Kansas State University Honors Coach Tex Winter by Kelly Mchugh Such Insight
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You may have read in Larry Weigel, former Wildcat bas- Fondness, respect and good memo- yesterday's K-State Sports Extra, K- ketball player who played for Winter ries, that's something every conversa- State Honors Winter | Part 1, (a more from 1962-66, hand delivers a birth- tion about Winter had in common over in depth look at the Tex Winter Drive day cake to his old coach. the weekend as numerous former unveiling ceremony) that Larry The cake’s shape? Wildcats got together to celebrate K- Weigel, a letterwinner from 1962-66, A triangle, of course. State's Legends Weekend in conjunc- brings Winter a triangular shaped Known throughout the world of tion with the unveiling of the brand- birthday cake each and every year. basketball as the creator of the strate- new Tex Winter Drive last Saturday. This year, on February 22, Weigel will gic triangle offense, Winter started Starting out his basketball career as help Coach Winter celebrate his 93rd his successful 61-year coaching an assistant for legendary head coach birthday with another triangle cake. career at K-State in 1947 as an assis- Jack Gardner, Winter was an assistant tant to Wildcat legendary, hall of coach at K-State from 1947-51. While each player that stepped on fame coach Jack Gardner. After a Former K-State Basketball Coach Tex Winter "Back in 1947, I was Tex Winter's the court for Coach Winter has their two-year stint as the head coach at first recruit, and he's been sorry ever fair share of stories, they all also Marquette, Winter returned to K- Mr. K-State, Ernie Barrett, to the game. “When you come into since," laughed Mr. K-State, Ernie learned lessons from the unique, hard- State in 1952 to take over for Gardner group of former players, family and Bramlage, you have Jack Hartman Barrett, as he spoke to the group of working coach. The lessons learned and then spent 15 years as the fans gathered at the sign unveiling cer- Drive - one of the greatest coaches in Wildcat Legends, family and friends from Winter differed depending on the Wildcats’ head coach. Posting a 261- emony. “Coach Winter is in the program history - and now when you at the unveiling ceremony. "Coach, I player, but they were lessons that 118 record, Winter built K-State into National Collegiate Basketball Hall of come to our practice facility you’ve can't say enough nice things about you stuck with these Wildcats for life. a national powerhouse as he led the Fame, the Naismith Memorial got Tex Winter Drive. Both of them here this morning. I think what we're Wildcats to eight Big 8 titles, six trips Basketball Hall of Fame, the K-State are special to, not only K-State, but the doing here today is indeed an honor Here's a look at a few of the lifelong to the NCAA Tournament and two University Sports Hall of Fame, and history of collegiate basketball. for not only a great person, but some- lessons Winter's players learned: trips to the Final Four (1958 and also the State of Kansas Hall of Fame. “Those guys paved the way for (my one who is very successful and well 1964). So coach, I don’t know how many team),” continued Weber. “They did- recognized with Kansas State Frank Arnold, 1964-66: "The So on Saturday, when K-State more hall of fames you will be able to n’t have the practice facility, the char- University." biggest lesson I learned from Tex was Athletics unveiled its new sign nam- be in!” ter flights. They didn’t have that stuff, Taking over as the Wildcats' head that accomplishment without effort is ing the road leading to K-State’s Everyone let out a laugh with so we’re all taking the benefit of what coach in 1953, he became the most meaningless. I came to K-State as a Basketball Training Facility “Tex Barrett’s words. those other guys did in the past.” successful coach in K-State men's bas- junior college player, and, before K- Winter Drive,” it was an honor to not “I think what we’re doing here In the summer of 1960, Max Moss ketball history in his 15 years at the State, I had floated through and gotten only Winter, but all who had the today is indeed an honor for not only a packed up a bag and headed west with helm of the program. lots of awards and scholarship offers, opportunity to play for the legendary great person, but someone who is very his coach, Tex Winter. "We have kept in good touch over but I ended up here and I was not coach. successful and well recognized with The two would head for the beauti- the years, especially because I was allowed to rest on my past. I under- “I’m very, very impressed, and I Kansas State University,” Barrett con- ful Colorado Rocky Mountains where involved with coaching," said Winter's stood that lesson and it's served me appreciate the athletics department tinued. “Coach, I can’t say enough Winter hosted a basketball camp every former player and 2013 K-State Sports well throughout my business career. recognizing Tex like this,” said nice things about you here this morn- summer. Hall of Fame inductee Roy DeWitz. It's been the forefront of my life. Weigel. “He’s an icon. This is very ing.” "I worked two summers out at a "The nice thing about it is that he still Reward without effort is meaning- well deserved.” After Barrett spoke, Voice of the camp in the Rocky Mountains," said remembers you. I was on his very first less." Celebrated in conjunction with the Wildcats Wyatt Thompson took the Moss at the K-State Legends Weekend championship team with Jack Parr. At Phil Heitmeyer, 1959-62: "The school’s annual men’s basketball podium and said the words everyone reunion in the Basketball Training Parr's funeral last week, I said, 'Tex teamwork. We had five guys that came Legends’ Weekend, the unveiling of had been waiting for. Facility. "He had a basketball camp Winter was the greatest thing that ever in as freshmen then we went through Tex Winter Drive took place on “On this 24th day of January, 2015, out there, so I worked as a camp coun- happened to us. He took two kids who and graduated together as seniors. Saturday morning before K-State we are proud to dedicate this road that selor for two summers between my were a sight unseen - Jack Parr and They were all really good people defeated Oklahoma State, 63-53, in prominently leads to the Wildcats’ freshman and my junior year. I got to Roy DeWitz - and wasn't sure they thanks to him. Tex always recruited Bramlage Coliseum. Basketball Training Facility, let it ever know him on a different level than just could play, but after four years he did- good people, and it was an honor to “I think it’s about time, there’s no be known as Tex Winter Drive,” my coach; he became a very, very n't want to trade us.'" play for someone like that." doubt about that,” said Roy DeWitz, a announced Thompson. good friend of mine. He means a lot to DeWitz played for K-State from 2013 member of the K-State Athletics With that, Winter, Barrett and K- me." 1955-58 and was a member of Larry Weigel, 1962-66: "Tex has Hall of Fame who had a successful State Director of Athletics John Currie Moss played for K-State from 1960- Winter's first team to make it to a Final been a great influence on my life. We career playing for Winter from 1956- unveiled the new sign. All in atten- 64. He was a member of the 1964 Four in 1959. After his time as a play- remained in touch all these years. I 58. “Tex spent 16 years here and dance let out a cheer. Wildcat squad that made it to the Final er at K-State, DeWitz began a coach- think that he's a down to earth, very made the department a national Tex Winter Drive is now forever a Four and saw three Big 8 Champions ing career of his own, starting with six humble man. He's a coach that prominence. I’m so glad they have a part of K-State history. Located just during his time at K-State. years as the head coach at Manhattan Michael Jordan praised as one of the Tex Winter Drive now.” off of Kimball Avenue at Gate 7, the "During the three years I was eligi- High School before spending three best of all the coaches he'd ever had.