Wish Coach Wooden A Happy Birthday
October 7th, 2009 by admin
As Coach celebrates another birthday in a life well lived, please celebrate with him and send him your best.
As Coach celebrates another birthday in a life well lived, please celebrate with him and send him your best.
Don Yaeger, Co-Author
A Game Plan for Life
The Power of Mentoring with John Wooden
Coach Wooden,
A very happy 99th birthday to you. Your thoughtful words cross my mind daily.
I wanted to let you know that I am having a wonderful time coaching your great grandaughter, Lacey, on the freshmen girl’s cross country team. She is a very sweet young lady who works hard at her sport.
Best wishes!
Jim Turner
Happy Bithday Coach. I have watched your teams since 1952. although from
Nebraska, I have been your fan since your were All American, Your graduated from college the year i graduated from High School. I am nearly 89. God bless you Coach. BD
I
Coach, wishing you so much love, peace, joy, and great health today and every single day.
I’m a mom of two boys who played sports. I really enjoy your Pyramid of Success. Thank you for all that you have given to others. You truly are inspiring!
Happy Birthday, Coach! Wishing you a million times over all of the love,care,respect and dedication that you have shown to countless others. Thank you for inspiring so many to do so much!
Coach Wooden, happy birthday.
To be called “Coach” even after retirement is a sign of what you have done to basketball.
Congratulations and, of course, thank you for everything.
Lucky enough to attend UCLA (1970-1974), I was never more elated than when I was able to watch the UCLA basketball games. Since 1975, I’m living in Germany and no other basketball game nor team could top Woody’s team. Thank you for the inspiration you have given so many people around the world.
Evelyn. 18 Oct. 2009
Happy Birthday, Coach Wooden!
As a kid growing up, I watched your teams play. I grew to love the sport of basketball, because of you and the giants that you coached. Most of all, though, I think it was your quiet faith that got my attention. Thank you for a wonderful example and witness you are!
Today, I teach in an inner city school. Many of my students aspire to play basketball and football. I use your quotes often in my class, hoping that they will eventually get the idea that they are more than just a ball in their hands… that they can be anything they want to be as long as they TRY to do more than is expected of them!
Blessings, Coach, and thank you for making the world a better place just by being in it!
Cindy in OKC
Best birthday wishes to an American icon.
Hi Coach Wooden,
Happy birthday. I was a student at UCLA from 67-70 – the greatest years. I also wrote sports features for the DB and had the honor and privilege of interviewing you many times visiting your home to write a feature on your late wife. Meeting this lovely lady was a high light of my years at UCLA. I moved to Israel after graduation, but my parents always sent me articles about you and the Bruins. You are still such an inspiration and a man I will always admire and respect. Wishing you many more healthy years.
Sincerely,
Galia Sprung (Gay Miller)
Zufim, Israel
Best birthday wishes to an American.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY COACH WOODEN
THE MEMORIES HAVE BEEN GREAT.
99 DOWN 99 YEARS TO GO!!
JEFF LEVIE
Coach,
You have been an influence and an inspiration to thousands, if not millions. You have not only affected athletes, but also those that are on the periphery. You have not only coached on the court, but have been a coach of life.
I take your wisdom with me where ever I can. It is God driven and directed. It empowers me as I work with my clients as a career and life coach. You are my mentor.
Thank you and happy birthday.
Chad Daniels
DayStar Career and Life Coaching.
Dear Coach Wooden,
Thank you for being who you are, and for all you have done.
Best wishes for a very happy birthday!
-Joanne Bockian
UCLA ‘71
(Women’s Gymnastics Team)
Dear Coach Wooden,
I attend your basketball camps during in 1972-1973 when Cal Lutheran was still just a college.
Your camp taught us to retain more about basketball during those weeks than we could possibly imagine. Even today when playing a “friendly” family pick up game, I still get into the defensive stance that you instructed us on. It is just not as low a stance as it once was.
Your teachings about the Pyramid of Success have stuck with me over the years. I cannot thank you enough.
The camp photos with you from that time are still in the family photo album. My ten year old son knows who you are and of your teachings. He only wishes that he were able to sustain the defensive stance and slide as long as me in the 8mm home movies that he has seen.
Happy Birthday Coach.
Dear Coach Wooden,
I have been a Chief of Police for over 26 years (out of a 37-year career)with 11 protege that have become police chiefs, as well.
