Wilbur Braithwaite
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 24, 1926 Manti, Utah |
| Died | April 12, 2010 (aged 83) Manti, Utah |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1951–1988 | Manti High School (Utah) basketball |
| 1951–2005 | Manti High School (Utah) tennis |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 534–267 (basketball) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 11 Utah state tennis (1953, 1964, 1965, 1970, 1971, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1993, 1994) 1 Utah state basketball (1966) | |
| Awards | |
| Utah Coach of the Year (1966) Utah Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (UIAAA) Director of the Year (1982) President, Utah High School Basketball Coaches Association (1983–1984) UHSAA Coaching Award (1987–1988) UHSAA 2A Coach of the Year (1988) Utah Summer Games Hall of Honor (1988) NFHS National High School Hall of Fame (1989) UIAAA Distinguished Service Award (1989) Olympic Torch Bearer for Manti, Utah (2002) National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Award of Merit (2006) | |
| Records | |
| 0 technical fouls in 37 years as basketball coach | |
Wilbur T. Braithwaite (May 24, 1926 – April 12, 2010) was a high school basketball and tennis coach for Manti High School. He was honored with the NFHS Award of Merit in 2006,[1] and was selected as an Olympic torch bearer for his city Manti, Utah on February 5, 2002.[2]
"Coach" was also known as a poet, philosopher, business-owner, musician, composer, and pen-pal. He is believed to have written thousands of uplifting, hand-written letters over his life [3] to people all over the country including John Wooden and Bob Knight.[4]
Personal life and education
Wilbur Braithwaite was born to Charles G. and Eva Tuttle Braithwaite in Manti, Utah, and graduated from Manti High School. During World War II at the age of 18 years, he served in Company A of the 253rd Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division in the European Theater of Operations. He was injured by a "Bouncing Betty" landmine and took 11 months to recover.[4] He received the Purple Heart for these wounds received near the border of France and Southern Germany.[5]
After he returned home, Braithwaite enrolled at Snow College. He also attended Weber State College, and Utah State University and played basketball and tennis there. Ultimately he earned a master's degree in physical education and counseling from the University of Michigan.[6] He turned down a job offer to be a physical education teacher and tennis coach from Utah State University to work at Manti High School in 1951.
In 1952 on July 18 he married Jane Anderson in the Manti Utah Temple. Together they had 7 children. Braithwaite was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and one of the most visible and supportive members of the Braithwaite Family Organization. He died in his home in 2010.[5]
Coaching career
Braithwaite coached varsity tennis for 52 years, which included 11 state championship teams.[7] He provided 40 years of free summer tennis instruction. In 37 years of coaching high school basketball, Braithwaite never received a technical foul.[4]
Accomplishments and Honors
In 1999, Manti High School named its new gym and tennis courts after Braithwaite.[4] In 1989 he was inducted into the National Federation of State High School Associations Hall of Fame.[8] In 2004 he was inducted into the Utah Tennis Hall of fame,[7] and in 2006 he was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame.[9][10]
Philosophy
Braithwaite's philosophy appeared in coach's quarterly.[11] A poem of his appeared on the front page of The Washington Coach (the official publication of the Washington State Coaches Association) in fall 2002.[12]
See also
References
- ↑ "Wilbur Braithwaite (Utah) Award of Merit 2006". NFHS. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
- ↑ "Torch bearers". Church News. 2002-02-02. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
- ↑ Doug Robinson (2010-04-14). "Wilbur Braithwaite's loss felt by many". Deseret News. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Wharton, Tom (2010-04-12). "Legendary Manti High School coach was also a philosopher". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Wilbur Braithwaite Obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
- ↑ Jennings, Bruce (1994-09-10). "War-time pledge fulfilled in serving youth". Church News. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Utah Tennis Hall of Fame - Wilbur Braithwaite" (PDF), Utah Tennis Hall of Fame, Utah Tennis Association, November 2004, retrieved 2021-06-16
- ↑ "Inductees by State". NFHS. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
- ↑ "HALL OF FAME HONOREES". Utah Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
- ↑ "Utah Hall of Famers". Deseret News. 2006-11-16. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
- ↑ Laster, Akilah (2006-06-28). "Braithwaite values impact on lives more than his victories". Usatoday.Com. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
- ↑ "The Washington Coach, Fall 2020" (PDF). The Washington State Coaches Association. Fall 2002. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
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