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
Happy Belated Birthday Coach!I just listened to your interview with Michael Josephson and you are such an inspiration!Thank you for your ethics in sports and in life itself. Keep teaching…we have much to learn from you!From a proud Bruin and a son graduating from Purdue this year,who is proud to claim you as a Boilermaker!
Dear Coach Wooden – One of my favorite college moments was watching you and your team with your last NCAA championship in San Diego. I also had the privielge of personally congratulating you,in a hallway, under the stands of the S.D. sports arena. You are an inspiration to all who have coached and those of us who touch the lifes of students daily.
Happy Birthday,
Andrew Vasquez, Assistant Principal
Green Acres Middle School
1147 North Mooney Blvd.
Visalia, California 93291
Coach Wooden, Happy Birthday to you.. I love you, I still read your book ” They Call Me Coach ” I hope the Lord allows you to stay with us many more years. God Bless you and your family
Dear Coach Wooden,
This is a belated birthday wish for you from a fan who is grateful that I got to know you just a little as you visited my family home years ago for a Bruin Bench dinner when I was a young boy and you had a freshman named Lewis Alcindor (aka-Kareem).
I knew you were a great coach and winner but at that time I really did not understand that you are as much a teacher of ethical life lessons as you were a teacher of good basketball practices. Every time I have seen you as an adult, I have felt blessed to be able to say “hello” once again to a man who is truly an example of how to live a good life and how to share true wealth with those you have gotten to teach.
You are a blessing to humanity and a credit to living a life of wisdom and modesty in the midst of great success. Thank you for being the man and the example you are for all of us. You make me and others better people by your example.
Happy Birthday Coach!
With warm wishes….John O’Connor
Dear Coach:
Best wishes for a most joyous and memorable birthday celebration – Your life accomplishments, achievements,awards within the arena of athletic-and realm of scholastic competition are only surpassed by your exemplification of your character which assures a legacy of immortality in inspiring others to achieve and inner peace and self satisfaction in knowing that they have done their very best to be the best that they can be. May his blessings forever be upon you and your family.
Coach,
Thank you for all you have taught. You may not have realized that many of us learned from you indirectly through others who admired you. I was blessed to have a high school coach in the late 60’s who thought you were the best and modeled his teaching after yours. So I, too, had the opportunity to learn the lessons you taught.
Now that I am a manager in a large government agency, I see you as my role model and try to be the teacher you have always been.
Thank you for your wisdom and God bless
Mr. Wooden, I remember the Bruins and your national championships during the time I was in middle and high school. What I never knew until about a year ago, was what kind of person that you are.
I’ll bet that I have watched the HBO program named “The UCLA Dynasty,” more than six or seven times. I’m amazed how the players say even now, how much they learned from you beyond basketball.
I believe that you taught so many young men what life is about. They have all said that they did not know it at the time, but that you were so much more than a coach. Your coaching speaks for itself, but your mentoring has been so very much more valuable to so many.
In a small way, I feel some of what your players feel about you. You have been special to so many. I read your comments about how the day that you married your wonderful wife was the most special day of your life. How wonderful that someone who is famous for coaching and mentoring still has such a simple thing as his marriage, being the most wonderful day in his life!
Happy Birthday Mr. Wooden. I wish I could have met you and known you as a friend because I think you are special.
Tom
Happy Birthday,
I’m happy that you have lived to see your hard work and commitment reach so many people. Congratulations keeping the faith,fighting the good fight, and on a job well done!
Casey Crandall
Chavez County Character Counts Coach of the Year 2005.
Dear Coach Wooden — you have had significant influence on my personal and business life but you also have had an impact on all individuals I come in contact with as well. I have shared your book with well over 100 team members who work with me –all of whom have learned from your wisdom.
I wish you a very Happy 99th Birthday. Thank you for sharing your experience with all of us. Sincerely , Richie Brown
Coach Wooden – I have attempted to follow the principles set forth in your pyramid throughout my 30 years in athletics. For that I say thank you. I hope your day is full and life continues to treat you right! Happy birthday sir,thank you for everything you have provided for me to follow.
Kris Keith
Coach Wooden,
My teammate served you and your family at Marie Callenders when your kids took you out for birthday dinner/pie in 1986 and 1987. He brought to dorm a pie and we had a slice to celebrate your day! Troy Dueker was our point gaurd and your server, Pete Cassidy our coach at Northride. Happy B-Day and thanks for great memories and an excuse to have pie during preseason training.
Best Regards,
Ray Horwath
Dear Coach,
Just wanted to wish you a belated Happy Birthday and thank you for being such a positive influence for so long! My best to you always!
Coach Wooden, I hope you had a very happy birthday! Although there are many out in the world who have never met you in person, myself included, your teachings, through your speaking and writing, serve as a source of inspiration in our lives. Thank you for speaking to our souls in your most special way.
