Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2000
- Class:
- 1966
Whitaker was a standout defensive back who was known for his jarring hits in the secondary. He lettered for Dan Devine’s teams in 1965-66 that went 14-5-2 and won the 1966 Sugar Bowl over Steve Spurrier and the Florida Gators. Whitaker was selected as the team co-captain his senior season and won all-Big Eight Conference and academic all-Big Eight honors that season. He led MU in interceptions as a senior, with six for 113 yards, including a critical interception return for a touchdown that produced a 21-14 victory over Illinois, in Champaign. An outstanding student, the Kansas City native received the prestigious NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship in 1967 and went on to work as a surgeon in the Kansas City area. His brother, Bill, was an all-America DB at Mizzou in 1980.
