University of Wyoming - WYO Yearbook (Laramie, WY)

Page 9 text:

fite

Page 8 text:

THE ifc DENVER POST 49ta Mm f I HOT T 1948 Wyo e o The University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyo. To the WYO Staff: 0m MU - A D , Ri co Dy ' MPS °N OMHyo DENVER 1. COLORADO wov. 13, 19 7 I am honored to be asked by the Staff of the 1948 WYO, the University ' s year- book, to write its dedication to the late, great John Corbett. However, I fear that I cannot qualify. The John Corbett I knew was associated with athletics. The John Corbett whose memory is to be honored in your forth- coming yearbook was, over and above all else, a builder of men and of character. There are some who say collegiate athletics are not worthwhile. I hold differ- ently. I so hold because of men like John Corbett. He, it is true, loved to win. He hated to lose. But in victory he was gracious. And in defeat, he took it, chin up, head erect, determined to go on. As an athletic chief, he instilled this in the young men who were schooled under him. Because of their association with John Corbett, the men of his athletic teams at Wyoming University went out into the everyday, work-aday world better fitted for the tasks and the realities which they faced. I know many of the men who played under John Corbett. And I know they are better men because of that association thru the formative years in which he was their mentor and their guide. These men could tell you how this gentle gentleman came out from Harvard to teach Wyoming Cowboys the ungentle art of football, and to instill in them a love for all competitive sports. John Corbett came to Wyoming in 1914. With his advent a new spirit came to the institution - - a spirit which has carried on largely because of the heritage which he left behind him at his passing. I could write at great length of some of John Corbett ' s Wyoming victories. How, for example, in his first year his team defeated Utah 13 to 7. I might retell the story of the Mines game (Wyoming 16, Mines 6), revenge indeed for that first intercollegiate lacing the Cdwboys suffered. Or that great 18 to 17 victory over the then powerful Creighton Club, and with a Wyoming team that from end to end, and in the backfield, averaged 152 pounds. But this would not be the story of John Corbett. For neither story of victory or story of defeat is the story of The Father of Athletics at Wyoming U. John Corbett ' s story can be told only by the men who played under him. I wish I had. ' Jack Carberry, Sports Editor The Denver Post rLEN 0. STANTON GLE ,cv AT LAW TT0RN B l„M.BAHK.LOO. MOH« gar — nvT rj Staff. lng8 of incompf ™ g De8r It is with rf gl 5S?»1 ftSU! win + . ££ about ««2f£» « 1» VU« ' a tads . ne «+ a time «h en a ™t.„. Miner diversity- s taff of . ° ■ « staff; ' is a most , 48 TO + fife S 7 i«f « -W A a Ij » . • - - nuajop. . : «s » aa ea in my- , .. A magnify 8 • ssons, ,„ ,T Pon hard II . B e ws» ' he »as «. Sk « «. , tri ™ 1 la y down hf ' yOMite. „V ee l U..+ u Iff aople w a - «d cordial y° 8 ' s ia»ton OGS s FRED W. LAYMAN COUNTY aw PROSECUTING ATTORNEY CITY and COUNTY BUILOINO CASPER. WYOMING December 31, 1947 1948 WYO University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming To the WYO Staff J John Corbett had been known for many years as the Grand Old Man of Wyoming University athletics and he well merited his title. When he came to Wyoming in 1914 to accept the position of coach and director of athletics, the athletic department existed in name only. Undaunted he worked increasingly to build up strong teams. There were defeats, of course, but there were also victories which indicated Wyoming teams were strong competition to conference teams. When he retired as coach of football and basketball, Wyoming had a record of which it was proud. Coach Corbett had a gruff way of speaking which concealed the warm sympathy which he displayed to his injured players. Then too, he was capable of delivering an address of polished oratory at a University Assembly when the occasion called for it. In order to attract more students to the University, he promoted the Annual High School Basketball Tournaments with outstanding success . John Corbett retired from active coaching in 1939. He died February 21, 1947, but to his friends and athletes, the old adage is brought to mind, To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. Yours truly, FWL m Enc.

Page 10 text:

.. flSfflH President GEORGE DUKE HUMPHREY W AHhMB BfflflKffl til m mm Wnm HUH IHi lllMHIIII IU