Coach Wooden,
Happy Birthday and many more!! You are my mentor and the mentor for hundreds of coaches!
Thanks so much for Modern Practical Basketball and for a life time of living a great example of how a life should be lived! I have met you and am grateful that I got the chance to shake your hand! Words alone cannot ever express how I feel about you, your character and what you have meant to me and my family!!
Thanks for everything,
Coach Fullmer
Palmer, Alaska
Coach Wooden,
It is with great honor and respect that I have this privilege to wish you a most happy (belated birthday! I have read all of your books, have given your Pyramid of Success to many of my former athletes who have played for me and followed many of your philosophies throughout my life. The most memorable would have to be that at one time I was ready to quit playing basketball in college. I read a quote you had in your book They Call Me Coach. “Who can ask more of a man, than giving all within his span. Giving all, it seems to me, is not so far from victory!” I have tried to live that quote every day of my life and I personally want to thank you for that! Have a great day and Happy Birthday!
Matt Beerbower
Auburn, Indiana
Home of Hoosier Hysteria!
Hey Coach! Happy Birthday!
You have been an inspiration to so many for so long and you are one of my greatest heros. I only wish that the coaches of today and the organizers of youth sports would listen to you and model your wisdom and ethics. You are the reason that I wanted to teach and coach, and while am not even a fraction of the person and coach you are I always try to let your pyramid of success and your little quotes of wisdom be my guide. Again, Happy Birthday and I only wish that I could meet you and tell you in person how much we all benefit by having you in our world. Your family should feel very blessed
Coach Wooden,
You need to know how much your life has meant to those who follow and love UCLA basketball. Thank you for your inspiration and high standards you’ve taught others.
In 1967, as a high school student, I had the oppurtunity to attend several games at Pauley Pavilion. Been a fan of yours ever since! God Bless!
Happy Birthday coach Wooden!Thank you for your vision and inspiration when it comes to teaching young people. I agree with you completely, coaches are teachers and we need to teach the importance of character not how many points you score! Here’s wishing you 99 more years!
Happy 99th birthday, Coach!
The footprint you have made in sports and beyond is huge. God Bless you!
Coach Wooden-
You have inspired me more than words can ever share. Since reading your co-authored book Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success, I have relayed your life lessons to middle school students from my school where I have the privilege to serve as Principal. We are in a devastated area of CA hit hard by the economic times–yet character is the one true lesson that will always endure through it all. Thanks for your 99 Years of wisdom and all you have done to give back to our society.
Brian
Principal, Rivera Middle School, Merced, CA
Happy Birthday Coach. Today we celebrate your 99th year of making a difference in people’s lives. From that first day in your parent’s arms, some of the finest in basketball, to the youngsters today that read of your legendary charter. We respect, admire and love you!
The Moore’s
Happy birthday coach Wooden!
Thank you for the positive example you have been as a coach/teacher for countless young men for so many years.
Coach Wooden, when I first started coaching in 1971, you were my mentor. Your Pyramid of Success was the blueprint for my leadership style. You were way ahead of your time…today’s top businesses and corporations including the U.S. Armed Forces now all have a strategic plan that contains their core beliefs and values and their mission statement. Your Pyramid of Success was your set of belief statements and core values. I have no doubt that the Pyramid had something to do with this now common practice in great businesses and organizations today. It was and still is a great influence in all that I do. Thank you and happy birthday.
Happy Birthday, Coach Wooden! The game of basketball is one great venue in which to learn how to approach the bigger “game” of life. As my son embarks on his high school basketball career it’s wonderful to be able to share your wisdom with him-lessons for success for life.
Coach Wooden,
I have followed your teams, career, and writings since I was a young boy. You will never know the influence you have had on my life. I have the privilege of coaching baseball at a small Christian College. Your words and style have help form my approach to teaching baseball. Thank you and “Happy Birthday”
Happy 99th Birthday Coach Wooden. The greatest coach ever, without a doubt!
When people ask me who I would most like to be like,or who I look up to the most, the answer has always been John Wooden. God Bless and Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday Coach. I have been using your perimid of success during my 40 years of coaching high school baseball. Thank you. Coach Guy Anderson
Coach Wooden,
All the best wishes for a happy birthday. Your guidance and philosophy have been godsends for coaches in all sports. May your words continue to influence those who give their time to help young people enjoy athletics and learn the qualities of character that you have espoused. Thank you for your inspiration.
Hi Coach,
Happy birthday to a man who has surely has given only his best to those around him.
Fred D.
Feliz Cumpleanos!!! Thank you for being an inspiration to me. I am an elementary school principal and I use your words of wisdom on a daily basis to lead well and provide my students an excellent education! Enjoy your day!
