William T. "Bill" Fanning
Marriages
Velda "Val" Mae Lipsey - August 13, 1942
in Bennington, Vermont
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5B - February 12, 2013
William T. “Bill” Fanning, 91, of Grand Junction, CO died Feb ruary 8, 2013, at the Grand Junction
Hospice Care Facility from complications brought on by pneumonia. Coach, as he was fondly called, was
surrounded by family and friends.
Coach was born on July 12, 1921 in Pittsfield, MA to William F. Fanning and Mary Mahan. He attended
St. Joseph's Catholic High School where he was a star at hlete in western Massachusetts and
up-state New York area graduating in 1939.
After high school, he began working for the General Electric Company in Pittsfield but opted to enlist in
the Navy on June 22,1942. He was stationed in Newport, VA for boot camp and was trained as a ship-fitter
in Quonset Point, RI. Fanning made the Navy base's basebal l team as the starting third baseman for
Baseball Hall of Famer Luke Appling's team, but a missed curfew saw him receive orders to report to
Oran, Algeria as a ship-fitters first class. While in Oran, he was selected to play in the first Army/Navy All-Star Games in Baseball, Basketball
and Football. In addition, he was selected by the Algerian Bishop as the Navy representative to serve Christmas midnight Mass in 1944
at the Cathedral in Oran. He was honorably discharged in October 1945.
Prior to his enlistment in the Navy and while working at the GE manufacturing plant, he met Velda “Val” Mae Lipsey, the love of his life
and his number one fan, of Boulder, CO. The two were married in Bennington, VT on August 13, 1942.
After his discharge from the Navy, Fanning returned to work at the GE facility. The following year he enrolled at the University of Colorado,
where he pursued a B.S. Degree in Education, graduating i n June of 1950. He accepted his first teaching and coaching po sition in
1951 in Hayes Center, NE.While in Hayes Center, Bill learned how to drive, coach six man football, artificially impregnate cattle and how
to eat Rocky Mountain Oysters. His athletic teams were the talk of western Nebraska for the three years he coached at Hayes Ce nter. In
1954, he accepted a teaching and coaching position in Grand Junction, CO culminating in a stellar 35 year career.
At the University of Colorado, Fanning was a four-year letterman in Baseball and an All-Big Seven selection in 1947 as a pitcher and utility
infielder. In 1948, in a series against Oklahoma, Fanning played seven different positions and led the Buffs with his arm and bat to a series
sweep against the Sooners. Between games a group of frater nity members brought Fanning a wrapped box. Inside was a box of Duz
soap and a note that said "Fanning Duz Everything". Coach had a cocky side that he occasionally exhibited. He knew he was a go od ball
player and sometimes felt the need to let others know. With CU leading by one run in the bottom of the ninth in a game against Missouri,
there were two outs, men on second and third with Fanning playing third base for CU, the hitter popped the ball up in Bill's direction. Rather
than catching the ball in front of his body, Bill decided to ca tch the ball behind his back. The played was made, CU won, the fans went
crazy, and Bill just smiled and asked "What's the big deal?".
To supplement the family income after college and while worki ng for the post office in Boulder, Fanning was a "hired arm" to pitch for
various semi-pro baseball teams during the summer in the Colora do/Nebraska Semi-Pro Baseball League. In 1951, he pitched and h it the
Hayes Center town team into the National Semi-Pro Baseball Tour nament in Wichita, KS, the smallest town (population 280) ever to
compete in the national tournament. Fanning's Hayes Center team was defeated by group of major-leaguers who were on military duty and
playing for Goodland, KS. Goodland was led by the New York Yankee's, Billy Martin. Hayes Center lost the game on a misplayed fly ball
by the right fielder. In 1952 and 1953, Fanning was named All-S tate First Team for Colorado and Nebraska by the National Baseb all
Congress Semi-Pro Organization.
He continued his semi-pro baseball career, playing for the Grand Junction Eagles from 1955 thru 1957. In 1956, at the age of 36, Fanning
was selected 2nd Team Semi-Pro All-American, hitting .400 in the tournament and getting the only Eagles hit off 1955 World Ser ies hero
and MVP Johnny Podres. In 1955 Podres led the Brooklyn Dodgers with two wins to the World Series victory over the New York Yankees.
(Podres was drafted in the Army in 1956 and was serving his military obligation by playing for the Alpine, TX Cowboys semi-pro baseball
team.)
As stellar as his athletic career was, his coaching career wa s even more impressive. Fanning was considered a student of the game, a
walking rule book, and one of the best game-day strategist. In 1954, Fanning took over the helm of the Grand Junction Tigers baseball team.
In 1959 his OTA (Little League Baseball team, 13 and 14 year ol ds) won the Colorado State Championship. He retired after 35 y ears
compiling a high school record of 467-172 with 21 state playoff appearances, three state championships (1961, 1962 and 1976) a nd six
second place finishes. His State Championship Teams in 1961 and 1962 combined to win 43 consecutive games in the State and his 1961
team went undefeated. He was the first Colorado Baseball coach to reach 400 victories in a career.
