|
-
At a September 12 meeting of the Northwest Missouri High School Association, a motion is made to pursue a meeting of the five state college district associations for the purpose of forming a statewide high school association.
-
On November 13, the initial meeting of Missouri stakeholders takes place in St. Louis at Hotel Statler, to discuss the creation of a state athletic association. A temporary organization is formed and a constitutional convention is scheduled for December, 1925.
-
On December 12, 1925, the constitutional convention takes place where the constitution is drafted and a board of control is elected. The acceptance or rejection of the drafted constitution is left to the decision of the superintendents at their annual meeting in Columbia in February.
 Original proposed MSHSAA Constitution & By-Laws
-
At the February 4 meeting of superintendents in Columbia, the MSHSAA Constitution is presented and unanimously adopted; MSHSAA is voted into existence as an athletic association with a five-member board of control and Carl Burris serving as secretary-treasurer.
-
As of March 1, MSHSAA has 18 member schools with Vandalia being recorded as the first school to join.  Vandalia has since consolidated with Farber.
-
Less than two months after the association is formed, it holds its first state event. The first event to be held under the auspices of MSHSAA, the State Basketball Tournament, takes place on March 19–20 at the University of Missouri. All schools participate in one classification. The board of control of the St. Louis Athletic Association does not allow a St. Louis team to compete in this first tournament.
-
The first boys State Tennis Tournament held under MSHSAA’s jurisdiction is conducted in one classification in the spring.  Tennis Singles and Doubles Champions, 1940
-
 Rollins Field, University of MissouriOn May 1, the first State Boys Outdoor Track & Field meet is held under the auspices of MSHSAA at the University of Missouri. Competition is conducted in three classifications: A, B, and C.
The only sport with more than one class in 1926 is boys outdoor track & field, and classes are labeled A, B, and C. Class labels of A and B were previously used by the Missouri Interscholastic Track & Field meet starting in 1909 when it divided into two classes.
-
At the close of the 1925–26 school year, MSHSAA has 127 member schools.
-
The MSHSAA Board of Control has five members representing the five Board Districts. In addition, a three-person Advisory Council assists the board.
-
Approximately 400 member-school boys basketball teams participate in MSHSAA's second state basketball tournament series, in March of 1927.
-
By the close of the 1926–27 school year, MSHSAA has 472 member schools. The First Annual Handbook (Spring 1927) serves as a report of the 1926–27 year and holds the constitution and by-laws that govern until the annual meeting in December.
-
 O.G. Sandford represents the Northwest Board District in 1926-27, and serves as an At-Large member during 1927-28, serving as Board President both years.The Board of Control increases to six positions, including representatives of the five Board Districts and one At-Large member. O.G. Sanford serves as the At-Large member, after serving as Board President and representing the Northwest District.
-
In April, the first MSHSAA State Boys Indoor Track & Field meet is conducted in two classifications, A and B.
-
State events are controlled by the Board. By-Law #23 states, “State championships in any sport may be determined by the Board of Control in a manner to be directed by that body.”
-
In April, the first MSHSAA State Boys Wrestling Tournament is conducted in one classification.
-
Boys Basketball expands into two classes for the first time in 1932 but goes back and forth between two classes and one class from 1932 until 1955. When in two classes, it uses the class labels of A and B.  Columbia High School basketball player Duane Turner
-
A board district and a representative for St. Louis (St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles High School only) are added to the Board of Control, and the at-large position is eliminated. The board remains at six members with a three-person advisory council.
-
MSHSAA begins its tenth full year. The Handbook no longer lists an advisory council. The board of control is six members representing six board districts.  Artwork adorning the cover of an early issue of The Missouri HS Athlete publication.
-
The first State Boys Swimming & Diving meet is held in March in one classification.
-
The first MSHSAA State Boys Golf tournament is held in October in one classification.
-
The first issue of the Missouri High School Athlete is published in October of 1936. The new publication allowed more timely information to reach the membership.
-
The Kansas City Board District is added but only includes the city of Kansas City. The Board of Control increases to seven members.
-
 Early medallion while MSHSAA was an Athletic AssociationMSHSAA membership sets a record with 737 member high schools.
-
 These large lapel pins were worn on Board blazers during official engagements. No MSHSAA Handbook is published between January 1936 and August 1938.
