50th anniversary of Whittaker Field, named for La Conner sports legend

Jack Whittaker did not single-handedly put La Conner High School athletics on the map, but the legendary one-armed coach was such a force of nature that there was no doubt 50 years ago that the school's new football field should be named in his honor.

Whittaker Field, home to the football, soccer and track teams, opened in the fall of 1972, completing a four-year quest to build a lighted sports venue on campus.

Its namesake, who often scrimmaged with his teams of the 1940s and 1950s – Whittaker coached all the school's sports during that period – was a role model to some of the more storied names in Braves lore, among them the late Landy James and retired school board member Gail Thulen, who then competed at Washington State University and the University of Washington, respectively.

"He was a mentor to me," Thulen said. "He was pretty amazing. He had played basketball and baseball at Western and could shoot pool and play golf. He would play against us at turnout (practice), and he used his stub to good advantage."

He also served variously as a teacher, principal and superintendent. In the classroom, Thulen recalled, Whittaker was a "warm demander," a teacher who communicates warmth toward students while at the same time demanding they work toward high standards.

Whittaker was poised in 1967 to come out of retirement to serve again as the lead administrator while LeRoy "Butch" Maxwell worked toward completion of his superintendent's credential.

But Whittaker died suddenly before the next school year began.

He had come to La Conner 25 years earlier after having taught and coached at nearby Edison High School, whose basketball program had included a lanky kid from Blanchard named Ed Murrow, destined to become a pioneering radio and TV newscaster who, at the peak of his career, was the most dominant figure in broadcast journalism.

"Edison and Burlington consolidated," Thulen said, "and there was a question as to which school's teachers and coaches would be hired."

Whittaker was passed over and shortly after landed here.

Early in his tenure, Whittaker guided basketball teams led by James to consecutive state tournaments in 1947 and 1948. Those teams were so widely followed that local volunteers built a gymnasium large enough to accommodate fans wanting to watch. Whittaker, of course, was instrumental in that project.

Whittaker stepped down from coaching basketball prior to the 1955-56 season, a year that ended with La Conner placing eighth at the state tournament and Thulen setting single game scoring and free throw marks.

Whittaker and Thulen would reunite on the hardwood years later, though – after Thulen had played frosh football and hoops at the UW – when Whittaker coached a stellar La Conner basketball team.

While on the school board, Thulen worked to keep alive the Whittaker legacy, initially assisting in establishing a scholarship in the latter's name.

In 1968 La Conner fielded one of its finest football teams ever, going undefeated and ranking fourth in state polls at season's end. The Braves' coach, Jim Frey, lamented that without lights the team played day games and those working 9-to-5 were unable to attend. As he moved into school administration, Frey pushed the district to develop a lighted athletic field.

His efforts bore fruit four years later when the field named for Jack Whittaker was formally dedicated during a halftime program that featured Peggy Whittaker, the coach's widow.

Frey, Thulen (who escorted Mrs. Whittaker to the ceremonies) and superintendent I.W. Ricketts officiated dedication of the field midway through a Braves victory coached by James, who had been lured home from Spokane a couple years before.

The La Conner quarterback that night was John Agen, now a school board member, He and board president Susie Deyo have sought to build greater public awareness of the impact Whittaker had here this year.

Agen has met with and interviewed Thulen, who years ago received possession of much of the Whittaker memorabilia and thus retains a keen and unique insight into the life of his mentor.

La Conner Schools this fall published in its game programs a brief biography of Whittaker.

"Mr. Whittaker was born with only one arm," it reads, "but he never let that hinder his abilities. The La Conner School District football field is named Whittaker Field in honor of Jack Whittaker and all he did for the La Conner community and school district."