The honors Fanning has received as a coach are numerous. He w as named Southwestern Baseball Coach of the Year 19 times and w as
selected Colorado Baseball Coach of the Year four times, 1961, 1962, 1976 and 1983. Twice he was named National High School Athletic
Association District Baseball Coach of the Year, 1978 and 1984 and was the district's nominee for the National High School Baseball Coach
of the Year in 1978 and 1984. He was twice named District Baseb all Coach of the Year by the American Association of College Co aches,
1976 and 1984. In 1984, Fanning was the first coach from Colorado to be named National High School Baseball Coach Of The Year, being
selected over 15,699 other high school baseball coaches through out the United States. He was inducted into the Colorado High S chool
Coaches Hall of Fame in 1986. In 1989, the Grand Junction High School Baseball Field "FANNING FIELD" was named in his honor. I n
1993 he was presented the Inaugural Colorado High School Baseball Coaches Association "Mr. Baseball Award". He was inducted into the
Colorado High School Activities Association Hall of Fame in 1994. In 1997, Fanning threw one more pitch, the ceremonial first pitch at the
inaugural "Fanning Classic", an annual high school baseball tou rnament held in Mesa County. In 1998, the National High School Sports
Hall of Fame opened it doors to Fanning, a bitter sweet honor as his wife of 56 years passed away on the night of the induction. True to his
love for his wife, Bill missed the ceremony and drove all night to be at her side. In 2002 Fanning was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall
of Fame. In 2005 he was Inducted into JUCO's Inaugural Home Run Alley. In 2010 he was a member of the Inaugural Colorado Dugo ut
Club Hall of Fame. The State Baseball champions of 1962 held their 50th reunion this past year with several members of the team making it
to Fanning's house for one more hurrah. All were impressed with his sharp mind and incredible ability to recall names and details from the
past 50 plus years.
As a student of the game, Fanning invented the fake pick off play - fake to third pick at first - and used it in the 1960 ba seball playoffs. It
was through endless studying of the rulebook that he devised this play. When first used in the 1960 playoffs, everyone, (umpires, fans, and
the opposing team) missed the play except Fanning's team. A stickler for fundamentals, Fanning's teams were fundamentally sound and did
not beat themselves, an attribute his teams carried into every game they played and the reason the Tigers won so many low scor ing games.
He has never received the credit from sport writers, coaches or others for coming up with the play.
If playing and coaching weren't enough, Fanning was also well -known around the state as an official, having spent 39 years u mpiring
baseball, 37 years officiating football and 32 years as a basketball official. Fanning officiated 14 state football championships, umpired two
state baseball championships and was selected to work in seven state basketball tournaments. He also umpired in 13 consecutive National
Junior College Baseball Tournaments and worked for 15 years in the RMAC as a baseball, football and basketball official. In 1969, he was
selected by the Alaska Goldpanners to be their chief umpire. Th e Goldpanners were a perennial fixture at the Semi-Pro Baseball
Tournament in Wichita, KS and hired Fanning as their chief umpire for their games in Fairbanks. This summer job led to Fanning's famous
self deprecating moniker "When you want the best forget the rest - get Fanning". In 1987, he was inducted into the Colorado Football Officials
Association Hall of Fame.
While coaching was his passion, teaching was his calling. Coa ch taught World History for 35 years at GJHS and influenced as many
students in the classroom as athletes in the ball park. Numerous students have written or called over the years to express their thanks to the
coach for influencing their lives. A typical example was from a student in 1958 who wrote "I know you don't remember me but yo u were
my history teacher in 1958 and you changed my life. I was kind of a nerdy kid without much motivation or direction. Most of the time in
high school I was on auto pilot, just enough to get by but not enough to excel. The one real exception was your class. I fo und it fun and
stimulating.... I was recently selected to receive the Governo r's Award for Excellence in Teaching.... Thank you Mr. Fanning . A job
excellently done on your part has enriched my life." "Coach was more concerned about us as people than as athletes, he was not concerned
about self gratification but the success of those he mentored," a typical comment regarding Coach's life by his ex-students/athletes. In 2009
Mr./Coach Fanning was the inaugural recipient of the Grand Junction High School's Distinguished Educator Award.
Coach was preceded in death by his wife, Val, on July 1, 1998 . He is survived by his son, William T Fanning Jr. (Jana) of Lo ngmont;
daughter, Diane Najera (Frank) of Arvada; grandson, William T. Fanning III (Jennifer) of Longmont; granddaughter, Jayme Evans (Mike)
of Port Townsend, WA; great-grandchildren, Marc and Ashley Evans; a sister, Marge Magner of Pittsfield, MA, and numerous niece s and
nephews.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Callahan-Edfast, 2515 Patterson Road Grand Junction, CO 81505. Viewing is scheduled from
3 - 5:45p.m. on Thursday, February 14th with a Rosary to immedi ately follow at 6:00 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at 1:00 p .m. at St.
Joseph's Catholic Church, 330 White Ave. Grand Junction, CO.
In lieu of flowers, the Coach would appreciate a couple of pr ayers on his behalf or, if you choose, donations to either of t hese two great
organizations: Catholic Outreach 245 S. 1st Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501 or Hospice and Pallative Care of Western Colorado 3090 N.
12th Unit B Grand Junction, CO 81506.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6B Death Notice - February 13, 2013
William T. “Bill” Fanning, 91, Grand Junction, 91, died Feb. 8,
2013, at Hospice Care Center.
Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Callahan-Edfast
Mortuary. A rosary starts at 6 p.m. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday
at St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Mr. Fanning was a teacher and a coach.
Survivors include one son, William T. Jr. of Longmont; one
daughter, Diane Najera of Arvada; one sister, Marjorie Magner of
Pittsfield, Mass.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions to Hospice & Palliative Care of Western
Colorado, 3090B N. 12th St., Grand Junction 81506, or Catholic Outreach
of the Grand Valley, 245 S. First St., Grand Junction 81501.