-
In December 1938, By-Law #19 (the original by-law that for 12 years recommended, without success, that girls basketball be abolished) is removed from the Handbook by a supportive vote of the membership. But it would be another 35 years before girls basketball had a State Championship.  The Bevier High School Girls Basketball Team in 1932
-
The South Central Board District is added, pulling some counties from the Central Board District and some from the Southeast District. The board now has eight members.  South Central Board District is shown in green.
-
The by-laws are updated to allow a fine in lieu of suspension from the membership for smaller violations.
-
In December, a proposal passes to allow private schools to apply for membership. The association already has more than 60 private member schools, but this amendment requires private schools to apply for membership, requiring board of control approval.
-
The first and only MSHSAA Boys Softball State Tournament is held in October. With 460 schools participating, it is the second most popular interscholastic sport for boys, following basketball. This championship is one of four that are discontinued due to the challenges of World War II, and it is never reinstated. In the 1941 final, Desloge beat Green City 1-0 for the championship.
-
WWII: On December 7, Pearl Harbor is attacked, causing the United States to enter World War II. Schools are encouraged to maintain their interscholastic sports programs, despite the handicaps of personnel and materials, for the sake of the youth. Rubber and fuel shortages cause schools to reduce the number of games played and the distance travelled for competition, and also effect the availability of athletic equipment.
-
Due to a change in schedule and contents of the Handbook, no 1941–42 Handbook is published at the end of the school year, as was the normal publishing schedule at the time.
-
Rubber shortages, due to WWII, effect the manufacturing of footballs and basketballs, and substitute products are of lower quality.
-
Fuel shortages cause schools to reduce the number of games played and the distance travelled for competition.
-
MSHSAA membership drops as some schools discontinue their interscholastic schedules despite encouragement to the contrary. Of the eight championships being held annually when the war began, only boys basketball, boys outdoor track & field, boys wrestling and boys swimming & diving continued to be held during the entirety of Word War II, without ever being cancelled. Four state tournaments were ultimately cancelled for multiple years during the course of World War II: boys tennis, boys indoor track & field, boys golf, and boys softball. A state championship was held in boys softball only once, during the 1941-42 school year. The 1942-43 event was cancelled due to the war, and a championship in that sport was never held again.
-
In May, the board of control acts to change the fiscal year from January–December to a July 1–June 30 year.
-
Discussions are taking place among the Board and the membership regarding the need to offer opportunities to students other than athletics. Activities are on the horizon. Further, the board confirms its desire to hire a full-time executive secretary for the association, and the need for a permanent office building. Columbia is determined to be the appropriate location.
-
Board member elections transition from in-person voting at the annual meeting to a mail ballot system.
-
A ballot proposal to eliminate MSHSAA and establish the Missouri State Secondary School Activities Association to oversee athletics, debate, music, and vocational agriculture fails by 46 votes.
-
In the fall of 1947, the board approves athletic injury insurance as an optional program for the membership and 51 schools sign up for the first year.
-
On July 1, T. L. Noel begins work as the first full-time Executive Secretary, following Carl Burris who served diligently as Secretary-Treasurer of the Board of Control for 22 years.
-
In August, the new MSHSAA office opens in Columbia at the Missouri State Teachers Association Building on South Sixth Street.
-
The membership votes favorably to change the name of the association from an athletic association to an activities association effective September 1, 1949. No activities are added, but language now allows for activities to be proposed and considered.
-
The second and third attempts to add music to MSHSAA’s offerings via petition both fail in the spring and fall of 1949.
-
On September 1, 1949, the name officially changes from Missouri State High School Athletic Association to Missouri State High School Activities Association, but MSHSAA still includes only athletics. The 1949–50 Handbook is the last published as an “Athletic” Association, since it is published prior to September 1 and MSHSAA still has only athletics.
-
The first MSHSAA Boys Cross Country State Championship is held in November with one classification of competition.
-
May: The first MSHSAA State Boys Baseball Tournament is conducted in May in one classification.
Summer: The 1950–51 Handbook is the first to be published as an “activities” association.
Fall: Music and debate are both approved by the membership as the first activities to be offered by MSHSAA to be effective in September 1951 with the first state events to be conducted in the spring of 1952.
