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Charles Byers (1950) - Basketball, Baseball, Track

Name
Charles Byers
Class
1950
Category
HoF Individual
Induction Year
2013

Chuck was raised in Longview, and started playing basketball while attending junior high school.  He played basketball three of his four years of high school and was a member of the State Tournament team, played baseball his sophomore year and was team manager his junior and senior years.  In his senior year Chuck decided to go out for track and was the #1 800 runner that year, he was awarded the Johnny Hammer award his senior year for his excellence as an athlete.  He went on to attend Lower Columbia College, played basketball both years and was the football manager the fall of 1950.  After graduating from LCC, Chuck went on to Seattle Pacific University to complete his college education and played JV basketball in 1951 & 1952 and played varsity basketball 1952 to 1954.  While at SPU he decided to try out for track, he lettered 3 years in the 880, mile and two mile relays.  He ran in the state meet 3 years, qualified for the national meet in 1955.  He also ran in the Drake University relays in 1953, 1954 and 1955, finished 4th in 1953, 2nd in 1954 and 4th again in 1955. Chuck was inducted into the SPU Legends Hall of Fame in 2009.  Chuck went on after graduating from Seattle Pacific University, to start his career in education as a coach of football, basketball and track at Sequim Jr./Sr. High School.  After his term at Sequim he went on to coach Track at the following schools Mark Morris, Columbia (White Salmon), Castle Rock, Rainier and Lower Columbia College.  As a head coach his record is remarkable, two state 3rd place finishes, one state 4th place finish, eight state individual Champions, six runner ups and one Community College NWAACC Championship.  Chuck has coached some remarkable high school athletes who have gone on to the college level to compete.