Local author speaks to packed room at Rolling Hills Library

SAVANNAH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The room was packed with people wo came to hear from local author Karen S. Rudolph, an accomplished Savannah High School and University of Missouri alumna, who speak about her book 'Sidelined No Longer'.

During her time at Savannah as a student, Rudolph fought for equal opportunity for her and her classmates to have the same opportunities as their male classmates on the field. After graduating, she attended Mizzou and played on the university's first funded women's softball and basketball teams.

Wednesday was not a rare visit for Rudolph, who returns to her hometown almost every year; however, this visit had more meaning as she spoke to a full event room at the Savannah's Rolling Hills Library location.

This room was not only full of strangers intrigued by her story; it also featured many longtime classmates, teammates and loved ones.

"I'm feeling somewhat emotional knowing there will be so many family and friends here, people from high school, just people from my hometown. And just feeling their love and support," Rudolph said.

For the interest in her project, Rudolph believes that people are drawn to the process rather than the results that happen in the field of play.

"I think that (my book is) more than just sports stories, which are important, it's the resilience of these women who said about doing something that really had never been done before, and that's not just starting women's intercollegiate sports," Rudolph shared. "But also seeing that maybe the model that was being used for women's sports wasn't working, especially for all of the larger schools like the University of Missouri."

As women's sports continue to rise, Rudolph believes the stories of those who helped open the doors for today's evolution can help keep the fire burning and provide more opportunities for women's athletics.

"I hope that they would be inspired and challenged and would understand that this wasn't an easy thing. And, also, that many of these stories would have been lost had people like myself not set forth and said, I want to preserve these stories. These are important. And, the past slows down. So, yeah, a story of inspiration as much as anything, resilience, courage, and blazing a trail," she said.

For more details on events hosted by Rolling Hills Library in Savannah, click here. Those who are interested in purchasing a copy of Sidelined No Longer can click here.