During my career with the Redheads, I saw women’s basketball grow. The Redheads really helped me grow and afforded me with opportunities that would never have happened. Some of my experiences included a month stay in Alaska, seeing whales, flying in seaplanes, and panning for gold, traveling in 49 of the 50 states. Also personal appearances, radio and television interviews. Meeting and playing other pro. athletes, meeting many famous people. While doing the basketball camp circuit, Reba McEntire, shared my room at Kennedy College, in Wahoo, NE. (She was still in high school at that time) Often we were made honorary citizens and given keys to the city.
Coach Orwell Moore could pump me up. A lot of the games he would tell me to shoot a half court shot, there is no accuracy at that distance. I was lucky, I made alot of the half court shots. I would like to pay my respects to Lorene "Butch" Moore for all of help with fancy passing and ball handling. She was great. She inspired!!
During the 67-68 season that I was transferred to the Western unit or (rookie team). I had a real passion for fancy passing, tricks and ball handling. I went to the rookie team to help them get on tract and help them incorporate ball handling in to the game. I love doing pre-game warm-up and the half time show. The Red Heads had an opportunity to show their skills at this time.
Also, the 69-70 season the game was stopped, Coach Orwell Moore presented the game ball to me. I scored my 10,000th point. The ball is signed by the players and will be on display at exhibitions on the history of women’s basketball with other items from the Red Heads so others may experience what it was like to be on this team.
My thanks to the Moore’s, they made it possible, the coaches that helped prepare and groom me, my high school Coach Charles Bennett, my teammates, and a very special thanks to the teams that I coached. Our teams had the best balance, excellent athletes, and a passion for the game.
Below are some highlights of my career:
Played 1962 through 1974
Player/Coach last four seasons
Named All American 3rd season
Total games played 2,316
Scored over 25,000 career points
Won 1,848 games, lost 468
Nickname: Jo Jo
Personal Experiences:
Mike Douglas Show-Jan. 1963
Art Linkletter House Party-Feb. 1966
To Tell The Truth-April 1974
The only female basketball team featured on CBS 1974 NBA playoffs.
Only female basketball player mentioned in, BASKETBALL PLAYERS DO AMAZING THINGS.
Sports Illustrated-May 1974
Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame requested my uniform to be displayed-Nov 1973
Invited to be in the first Women’s Super Star Competition--1974
The History of Women’s Basketball NBC-July 1997
The WBCA and Sears Salute to the Champion’s Brunch-March 1998
My Redhead uniform displayed: Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame-June1999
Other Pro. Teams we played:
Denver Broncos, S.F. 49ers,
Mn. Vikings, Cleveland Browns,
Giants Royals, and a number of GlobeTrotters.
Also meeting or playing against:
Billy Jean-King, Hank Aaron, Joan Joyce, O.J. Simpson,
Cathy Winthrop, Bill Mazeroski, Cathy Rigby, Robin Roberts, John Brody, Cliff Gibson, Reba McEntire,
Calvin Coats, Billy Cowan, Ernie Frazio, Frank Lensey, Pete Rose, Mickey King