Harry Richard James, age 69, died on January 23, 1991 in Salt Lake City, Utah, of cardiac arrest.
Born on June 4, 1921, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Harry and Vesta Williams James. Married Margaret Brubaker, on January 30, 1943 in Louisville, Kentucky. Marriage later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple, December 13, 1977. Harry attended East High School, served with the United States Army, 11th Armored Division during World War II, and graduated from the University of Utah in 1955 with a degree in Journalism. He served as Sports Information Director at the University of Utah from 1951-1966 accompanying numerous football and basketball teams as they traveled around the country, coordinating press activities for the NCAA Ski Meet in Utah in 1957, and receiving many awards for outstanding football and basketball brochures and for Press Box operations.Harry served as Head Coach for the University of Utah Men's Varsity Tennis Team for 26 years from 1961-1986 winning 12 Conference Championships, having several teams ranked in the top ten in the NCAA, and coaching many Conference Champions as well as seven Collegiate All-Americans and one NCAA Singles Champion. His college teams at one time or another defeated nearly every top ranked tennis team in the nation. He has instructed more than 25 nationally ranked tennis players and managed more than 40 national tennis championships.
He served as president of the Utah Tennis Association, president of the Intermountain Tennis Association, vice-president of the National Public Parks Tennis Association, president of the Intercollegiate Tennis Coaches Association, and was former director of the Salt Lake County Recreation Tennis Program which was chosen as the outstanding public parks program in the United States in 1958. Harry was the recipient of the University of Utah Letterman Award, 1953 U Men's and Chamber of Commerce Award, 1961 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED "Pat on the Back" Award, 1963 Outstanding Handicapped Person in Utah Award, 1963 Marlboro Award, 1964 Elks Award, 1965 COACH AND ATHLETE MAGAZINE "Coach of the Year", 1970 United States Lawn Tennis Association Tennis Educational Merit Award, 1971 Utah State "U" Alumni Association Award, 1968 SPORT Service Award, 1984 East High School Hall of Fame, 1984 David L. Freed Award, 1987 ITCA Collegiate Hall of Fame, WAC and District 7 Coach of the Year, 1989 University of Utah Crimson Club Hall of Fame, 1989 Utah Summer Games Hall of Honor, 1989 Utah Sports Hall of Fame (Old Time Athletes Assn.), and 1990 the Emeritus Alumni Association Merit of Honor Award. Harry was a member of the Parley's 1st Ward where he was serving as ward historical clerk.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret; daughters and sons-in-law, Mickie and Dick Neslen, Leslie and Mac Oswald, Robbin and Pete Lund, and Jackie Callister; 17 grandchildren and one grandson-in-law, all of Salt Lake City; a brother, Kenneth James, of Boise, Idaho; and his "two best friends" Tuffy and Smokey.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 26, 1991, at 12 Noon, Parley's 1st Ward Chapel, 2350 South 2100 East. Friends may call at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 East 1300 South, Friday, 6-8 p.m., and at the Ward Saturday, 10:30-11:30 a.m., prior to services. Interment, Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions be made to the "Harry James Memorial Fund" - University of Utah Crimson Club, John M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112.
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