-
Due to the association's change in name and oversight, in 1951, the April issue of the Missouri High School Athlete is the last published under that title. The Athlete had been MSHSAA’s periodical since October 1936.
-
In August, the first issue of the newly renamed Missouri High School Activities Journal is published to more accurately reflect MSHSAA as an activities association.
-
In April of 1952, the first MSHSAA State Debate event takes place, and in May of the same year the first MSHSAA State Music Festival is conducted. Music and debate were approved by the membership as the first activities to be offered by MSHSAA on the 1950 Ballot. The amendment became effective in September 1951 with the first state events scheduled to be conducted in the spring of 1952.
-
The St. Louis Board District expands to include all of St. Charles County. Other than St. Charles High School, St. Charles County had previously been in the Northeast Board District.
-
 Branson High School playing in a basketball game at McDonald Arena on Southwest Missouri State University's campus in 1951 (Photo courtesy of Springfield New-Leader, used with permission). In 1955, basketball expands into three classes and now utilizes the letters S, M, and L (small, medium, and large). Those labels are used until basketball expands into four classes in 1973.
-
Noel resigns as executive secretary and Irvin Keller is hired to replace him.
-
Article V, Section 1(n) is adopted by the membership to prohibit undue influence (the recruiting of students for activity purposes).
-
Keller proposes a large re-write of the MSHSAA Constitution and By-Laws. This is the first major reorganization of the Handbook since it was written in 1925 and adopted in 1926. The measure passes on the fall 1959 ballot to be effective in 1960.
-
Junior high membership is officially adopted, including the addition of specific eligibility standards for this level, game and tournament limits, and length of quarters, etc. The 1959 vote is effective for 1960.
-
On the fall 1959 ballot, the membership adopts all speech activities (beyond debate which is already under MSHSAA jurisdiction) and dramatic events (now known as theatre). In the spring of 1960, speech events and dramatic events join debate at the State Tournament for the first time.  Parkview High School students observed the 150th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln with a play in 1959 (photo courtesy of the Springfield News-Leader, used with permission).
-
 The Marionville Comets marching band performs in a parade in 1988 (photo courtesy of the Springfield News-Leader, used with permission). Music Large Groups participate at State Music for the last time. From this point forward, only Small Groups qualify to the State Festival.
-
 This graphic shows the changes in track & field classification labeling over the years.In 1965, boys indoor and outdoor track & field finally follow basketball’s lead on class labels and now utilize the letters S, M, and L for their three classes. Those labels are used for outdoor track & field until it expands into four classes in 1973.
-
Since 1952, music has used a changing system of letters for class labeling; however, in 1966 it follows basketball’s lead and utilizes the letters S, M, and L for its three classes. These labels are used until 1973.
-
The MSHSAA Constitution is amended to include “hardship provision” language to allow the board the authority to grant eligibility in an emergency or an extreme hardship case, but the semester and age by-laws are specifically excluded.
-
 Herb Dieterich of MaryvilleH. R. “Herb” Dieterich of Maryville retires as the longest-serving MSHSAA Board member, serving an astounding 36 consecutive years from 1931 to 1967, representing the Northwest Board District.
-
Due to a large response in requests for hardship provision hearings, hearing expenses are to be paid by the school if a special hearing is required.
-
Although the game of football was played among high schools even before MSHSAA was established, a state championship was not conducted until 1968. The first MSHSAA Boys Football State Championships were held in 1968, and include four classifications.  Senior fullback Sid Farris of St. Agnes High School in Springfield practices in 1949 (photo courtesy of the Springfield News-Leader, used with permission).
-
In 1969, the first MSHSAA Boys Soccer State Championship is held in one classification.
-
MSHSAA moves from South Sixth Street to its new office location, further north in Columbia, on I-70 Drive Southwest. This is MSHSAA's first location that is fully owned by the association. MSHSAA resides at this location for 30 years.
-
Board of control term limits are adopted.
-
Nine Regional Tournaments are offered for the first time in girls basketball with no qualification to a State Championship.
-
The first ever MSHSAA State Championship in a girls sport is held in 1973. On March 9-10, the State Girls Basketball Championship is conducted at Northwest Missouri State University. For the first two years, there is only one classification.
