Utah sports figure Tally Stevens dies from heart failure
Tally Stevens, 71, who will be remembered as a successful participant, coach and supporter of athletics in Utah, passed away Wednesday of heart failure.
Stevens played football and basketball for the University of Utah, was the head football coach at BYU and East High School and ran a well-known sporting goods business in Salt Lake. Last year he was inducted into the Crimson Club Hall of Fame.
Stevens was raised in Wyoming and came to Utah, where he was an all-conference end in 1947-48. He also played on the Ute team that won the NIT basketball championship in 1947. He had a chance to play professional football, but instead pursued a coaching career.
At East High, his teams won three state championships in five years. He went to BYU as an assistant coach and was the head coach for the Cougars in 1959-60.
In 1953 he joined Jimmy Brown as partners in Stevens-Brown Sporting Goods, a successful business for 35 years. He served athletics in various capacities including founder and commissioner of the Junior Ute Football Conference.
Memorial services will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Wasatch Stake Center, 1320 South Wasatch Drive.
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