09/03/2026
THROWBACK THURSDAY AT THE LAKE
Do you know about the history behind Bob Shore and the success of Camdenton Lakers football program? The tradition of Camdenton Lakers football was built over decades, and at the center of that success was legendary head coach Bob Shore. Shore attended Cassville High School, where he was a standout football and basketball player, before graduating from Pittsburg State University in 1967. He began his coaching career at Seneca before taking an assistant coaching position at Jasper. After one year, he became Jasper's head coach in 1968 and posted a 20-16-1 record over four seasons. Shore then moved to East Newton, where his teams went 20-7 in three seasons. In the fall of 1975, Shore took over the Camdenton football program. His first Laker team had only 39 players on the roster, including just 26 sophomores through seniors. By 1977, those numbers had grown to 80 total players and 50 sophomores through seniors. That season, Camdenton went undefeated before falling to Columbia Rock Bridge, 7-6, in the Class 3 State Championship. The Lakers became a regular playoff contender throughout the 1980s before finally breaking through in 1986. Camdenton finished 12-0-1 and shared the Class 4 State Championship with Marshall following a 20-20 tie. A year later, the Lakers went 12-0 and defeated Sumner, 23-14, to capture another Class 4 state title. More championships followed. The 1995 Lakers finished 13-1 and rallied to defeat Jackson, 20-19, for the Class 4 championship. The 1999 team went a perfect 14-0 and defeated Jefferson City Helias, 15-14, for another state title. In 2005, Camdenton again finished 14-0, defeating Affton, 36-19, to claim the program's fifth state championship under Shore. Shore was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 and was named the Coach of the Century by the Springfield News-Leader in 2000. In August 2010, the Camdenton R-III School District honored his legacy by naming the Lakers' home field Bob Shore Stadium. Shore retired following the 2010 season with a 368-98-7 career record, including a remarkable 328-75-2 record during his 35 seasons at Camdenton. At the time of his retirement, he was the second-winningest coach in Missouri high school football history, trailing only Jefferson City's Pete Adkins. In 35 years at Camdenton, Shore's Lakers won 328 games, captured 23 district championships, made 10 Final Four appearances, finished as state runner-up twice and won five state championships. The legacy didn't end with Shore's retirement. In 2016, the entire Camdenton Lakers football program was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Thirty-five years. 328 wins. 23 district championships. 10 Final Fours. Five state championships. One incredible legacy.