-
In May, eight District Track & Field Meets are offered for the first time for girls with no qualification to a State Championship.
-
All sport and activity classification labels change from S, M, L (small, medium and large) to a series of As: A, AA, AAA, and AAAA. This system is used from 1973 until 1978, when the A's are simplified as 1A, 2A, 3A, etc..
-
The number of District Meets conducted for girls increases from eight to twelve. These Girls District Track & Field Meets are offered in May with no qualification to state.
-
In October, twelve Girls District Tennis Tournaments are offered with no qualification to state.
-
Sixteen Regional Tournaments are offered in November for the first time in girls volleyball with no qualification to state.
-
In May, the first MSHSAA Girls Track & Field State Championship is conducted in one classification.
-
The first MSHSAA State Tennis and State Golf Championships for girls are held in October. Each is conducted in one classification.
-
In October, twelve District Tournaments are offered for the first time in girls fall softball with no qualification to state.
-
The first MSHSAA Girls Volleyball State Championship is held in November in one classification.
-
Girls State Championships continue to be added, with the first MSHSAA State Girls Swimming & Diving Championship in May and the first MSHSAA State Girls Fall Softball Championship in October, with several others to follow throughout the next decade and beyond.
-
MSHSAA has completed 50 years.
-
Hired right after graduating from high school as Valedictorian, Janie Forbis was hired onto the MSHSAA staff by Irvin Keller as an administrative assistant. After 19 years on staff, Janie was promoted to the executive staff level by Keller a year prior to his retirement, making her the first female to serve MSHSAA at that level. Janie worked for MSHSAA's accounting department for an astounding 53 years, assisting four Executive Directors (Keller, Miles, Oakes, and Urhahn). She was awarded an NFHS Citation in 2003, and retired in 2010.
-
In May, the first MSHSAA Girls Swimming & Diving State Championship is held in one classification.
-
The first MSHSAA Girls Fall Softball State Championship is held in October in one classification.
-
After 21 years, Irvin Keller retires as MSHSAA executive secretary, and Jack Miles is hired to replace him.
-
MSHSAA Assistant Executive Secretary Jack Miles is hired to replace the retiring Irvin Keller as Executive Secretary.
-
In 1978, the multiple "A's" that had been used as class labels are simplified into 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A. This system is used until 2002.
-
State results are no longer published in the MSHSAA Handbook; stand-alone “yearbooks” are published instead.
-
In 1978, the last District Meets in Swimming & Diving are held for both boys and girls. The board approves a recommendation to utilize time standards for State Championship qualification to start in 1979. The District format would return to the sport much later, but only in the event of Diving.
-
The first MSHSAA Girls Cross Country State Championship is held in one classification.
-
The Kansas City Board District expands from simply the city of Kansas City to include Jackson County (previously in the Central District) as well as Clay and Platte Counties (previously in the Northwest Board District).
-
After 50 years in existence, the sport of indoor track & field, along with its championship, is eliminated by the membership on the 1980 ballot. The last MSHSAA Indoor Track & Field State Meet is held in 1980.
-
Becky Oakes becomes the first female hired directly onto the executive staff as Assistant to the Executive Director (Jack Miles), to administer girls sports, music, and speech/debate/theatre. Oakes advanced from that first role, to Assistant Executive Director, to Associate Executive Director, to Executive Director in ten years. Upon the announcement of Miles's retirement, Oakes was selected as the incoming executive director, and she assumed that role in 1992 at the age of 38.
-
In May, the first MSHSAA Girls Soccer State Championship is held in one classification.
-
The Appeals Committee is approved by the membership as an intermediate level to hear and rule on appeals, prior to the Board level.
-
The Board of Control changes its name to the Board of Directors, and the Executive Secretary is now titled the Executive Director.
-
The Constitution Study Committee is established to dig into the Constitution and By-Laws and propose appropriate and necessary updates to the Board of Directors and the membership.
-
The first 8-man Football State Championship is conducted in November in one classification.
-
Handbook language regarding board meetings is updated, and all references to the MSTA Annual Meeting are removed. The board will meet five times a year.
-
Two additions to the MSHSAA office on I-70 Drive in Columbia are completed: one for executive office space and one as an office space for the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals.
