THREE RIVERS' GENE BESS BECOMES THE BEST

Three Rivers Community College basketball coach Gene Bess has done something no other junior-college basketball coach has done:

He has won 880 basketball games.

Bess, 65, recently accomplished the feat when the Raiders defeated State Fair Community College at Sedalia, Mo., by a score of 81-52. That put Bess' record at 880-213.

In his 31 years as head coach at the Poplar Bluff school, Three Rivers has never had a losing season. The team has had seven trips to the national semifinals, 12 national tournament appearances, 16 regional championships and 20 conference titles.

Bess had an outstanding career as a high school coach for 12 years before going to Three Rivers. He compiled 250 wins at Lesterville, Anniston and Oran high schools.

The Southeast Missourian extends its congratulations to Bess and to the teams which over the years have helped the talented coach achieve the record.