Obituary for Charles Hetrick

Charles Wayne Hetrick, Sr., better known to some as “Coach,” passed from this life on November 27, 2014, at the age of 93 at his home in Stillwater, OK. He was a long-time wrestling coach and teacher in Oklahoma and loved farming activities at the family farm west of Blackwell, OK.

He was born to Delta Pearl Steele and Lewis Marion Hetrick on March 14, 1921 in Versailles, Illinois. He moved to a farm near Wellington, KS in 1926 with his family. In 1928 he moved to Blackwell, OK with his mother and four sisters after the deaths of his brother, Melvin in 1925 and his father in 1928.

He attended school in Blackwell and graduated in 1941, lettering three years in football, four years in wrestling and three years in track. He was the co-captain of the wrestling team and state champion his senior year when Blackwell won their first state wrestling championship. He was elected to Boys State and was the first Maroon Spirit at Blackwell High School, an award which embodies the characteristics of “the best of the best,” that being high moral standards, honor, fair play, leadership, strength and loyalty.

In the fall of 1941 he enrolled at Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater, OK on a wrestling scholarship. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, he withdrew from school and joined the United States Marine Corp spending two and a half years in the Pacific Theater of War. He was stationed in Samoa where he visited many years later with his wife, Dorothy. He was a proud Marine and proud of his service to his country. He displayed the American flag every day that he was able on the flag poles that he made. Returning to the US in 1944, he married Dorothy Mae Kriter, of Blackwell, OK, daughter of Leona Cecilia Bonewell and Forest William Kriter. They celebrated their 70th anniversary this past summer.

He was discharged from the Marine Corps in January 1946 enrolling at Southwestern Tech in Weatherford, OK. After one year at Tech, he returned to Oklahoma A&M under a wrestling scholarship. In 1949 he was NCAA Wrestling Champion at 128 pounds and was chosen the Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament. He obtained his BS and MS degrees from Oklahoma A&M College, in Stillwater, OK, later named OSU.

His first job was at Salina, KS where he taught physical education, industrial arts and coached wrestling for four years. He returned to Blackwell to teach industrial arts and coach wrestling where his teams won three state championships. In 1958 he moved to Stillwater, OK where he taught and coached for eight years. He coached some outstanding wrestlers while at Stillwater, several of whom went on to wrestle at Oklahoma State University. Then, in 1966, he moved to Bartlesville, OK to develop the wrestling program for the new Sooner High School. In the two years he was at Sooner High School, his wrestling team won regionals and placed 3rd in the state tournament. He then returned to his hometown of Blackwell, OK, teaching and coaching until his retirement in 1983. During this time his team won a third state championship.

Because of Chuck’s outstanding mentoring, 15 of his former wrestlers have gone on to become wrestling coaches. Twenty-five boys went to school on scholarships.

Coach Hetrick was elected president of the Oklahoma Wrestling Association in 1958 and 1968. During his coaching career, he had the privilege of working with and helping develop many outstanding wrestlers. Twelve wrestlers went on to place in the NCAA Tournament, four were NCAA National Champions, six placed 2nd, one placed 3rd and one placed 4th.

Chuck loved OSU wrestling and followed the teams for years locally and traveled to many regional and national tournaments throughout his life. He was awarded many honors including induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame with the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award, Gallagher Award, twice elected Oklahoma High School Coach of the Year, Oklahoma High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 1968, the Tulsa Edison High School Hall of Fame, the Blackwell Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen Award, the 2002 Blackwell High School Hall of Fame and the NCAA Coaches 25 Years of Service Award.

Chuck enjoyed working with metal, wood and welding projects such as flag poles, baker’s racks, and picnic tables and giving his projects as gifts. His most prized creation was a wooden baby cradle with hand carved spindles that he made for each of his children and his nieces and nephews to be passed down to each new baby. He also made a pull toy crafted entirely of wood which he gave to those with whom he had created a special bond, for their children, grandchildren or great grandchildren.

His journey through life was enriched by the encouragement of his mother-in-law, Leona Kriter, to continue with his education; his coaches and mentors, Art Griffith, wrestling coach at Oklahoma A&M College, Harold Cotton, his wrestling coach at Blackwell, OK, Ross Food, his wrestling coach at Southwestern Tech, as well as many colleagues.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of the home; four children, daughter, Vicki Holdridge and husband, Charlie of Tulsa, OK; sons, Dr. Charles Hetrick Jr. and wife, Mary Beth of Edmond, OK; Grady Hetrick and wife, Sue of Katy TX; Dr. Clinton Hetrick and wife, Karen of Stillwater, OK.

His grandchildren include Cheri Mihura Thomas and husband Chris; Kelli Mihura Stafford, JoDee Jones, and husband, Mark; Holly Hetrick Thompson and husband, Garrin; Chad Hetrick and wife, Ashlin; Scott Hetrick and wife, Tamra; Stephen Hetrick and wife, Jolina; Annilyn Hetrick Young and husband, Matt; Jordyn Freeman, Ali Hetrick Weatherfield and husband, Seth; Grant Hetrick and Gabrielle Hetrick.

His great-grandchildren include Madison, Hunter and Chandler Stafford; Kennedy and Morgan Thomas; Sydney and Cassidy Shannon; Aubrie, Stephanie and Danielle Thompson; Kole Hetrick, Taylor Algrim, Andrew and Mason Young, Hadley and Hope Hetrick and Maya Hrisook. Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Pearl Hetrick, his brother, Melvin Hetrick, and sisters, Wilma Koelling, Phryne Denning, Thelma Reid and Jaunita Edwards.

As a member of the First United Methodist Church in Blackwell, OK, funeral services will be held there on December 3, 2014 at, 10:30 a.m., located at 6th & Coolidge under the direction of Roberts & Son Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery with military rites performed by the United States Marine Corps.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Chad Hetrick, Grant Hetrick, Scott Hetrick, Stephen Hetrick, great grandson, Hunter Stafford and grandson-in-law, Matt Young.

Honorary pallbearers include all former wrestlers whom “Coach” had the honor of working with during their youth.

Memorial donations may be made to the Blackwell High School Takedown Club or Judith Karman Hospice of Stillwater in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.

Many thanks for the generous support of family, neighbors, friends and care givers.

Semper Fidelis