Coach Wooden,
Tomorrow my dad turns 83. You are both great men, and have both influenced me greatly. I am so proud to say that now my daughters read your books and admire you (and their Grandpa) as well. Thanks for all you have done for our great university, for all the people you’ve known who’ve you’ve touched, but maybe best of all, people like me who you don’t know, but have touched so much. We all love and admire you!
Coach: you have taught millions you have never met, even though we feel like we have met you. Keep writing, keep teaching as long as you can; we need every lesson you have and sincerely appreciate what you have given us, the students you have never met.
Happy Birthday!
A Very Happy Belated Birthday to the Greatest Coach of All-Time, Coach Wooden. You are an inspiration to all. I hope your 99th Birthday was everything you wished for and more.
Coach,
Happy belated birthday, thanks for making the world a better place. Continued success in everything you do.
Happy Birthday Coach Wooden. Although basketball is, to me, the best game in the world because of the mental & physical aspects involved within this athletic endeavor, hearing you state being a good person, education, and preparation are more important is so inspiring. You’ve been a tremendous influence to me and my family here in Navajoland.
Happy Birthday from Indianapolis! You are an inspiration.
-kai-
Happy 99th birthday Coach Wooden!
It is with great respect, honour and gratitude that I stand to wish the man whose books and coaching has influence my life and all the hundreds of children I teach HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN AREAS. May God keep and give this great man, father, and friend many more days.I feel so great each time I hear this name. that is why I have given a competition in your honour.
May the Almighty God bless You always.Mbella
Happy Birthday, Coach.
You are the best ever.
God Bless You.
Gilbert B. Battung
Dear Coach Wooden,
I grew up back east watching you & your teams dominate collegiately in the 60’s.
What an indelible impression UCLA basketball & the university had on me at that time & still does to this day, as I’m a very proud staff member of the Bruin DOM.
Happy (belated) Birthday Coach…there are a few very good 99’s in L.A., Gretz, Manny…but you’re truly the greatest!
Coach – Happy Birthday and Best Wishes to you. You have certainly made a profound impact on countless individuals over the years, including me. As a youngster growing up in a small Indiana town (Jasper), I found myself being a rare Bruin fan in the land of Hoosiers and Boilermakers. You knew of my father – Cyril Birge – and his years of officiating, including games at ISU and UCLA for you. Cyril passed away just over a year ago at age 93, and I to know he cherished the time he spent with you. You made a significant impact on me, as you may recall, as I headed west and attended UCLA. I am just one of thousands who have learned so much by your life’s teachings. Hope you enjoyed your birthday, and the many more to come.
Bob Birge
Indianapolis
Happy 99th birthday, coach!The 100th will be the sweetest ever. You have brought a life model reference to many of us and shown it to us with clarity and simplicity. Your love for teaching and coaching reflects how much you care about life, what makes it and its essence. Thank you.
Hey Coach!
You may not realize it, but throughout my life you have been one of the best coaches I have had. I want to wish you a happy birthday, and thank you for providing the guidelines which I use as a compass for my life.
My favorite advice: “Put the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.”
Happy Birthday Coach!
Brian Leininger
John,
I’m sending my birthday greetings to you belatedly so your birthday celebration can be extended.
We’ve had many interesting conversations at Purdue and I truly appreciated the greeting you sent me on my 75th fourteen years ago. Whatever the record of longevity may be, go for it.
Enjoy each day. Congratulations on your special achievements.
Hail Purdue!!Red Anderson ‘47
Happy Birthday Coach Wooden. I recall as a boy growing up watching your UCLA basketball teams and my beloved Alabama football teams led by Coach Bryant. Both of you represented greatness and I’ve applied your teachings in many facets of my life since. Thanks for being a wonderful example on so many levels for so many years.
Hi Coach Wooden: I want to join the thousands who have already wished you the happiest of birthdays. Not only are you the greatest coach ever, you are also an icon in morality and a leader for so many. I recently went up to say hi to you at Pauley during Coach Val’s Women Gymnastics. Not only were you cordial, you were so sincere in your thanks to me for things we had in common in the past. I was close friends with Lewis and you remembered the details. I will again be with you celebrating your 100th birthday. Thank you for being you.
Happy Birthday Coach….. you once signed a baseball cap for my dad for his 100th birthday…when he passed away at 104, it was one of his prized possessions. Hope to send one to you on your 100th. Meanwhile enjoy your 99th, you have been such an inspiration to so many and we wish you albeit belated many happy returns…
Wonderful tributes to such a fine man on his 99th!!! Thank you for sharing them with all of us who had written in…I sent in a birthday greeting within the time limit, I believe…but if Coach Wooden didn’t get it earlier, I still would say “I hope your birthday was the best ever, ever!!!”
Shirley Harper