-
In the summer of 1992, MSHSAA's fourth Executive Director, Jack Miles retires.
-
In the summer of 1992, upon the retirement of Jack Miles, Associate Executive Director Becky Oakes becomes MSHSAA’s first female executive director, and fifth overall.
-
The 1993–94 MSHSAA Handbook is increased in size from a booklet to its current 8.5 x 11 format.
-
Academic Competition (now called Scholar Bowl) is adopted by the membership on the 1994 Ballot. It is the first activity addition since the expansion of Debate to include Speech and Theatre events in 1960. Following this addition to the by-laws, an Advisory Committee spent a year planning for the activity, writing the manual, and preparing for the first state championship to take place in May of 1996.
-
Written by a special committee organized by Oakes, the MSHSAA Mission Statement is proposed to, and adopted by, the membership on the 1994 Annual Ballot.
-
The first Academic Competition (now Scholar Bowl) State Championships are held in May of 1996, in four classifications. This is the first new, non-athletic championship activity to be added to MSHSAA’s offerings since 1960.
-
State Football moves to the TWA Dome (now The Dome at America’s Center) and remains there through the fall of 2015.
-
The first MSHSAA website domain name is registered on November 11.
-
An amendment to the constitution allows for activities directors to be eligible for election to the MSHSAA Board of Directors if they hold their Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) designation and oversee both activities and athletics.
-
In December, the MSHSAA staff moves the MSHSAA office from its location on I-70 Drive to the new location on Keene Street. An open house is held in March of 2001.
-
The 1.35 enrollment multiplier for the classification of non-public schools is proposed via petition from the Northwest Board District and passes on the Annual Ballot.
-
In 2002, the classification system is revamped when basketball and music expand from four classes to five. All class labeling systems utilizing As are abandoned, and classes are labeled with numbers: Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, etc. Class 1 contains the schools with the smallest enrollments, and Class 5 schools are the largest. This class labeling system is still being used (as of 2026).
-
The board expands from eight members to ten to include representatives of two at-large regions which together overlap and encompass all eight Board Districts. These positions are filled by candidates representing either the under-represented gender of the current board or an under-represented ethnicity of the current board, to further represent the needs and desires of all member schools and student-athletes.
-
The membership approves high school cooperative sponsorships to assist small schools in offering additional sports and activities.
-
MSHSAA contracts with Lanit Consulting to create a new and expanded website, which is released in April 2007.
-
MSHSAA Executive Director Becky Oakes leaves MSHSAA to take a position with the National Federation of State High School Associations. Kerwin Urhahn is hired as the next MSHSAA Executive Director.
-
Following Oakes' departure due to a role with the NFHS in Indianapolis, Dr. Kerwin Urhahn, Superintendent at Portageville High School and MSHSAA Board Member, is hired as the next MSHSAA Executive Director.
-
Girls lacrosse is voted in as a MSHSAA sport offering to become effective in 2007–08, and in 2010 it becomes an “emerging” sport, and currently remains in that category with no state championship.
-
The membership amends the MSHSAA Constitution to remove the membership fee.
-
An amendment to the constitution guarantees there will be an activities director on the MSHSAA Board.
-
The student responsibility section of the Citizenship By-Law (212.0 at the time, 2.2 currently), which requires students to report situations that could affect their eligibility to their schools, is adopted by the membership.
-
After two years of experimentation regarding the allowance of Affiliate Registered Schools to compete against member schools, the membership votes favorably to amend the Constitution and retain the ARS allowance.
-
The membership votes to add a new emerging sports by-law to govern the addition of new activities and sports and set a timetable for their transition into fully interscholastic.
-
In addition to the printed version, the MSHSAA Official Handbook is made publicly available electronically on the MSHSAA website.
-
The MSHSAA Handbook is completely reorganized into six sections, and the by-laws are renumbered for a better flow and simpler future additions.
-
The membership amends By-Law 1.1.1 to allow competition against a student team of an approved home school association that meets a variety of criteria.
-
Four new emerging sports and activities are voted into MSHSAA’s offerings: bass fishing, bowling, chess, and target shooting. Currently (2026) these activities remain in the Emerging category.
-
In May, the first MSHSAA Girls Spring Softball State Championship is conducted in one classification.