You have been a hero and role model of mine since my childhood, and every life that I have touched has indirectly been touched by you.
It is an honor and a pleasure to have this opportunity to wish you a Happy Birthday!
Best regards and please enjoy the wonderful fulfilment of having touched so many lives and of making the world a better place because of your charachter and your work!
Chief William Kelly
happy be;ated birthday to a true pioneer of the greatest game ever !!!
Thanks for the great life lessons and the fantastic basketball during my 5 years at UCLA (Sep 63 thru Jun 68). It was a great privilege to be a part of the Bruin basketball band all those years, sitting at center court at Pauley. Happy Birthday, Coach. We love you. Tom & Lynne Hennig, Concord, NC
Congratulations, you are a true American icon!
Coach,
Happy Belated Birthday!!! Thank you for being such an inspiration to so many people. I had the pleasure of hearing you speak several years ago, and will always treasure that. Thanks for continually touching lives!!
Kathy Britt
Indianapolis
Coach, I am privileged to have the opportunity to wish you a happy birthday. I am a high school president and former hoop coach who was mentored by you from afar while you were at UCLA. I can’t tell you enough how much you did and do influence me not only when I coached but in my 40 years of dealing with young men and women. “Where else could I have found more splendid company”.
Prayers and good wishes to you.
Respectfully,
Tim McDonald
I want to wish you a healthy and enjoyable 99th year. I ave been living in Israel for the past 27 years
and quite frequently I tell people here about You and the UCLA teams. I didn’t attend UCLA but from the time that Lynn Shackelford
(I’m from Burbank) started playing with that other guy, what’s his name.. Lew something, I never missed listening or watching every game. We were good friends of Seymour Armond and he used to influence us.
All the best from the Holy Land,
Brian Kinsbursky
Happy Belated Birthday!
God’s Blessings
Dear Coach Wooden,
I have followed your career for many years. I have always admired your approach to coaching and the ability you have to make your philosophies real and meaningful to the everyday person.
Thank you for what you have done and for being a real role model to those of us who have been athletes, business people and family members.
A very happy birthday to you!!!!
Dear Coach Wooden, My father, Harry, who is 95 years old, and I want to wish you a very wonderful birthday. Our family are all Bruin fans and have followed your career for many many years. This greeting brings with it lots of love. Rose & Harry
Dear Mr Wooden
You look fantastic and I still remember when we met at V.I.P. restaurant. You are a gentleman of great integrity and you possess goodness which is rare indeed. God’s blessings, always.
Mary Frazier
happy birthday Coach. I used to watch your UCLA weekly shows with my father when growing up and they really helped me to shape my life! Thanks a million and best to you!
Hi Coach Wooden,
Happy (belated) birthday!
You don’t know me, however, I’d like to thank you very much for all your inspiring ways to do the right things in life. You have touched many people throughout the world and taught us the “Pyramid of Success”. We all appreciate your teachings! Wishing you many more wonderful years and I hope that in one of those years, I may have the privilege to meet you, personally!
Yours sincerely,
Fran
Happy Birthday from a longtime fan. Thank you for teaching me how to coach and I’ve tried to teach my kids from your playbook. – Paul
For many years I have coached middle school girls in basketball. I have always used your pyramid of success with my teams. One of things I do is make my girls memorize your definition of success. When I was in college I heard you speak at a coaches conference and since then have never had any one person inspire me as a coach the way you did. God truly blessed this world and the sport of basketball with you.
Vicki Arnold
Spokane Washington
Dear Coach Wooden,
I grew up in San Diego, California and remember the basketball days and even met Bill Walton when he was into bicycling.
Been living in Finland for 20 some years, but your books and the wisdom and advice from them have greatly inspired me.
It’s a pleasure to wish you a happy birthday.
I try to live your lessons!
Regards,
Michael Haralson
Dear Coach, I grew up in Riverside playing basketball (graduated HS in ‘75). But I did not get to UCLA until ‘82 for graduate school. You were sometimes walking the grounds and a number of times you sat on a bench with me for a few minutes and asked about my studies. Always a treat for me. Thank you for taking time out of your day for a plain old engineering PhD student. You always were and will always be the best. Happy birthday – James McCarthy
Dear Coach Wooden,
I was a nurse at UCLA Medical Center from 1966-1971 and attended many a game at Pauley Pavillion. Much admiration for you and your coaching skills. Thank you so much for a great run!
