.   From there, Glen began his high school teaching and coaching career, starting in Hugo, Colorado, then on to Medicine Lodge, Kansas, then on to Kiowa, Kansas.  He was voted coach of the year in both Colorado and Kansas in multiple sports.  Glen then took a job as head men’s basketball and baseball coach at Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, where he also was a business and finance instructor.   From there, he became the Dean of Students and head men’s basketball coach at Pratt Community College in Pratt, Kansas.  Eventually, Glen and Donna moved back to Kiowa, Kansas, where he was South Barber School District Superintendent for many years.  He then became the Hugoton School District Superintendent in Hugoton, Kansas.

After retiring from 44 years of public education, Glen became a lobbyist and integral part of the Kansas State Board of Education in Topeka, Kansas, representing the western half of Kansas.  Glen also received numerous state teaching awards for his time spent in Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma.  He received the NWOSU Outstanding Graduate Education Award, was inducted into the NWOSU Sports Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the Dodge City High School Ring of Honor to name a few.  He was always focused on his family and after attending multiple high school/college athletic games and activities for all three of his children, Glen and Donna were able to attend various school and athletic activities for their multiple grandchildren in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.  They also were able to see their three great grandchildren soon after their births.

Glen was preceded in death by his parents, William and Ina Piper of Dodge City, Kansas; his brother, Roy Piper of Dodge City, Kansas; his mother and father-in-law, Floyd and Mathilda Schupbach of Burlington, Oklahoma, and sister-in-law, Karen Garvie of Burlington, Oklahoma.

Glen is survived by his wife, Donna Piper of Pratt, Kansas; sister-in-law, Diedra Piper of Dodge City, Kansas; in-laws, Colleen (Cole) Ward of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Charles Garvie of Burlington, Oklahoma; sons, Troy (Karma Sanders) Piper of Burlington, Oklahoma, and Ty (Trina) Piper of Holliday, Texas; daughter, Trina (Kyle) Piper-Hughbanks of Alva, Oklahoma; nieces, Lori (Monty) Allen of Dodge City, Kansas, Charis (Justin) Gallas of Nichols Hills, Oklahoma, and Jana Lindley of Burlington, Oklahoma; nephews, Allan Piper of Augusta, Kansas, and Brent (Vanessa) Garvie of Burlington, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Abby (Ethan) Towsend of College Station, Texas, Taylor Piper of Fort Worth, Texas, Garrett Pipe and Katy Piper of Holliday, Texas, Ridge (Adrienne) Hughbanks of University City, Missouri, Sabrina Hughbanks of Dodge City, Kansas, and Savannah Hughbanks of Riverside, Ohio; great grandchildren, Lynen Townsend and Braxtan Townsend of College Station, Texas, and Thomas Hughbanks of University City, Missouri; and many great nieces and nephews.

Glen was an outstanding athlete, coach, educator, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and was a man of integrity.  He will be missed greatly by friends and family.

Viewing will be on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. in Kiowa from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.  The graveside service will be held at the Apostolic Christian Cemetery near Burlington, Oklahoma on Friday, May 31, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Matt Schupbach officiating.  Memorial contributions may be made out to the South Barber Food Bank through the funeral home as a tribute to Glen who aspired to never see a child go hungry.