COLUMN | Kansas State broke Big 12 color barrier. But where are the monuments?

Ken Neaderhiser isn't your average Kansas State Wildcats fan. While many in Lenexa and across the Sunflower State bleed purple, their passion often centers on gridiron heroics or hardwood triumphs. Neaderhiser, a dedicated historian, certainly appreciates the athletic prowess, but his affection for the Manhattan institution runs deeper, intertwining with fundamental questions of human and civil rights. He posits a powerful, yet under-recognized truth: Kansas State was a pioneering force in breaking the color barrier within what would become the Big 12 Conference, a foundational moment that, surprisingly, lacks the public recognition it profoundly deserves.