This past weekend was extremely special for our family. For the past 30 plus years, my dad has been an educator, a coach and an athletic director. 30 of those years were spent at 1 high school. After many years of service, he has received a really cool recognition. Westlake High School named their football field after my dad.
The Governor, Gary Herbert, had the honors of making the announcement and presenting him with a plaque. It was an absolute surprise for him. He had no idea that my brother was flying my mom home, nor did he know why any of us were there.
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My mom wrote an amazing and brief biography about him. I thought I’d like to share it with you…
LOU ANDRUS was raised in Salt Lake City, the second of six children.
He attended Granite High School where he earned 10 varsity letters in Track, Basketball, Baseball and Football. Lou received All-State honors in Football and Track. Lou turned down an offer from the New York Yankees to attend BYU on a Track and Basketball Scholarship. In 1962 he was the Conference High Jump Champion and competed throughout Europe with BYU’s team. Midway through his college career, he switched to playing football for his old Granite High coach, LaVell Edwards. Lou played Offensive Guard, Tackle, Defensive End, Safety and Tight-end for BYU.
Lou accumulated six varsity letters at BYU and was a member of the 1965 WAC Football Championship team. He received a B.S. and M.S. Degree in Education from BYU.
Drafted by the Denver Broncos, Lou earned a starting position as a linebacker and later played tight-end and center for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL.
In 1972 Lou began 30 years of teaching and coaching football, basketball, track, and golf at Lehi High School. A highlight of his coaching career came in 1980 when Lehi won it’s first State Championship in Football and Lou was named the 2A Football Coach of the Year. His track teams were Region Champions from 1977 through 1984. While Lou coached at Lehi High School, 25 football players received All-State honors and there were 20 individual State Champions in Track.
Lou became the Athletic Director at Lehi in 1991. In 1997 he was President of the Utah Interscholastic Athletic Administrator’s Association. In 1998 he served as an Executive Board Member on the Utah State Athletic Directors’ Council and received the Athletic Director of the year Distinguished Service Award from the Utah High School Activities Association. He was also presented with the Award of Merit from the National Interscholastic Athletic Director’s Association. In 2003 he received the Meritorious Service Award from the UIAAA.
After several years of retirement, Lou was excited to join the staff of Westlake High School as the first Athletic Director and be a part of the opening of this amazing high school. He enjoyed working with the administration, the coaches, the Boosters and most of all, the athletes.
I am so glad we got to be part of such an amazing night for my dad. He really is an amazing and wonderful man.
If you could have something named after you, what would it be?
**** I’m adding these two pictures of my dad – young. This one from my brother’s blog…
and this one from my cousin’s.
Amy,
I saw this link and to my surprise, I saw they named a field after Lou. What a great honor to a great man. I played football at Lehi High in 1980 and was on the State Championship team he coached for Lehi. I contribute alot of my experience in life to your father and appreciate the influence he had on me. He help me change my life for the better. I still have the card he handed to me and all the players before that amazing season (ask him if he still remember those state championship cards). Please tell your father I said Hello and wish him all the best. I am glad he is still doing well. Best Wishes….Garth Fjellstrom
Well, that IS the coolest thing ever! And not only that, but probably one of the best tributes I’ve seen in age. Maybe ever.
Twitter: gardensofplenty
Oh, Amy! This is really, really cool. What an inspiration! Your dad has had such an incredible career! And I am so impressed by his obvious love and dedication for/to what he does. The photo of you all together is awesome. Reading this made my day. 🙂
Twitter: imtopsyturvy
What a GREAT evening and experience for your family! He sounds like an amazing man. I love fathers! Neat neat neat!
What a stud!!! So awesome that you and your brother were there to share in the special occasion too. This is truly an honor he will cherish.
Twitter: makeitworkmom
Wow! What a tribute – but after reading the short bio, it sounds like it was well-deserved! And I LOVE the shot of yor dad’s emotion (I’m guessing after they announced it?). Priceless! What a neat thing to happen to him!
Amy
Twitter: familytrifecta
Reply:
September 29th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
it was soooo hard to take the pictures. i was crying and shaking. i felt very lucky that they actually turned out. It really was a fun and emotional night.
Wow! That is really neat! That is so cool to have a field named after your dad!
Twitter: familytrifecta
Thank you, everyone for your very sweet comments. We are so proud of him and grateful that he was able to impact so many over the years. It makes me wish I was in a field that could make a difference.
Twitter: runwithmel
Love the bio! (And yes, it totally made me tear up!) Even with knowing your dad so well, there were things that were new to me. He’s even more amazing than I ever thought! Such a well deserved honor for a man who has impacted so many people’s live (and not just his student athletes) in such a positive way. I’ve always loved and admired that man and I feel so very lucky to have spent so much time with your amazing family!
Amy
Twitter: familytrifecta
Reply:
September 29th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
And we love that you have been part of the family for 20 YEARS!!!! He really has influenced so many lives. I want to leave such a legacy.
Twitter: sahans
HOLY COW… your dad is very handsome… I hope that isn’t weird to say. And a field named after him… just about the coolest thing EVER!
Amy
Twitter: familytrifecta
Reply:
September 29th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
that’s not weird at all 🙂 He is a handsome man.
Twitter: 1momof5
That is incredible! Me? I would love to have a park named after me. Something with lots of flowers.
Amy
Twitter: familytrifecta
Reply:
September 29th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
I want a theater named after me – oh wait, I’d have to do something to contribute to the dance community or the theater community and I’m not doing so much of that 🙂
Twitter: kathleenmbasi
Wow, those are awesome! And congrats to you and your dad. You must be so proud.
Twitter: kellytirman
what an awesome honor – thanks for sharing!
Twitter: Buckeroomama
What an honor! You must be so proud of your dad… and what a magical night it must have been for your kids, too, to be part of it. 🙂
Amy
Twitter: familytrifecta
Reply:
September 29th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
I was surprised at how much the girls got out of it. Ivy told her teachers all about it on Monday.
Twitter: ErinsMiracles
That is so amazing! How wonderful to be a part of a great celebration!
[…] football, basketball, or track or was the athletic director at Lehi and then Westlake High School. His special evening was rich, complete with friends, family, and many past players whose lives he had made […]
Twitter: nevertruetales
Looks like an amazing experience and a magical night!
My goodness Amy…. I learn so much from your blog. I had no idea all the things your dad did!!! Thanks for sharing!
Amy
Twitter: familytrifecta
Reply:
September 28th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
heehee, you and i spend way too much time actually working to visit at the office 🙂 Good thing we blog.
I thought that was Paul Newman, at first! Until I remembered he was dead.
What an amazing celebration. Sounds like your dad is an amazing guy.
Amy
Twitter: familytrifecta
Reply:
September 28th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
My mom always had such a crush on Paul Newman. In my dad’s younger days, he looked so much like him.