My best to you and your family.
Respectfully, Ann Marie Ronders
Dear Coach Wooden:
I first started watching UCLA basketball in 1951 on TV- You coached Bragg, Livingston & Moore and the following 1952 season Nauls & Taft. Since, I grew up in Los Angeles you were my favorite coach. I have your book,”They Call Me Coach” signed by you. I was proud to meet you at a public speaking meeting & later met one of your favorite players, Denny Crumb at Los Angles Pierce College.
Please have a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY #99, and I look forward to saluting you on your centennial birthday next year in 2010. God bless & keep you healthy. You are a Bruin treasure & may you make each year your masterpiece.
Your fan for 58 years & wishing you the best in life,
Gary H. Roller
Agoura Hills, CA
A year of good wishes. Your advice helps me be a better person and composer. Happy birthday!
Dear Coach Wooden,
Sir, I’m a retired U.S.Marine Corps Officer with over 30 years service, and you should know you’ve been my role model ever since day one. I’m retired now teaching leadership to Kentucky police officers. All of your books are required reading;and, The pyramid of success is the model used when teaching chief administrators. You have influenced generations all over the world; you are a role model for all leaders.
Happy Birthday sir, and what an honor it is to send this to you.
Ken Morris
CWO5 USMC (ret)
Dear Coach Wooden,
I hope you had a wonderful 99th birthday celebration. I have been a fan of yours for a very long time and even have your Pyramid of Success hanging in my bedroom. I hope to play at UCLA some day where your legend will live on forever. Congratulations on the milestone.
Sean Bird
Happy Birthday Coach Wooden!
It was a pleasure to meet you at UCLA a few years ago. Thanks for all the joy and inspiration you have brought through the years.
Wishing you happiness and the best of health!
Best wishes, Coach Wooden, for a Happy 100th year ahead. Thank you for all you’ve done to help shape the lives of so many, and for helping to “build for the years that be” for my little daughter who follows me.
Happy Birthday Mr. Wooden. I saw the 1970 NCAAA courtside from behind the Jacksonville bench. John Vallely and Henry Bibby played great. I’ve used your pyramid while I coached in high school. I have been teaching in college for past fifteen years. Thank you for being a role model.
Coach Wooden,
Please forgive the belated timing of this note but I nevertheless wanted to wish you a wonderful 99th birthday. I am a former “camper” of yours from many years ago (early 70’s if my memory serves) and have enjoyed your books and teaching ever since. Thanks for being an inspiration to so many.
Best regards,
Brian C. Mott
Coach,
You continue to inspire.
Press on!
Hope you had a great birthday!
Jim
As a montana boy who has coached basketball for 30 years and as a sc fan for 45 years I want to tell you that I have the utmost respect and admeration you as a person and coach. You are the gratest.
Happy birthday Coach Wooden. My children and I had the honor and privilege of having dinner with you at the Valley Inn on 9/18/07. It was a memory of a lifetime. Your graciousness and wisdom are unparalled.
Parabéns!
Happy birthday !
You are a example for all the basketball lovers!
Happy Birthday and thanks for your eternal influence.
Hi Coach,
I hope you recall that my girlfriend Laurie Kasper and I came to your condo two years ago when you signed some things (including a t-shirt) for my sister’s 50th birthday and we took some pictures.
I also left you a sheet of fish photos that I took as a 97th b-day present for you, and you and I discussed them in some detail before Laurie and I left.
So now I can again – but belatedly – wish you a happy 99th. I’ve been out scuba diving on a boat in La Paz, Mexico, for the last week, taking more photos. If you’d ever like to see some new ones, just let me know and I’ll be happy to come over and share them with you.
Thanks so much for your time two years ago and I hope your 99th was pleasant. I’m looking forward to telling you the same thing on your 100th.
- Ken
God bless you. You’re the greates coach and greates living person. You’re the legend.
Happy 99th Birthday from Poland!
Coach, you’ve been my idol for years… Happy Birthday!!! Wishin you live for a whole millenium
Happy Birthday Coach Wooden! In school, I did my current event on your birthday! (My teacher was surprised) Your family is very blessed to still have you! Your the BIG 99!! Next year, 100!!!! Happy Birthday! You’re the best!
Happy Birthday Coach. Thanks for making UCLA one of the best basketball programs and schools around.