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Claude E. Warren
HOF Class of 2008 Coach From 1932 through 1971 Claude Warren was the “face” of athletics at HHS. He served as football, basketball, baseball and track coach from 1932 until the early 1960’s, then continued as PE teacher and Athletic Director until his retirement in 1971. Coach Warren’s football teams compiled and overall  record of 133 wins, 90 losses and 24 ties from 1932 through 1959. Included in this record were half-state championships in 1943 and 1944. In basketball his teams achieved a record of 443 wins and 185 losses between 1932 and 1963. During this time HHS won 12 district championships, a half-state championship in 1943 and state championships in 1936, 1937, 1944 and 1952. In 1960 the Harrisonburg School Board honored Coach Warren by naming the new field house the Claude W. Warren Field House. The athletic complex at the new high school on Garber’s Church Road is named in his honor. Coach Warren was about much more than wins and losses. This quote by one of his many athletes characterizes Coach Warren as well as anything else: “I know of no other persons, aside from my parents, along my school route who did more to prepare me for this ‘game of life’ than did Coach Warren. You can’t turn your back on his records at HHS but, what really counts now that I look back on my days as a Blue Streak was his coaching philosophy. Call it character-building or call it anything you like; I know what he gave to me along the route.” |