-
The academic standards are first amended to address the eligibility of non-traditional students.
-
A MSHSAA Record Book feature is released on the website, making high school records available and searchable and allowing schools to submit records on the website for inclusion.
-
MSHSAA.TV is launched to provide streaming services under the MSHSAA name for District and State Series events, as well as providing a means and location for schools to stream their own contests.
-
The first MSHSAA Girls Wrestling State Championship is conducted in February in one classification.
-
In May, a tornado hits Jefferson City and severely damages the Jefferson City High School facilities where the second weekend of State Track & Field is to be held. The Class 3, 4, and 5 meets are quickly reorganized to take place at three different venues—Washington High School, the University of Missouri, and Battle High School in Columbia.
-
In March, the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic hits Missouri and MSHSAA, making interscholastic activities extremely difficult for approximately a year and a half.
-
On Saturday, March 14, Missouri is the only state in the nation still playing high school basketball; all other states have concluded or cancelled. With attendance restrictions, the Class 1, 2, and 3 State Basketball Tournament is completed, but the Class 4 and 5 State Tournament is cancelled the following week due to the COVID-19 State of Emergency.
-
On Thursday, April 9, a broadcast email is sent to the membership announcing the sad reality that the spring 2020 State Championships and Events must be cancelled after Governor Mike Parson announces all public schools in Missouri will close for the remainder of the year due to the pandemic.
-
Esports is voted in as an emerging activity on the 2020 Annual Ballot.
-
A revamped classification system, based on a maximum enrollment differential of 2.0, is implemented. The new system allows many sports and activities to add a class. At the same time, the 1.35 enrollment multiplier is eliminated and a Championship Factor point system for nonpublic and MSIP-exempt schools is put in place.
-
The COVID-19 pandemic continues. With modifications and safety measures, the fall season of 2020 commences, and at the conclusion of each season, State Championships are held. MSHSAA works through the remainder of the 2020–21 school year and activity seasons with adjustments and care.
-
A MSHSAA Constitutional amendment allows memberships to now include the sixth grade and defines the ninth grade as a grade only within a high school for activities purposes.
-
Kerwin Urhahn retires, and Jennifer Rukstad is hired as the seventh MSHSAA Executive Director.
-
Dr. Jennifer Rukstad is hired as the seventh MSHSAA executive director, replacing the retiring Dr. Kerwin Urhahn.
-
The MSHSAA Podcast is launched on December 14 with an episode introducing Executive Director Jennifer Rukstad.
-
The amateurism by-laws are first amended to define and carefully address “Name, Image, and Likeness.”
-
The Student Advisory Committee is restructured and modernized and given a voice with the board of directors.
-
Boys Volleyball becomes the first new fully-interscholastic sport for boys since boys soccer was added in 1969, and the first-ever MSHSAA Boys Volleyball Championship is conducted in May in one classification.
-
The amateurism by-laws are amended to fully integrate “Name, Image, and Likeness” language to assist the membership while still guarding against undue influence.
-
The definition of a bona fide student, and what constitutes a change in bona fide student status, in By-Law 2.1 is clarified with an associated penalty for violations.
-
The MSHSAA Memo is launched in September by Dr. Rukstad to streamline MSHSAA communications to the membership in a weekly electronic broadcast sent on Sunday evening.
-
A new studio space is completed at the MSHSAA office for podcasts, live broadcasts, and additional communications with the membership and the public.
-
MSHSAA’s Centennial Celebration of the 2025–26 school year officially begins on July 1.
-
Girls Flag Football and Unified Track & Field become emerging sports.
-
MSHSAA holds a fall Special Election Ballot to propose alterations to student eligibility standards due to an amendment to state law that allows students not enrolled in a member school to, under certain circumstances, participate at their public school of residency.
-
November 13 is the 100th anniversary of the initial meeting of Missouri stakeholders regarding the creation of a state athletic association.
-
December 12 is the 100th anniversary of the constitutional convention where the MSHSAA constitution was drafted and a Board of Control was elected.
-
February 4 is the 100th anniversary of the MSHSAA Constitution and By-Laws being adopted unanimously at the State Superintendents Meeting, marking the start of the Missouri State High School Athletic Association, later to be renamed the Missouri State High School Activities Association.
|
|