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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, January 12-14, 2005 B-5 The Park Record 5 Park City bids farewell to coach 'J°hn V. In 1965, the Bensons moved to Salt Lake. With their fourth child on the way, Benson decided to leave coaching for a more lucrative position as the team sports manger for Wolfe's By APIA WALDBURGER Sporting Goods. In the position, he traveled around the state Of the Record staff working with high school teams. A small piece of Utah and Park City hardwood history was In 1970. he left start his own lost over the weekend. John V. business called The Trophy Hut. "John V." Benson, former Park That business eventually became City High School basketball Benson's Trophies and Plaques coach, passed away on Saturday, and is still family-owned and Jan. 8 due to complications from operated. In 1984, Benson and his wife heart disease, cancer and diarelocated to the Park City area. betes. Benson was born in Cedar A year later, Benson started City. Utah in 1935. Projected to driving a school bus for the Park have health issues by doctors, he City School District, because he surprised everyone by growing to missed working with young peobe over six feet four inches tall ple. During that time, he was and was a natural at the sport of asked to coach the Miners basbasketball. He played for his ketball team. Finally, in 1999, he high school team and led them to agreed and headed up the sophomore team. The following year the slate tournament. After high school, he earned a he assumed the head coaching fuJi-ride athletic scholarship to position for the varsity team. "His coaching style was exactBrigham Young UniversityWhile at BYU. Benson garnered ly what Park City needed. He media attention and awards and was an old school guy, discipline set the single game rebounding guy. He was why the program record with 26 boards. After col- turned around. It was all because lege, he was drafted to play pro- he believed in discipline and fessional basketball, but decided doing things the right way," said to serve in I he Korean War former Miners assistant basketball coach Jay Judkins. "He was instead. Upon returning to the Slates, very team-oriented and strict and Benson and his wife. Sue. moved that was the main thing." to Moab, where he became the Benson was led the team to the basketball coach at Grand stale tournament and a fourthCounty High School and look place finish. "We weren't supposed to do them to three state tournaments. Benson then headed to Payson anything. It look the preseason where he coached the high for the learn to believe in his sysschool team there (o three state tem." said Judkins. "He was a great guy and a great coach. The tournaments. kids that got to play for him were Coach believed in teamwork, discipline lucky." Judkins emphasized how much he learned from Ihe seasoned coach. He said that Benson demanded respect from his players and in return they respected him and won games for him. He was a great believer in the fundamentals of basketball, keeping the entire team involved and treating everyone equally and fairly. Judkins also remembers how well known and beloved Benson was. Due to his coaching and salesman days, he knew people involved in the sport around the state. "Til just miss his demeanor. He was a fun guy to be around. He knew everybody in the game." said Judkins. "You felt like he was a special guy, because he was involved in everything with the sport." Benson retired from coaching the Miners the following summer due to failing health, but still remained emotionally connected wilh the athletes through letters and phone calls. Sue recalls two recent letters from former Park City players thanking her husband for the continuing impact he made on their lives. "He really touched so may lives and kept in touch wilh them," said Sue. According to his family, basketball was Benson's life and he never strayed far away from the sport. "He loved the sport of basketball. He felt he was where he was because of basketball. It made him who he was. It opened the door for him coming from a small town. He was able to go to KIDS' KOLLECTION JANUARY CLEARANCE Tons of name brdnq clothing and toys off origirtql j ^ t d i l ! 1 OpwMon-Sai 10anv5pm •Offer nipm ktvxay 31, 2CC5. Park City Quality Consignment Prices Kids' Kollection PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BENSON FAMILY. Former Miners basketball coach John V. Benson. Deer Valley's Best Deals! college and move around." said Sue. Benson continued to drive the school bus in Park City until,,1 June 2004, when he and his wild moved to Idaho. "He loved working witli kids and making a difference in people's lives." said Sue. Former players, students. family and friends are invited to the viewing on Thursday, Jan. 13 at 10 a.m. at the Park City Stake Cenler located at 2300 Monitor Drive. 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Saturday, there were two surpull the plug on the race because of prise winners in the classic techthe deteriorating conditions. "I nique sprints - Torin Koos from the never wanted a race to be cancelled U.S. Ski Team and Lindsay so bad," she said. Williams, a junior at Northern "I just went wilh the girls for a Michigan University. Koos made it little bit and checked out their four straight first-time champions pace," she said, "and realized I had among the men. these rockets skis - we went on Each used a similar pattern hairies [waxless] - and what blew take charge and keep running like a my race open was the first long thief. In getting her first title, downhill. I just blew it open. Williams took control on the first "I said. 'I've got these greal turn of the first uphill and never Fischers and I'm going." I hadn't looked back as she skied in ahead planned to lead from the first lap, of Park City's Wagner. Koos edged but..." U?S. Ski Team mate .A-Hdy-Newell' Her winning time was 47:08.2 with Park City's Zach Simons'tTie" with Parkite Wendy Wagner the sil- bronze medalist. \ noor Emtam) • 1890 Borerea, *108 • 6S9-5656 * Continued from B-1 Everything I list turns to "SOLD" If you are looking to buy or sell in Park City why not gel the Best Service you can get? Call Scott Kelly "I will go the distance for you" SCOTT KELLY 435 64O.434O mobile 8OO 6^1.1884 to//free Dornbush skellypc@aol.com R E A L SCOTT SINE/PARKRECORD Grand Opening Parly Friday 6-9pm Jan. 14th * In format km hrrrin. ulihmigh i E S T A T E l rrllnMf. \t apt guanmt.-i-d fluyr-r 10 verify •..(narv fooiuy. ROSSIGNOL I l i t u K h A I D Z - All monnFohi, all the time. Hie new B2 from ffassJguof Rods in lb» fresh ami rips an Ihe corduroy. 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