A 1994 Junction City High School graduate, Bobby Lashley, will be the guest speaker for the USD 475 Celebration of Teaching Banquet on May 6th at the Geary County Convention Center.
Geary Community Schools Foundation Executive Director Margie Pinaire said Franklin Roberto (Bobby) Lashley attended Ware Elementary, Fort Riley Middle School and JCHS. While at Fort Riley Middle School his career seemed to have begun when he was introduced to amateur wrestling as an off-season alternative to football. He continued at JCHS where he was a 4-yr varsity athlete on the wrestling team, a 6A state champion runner-up his junior year and claimed a 6A state championship title his senior year. He competed at the National High School Senior Wrestling Championship, placing eighth in the nation, and was recognized as a High School All-American Athlete. When not wrestling for JCHS, he participated in Freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling where he also excelled.
Lashley continued his education and successful wrestling career at Missouri Valley College where he was a 4-time NAIA All American and a 3-time NAIA National Champion. He was inducted into both the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame and the Missouri Valley Athletic Hall of Fame. He graduated from college in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in human-service agency management and recreation administration.
Lashley joined the United States Army for 4 years and continued to compete in amateur wrestling. He was a world champion in the International Military Sports Council Armed Forces Senior Freestyle, winning the gold in 2003.
After the military, Lashley made his professional debut in WWE as Buster Lashley in 2005. He has been a WWE Champion, ECW Champion, TNA Champion, wrestled on the International Circuit in Japan, Italy, Puerto Rico, and other places. He has been in movies, in video games, on TV. He is currently with the WWE.
Bobby is also, successful in the MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) world. He is the proud father of three children and can often be seen at their events.
Teacher and para scholarships will be presented and USD 475 Retirees will be honored during the banquet. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the banquet begins at 6 p.m. This event is covered soley by donations to the Geary Community Schools Foundation.
