Wrestling leader and coach Marv Hess, 83, passed away in Utah on Saturday
Share:
by Assorted sources
OBITUARY - Marvin G. Hess 1926 ~ 2009
Marvin G. Hess, 83, died Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009 in Bountiful, UT. Marvin loved the "G" in his name and was always reminding us that it stood for "Grover" "Grace" and "George". As the years progressed his family simply added "Grandpa" and "Goofy" to that list.
Marvin answered to many names throughout the years, but the most common were "Marv," "Coach" and of course "Marvelous Marv."
Marvin was born to Grover and Alice Hess, January 14, 1926 in Farmington, Utah. He graduated from Davis High School May, 1944. He then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in June of 1944. He was shipped overseas in 1945 aboard the U.S.S. Admiral Coontz to the South Pacific. He served as a seagoing Marine until discharge November, 1946.
Back in the States Marvin met his wife Barbara Bailey at an LDS mutual dance in Washington D.C. One year later they were married and living in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Marv enrolled in the University of Utah January, 1947. Throughout college he not only succeeded in athletics but also excelled in academics. He placed in the high jump, was a member of the winning 1947 National Invitational Tournament basketball team and was selected as one of nine graduates for the Beehive Honors Society when graduating from the "U" in June, 1950.
Hess was hired to teach physical education at the "U" in January, 1950. He served as assistant coach in Football 1951-58; Assistant Track coach 1951-58; Head Track coach 1958-64; and Head Wrestling coach from 1955-80. From his success as a coach he was elected President of the National Wrestling Coaches Association in 1967 and also served on the Olympic Committee from 1968-72. Hess continued coaching until retiring in 1995.
Throughout his entire career Marv was recognized with numerous awards. Marv was inducted into several Halls of Fame, most notably the Utah Old Times Athletes Hall of Fame, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Crimson Club Hall of Fame.
Marvin is survived by his daughter Laura (Kevin) Jenkins; three granddaughters; Melissa Jensen, Kirsten (Mike) Maw, and Sabrina Jensen; grandson Jared (Krista) Jenkins; and great-grandchildren, Isla Grace Kaauwai, Jayden and Isabelle Jenkins; brother-in-law, John M. (Grace) Weakland, nephew, Norman (Chris) Weakland. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Georgana and Marilyn, his brother James, his son Eric and his wife Barbara.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 12:00 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. immediately following service interment will be held at Farmington Cemetery. A Ute through and through, a man that lived his dreams.
National Wrestling Hall of Fame biography for Marv Hess
He was a coach who never wrestled. But even so, Marv Hess left an indelible mark on the sport of wrestling. He played overlapping roles as a coach and contributor.
In 25 years at the University of Utah, he posted a dual meet record of 222 victories against 102 defeats and kept the Utes competitive nationally without full scholarships.
He was chairman of the NCAA rules committee, a member of the Olympic wrestling committee and one of the original six organizers of USA Wrestling. He was instrumental in starting Freestyle wrestling in Utah and the Rocky Mountain area. He sponsored the first dozen or so Freestyle tournaments in Utah, providing organization, officials and awards, and also directed the state high school championships.
But it was as executive vice president of the National Wrestling Coaches Association that Hess best showed his tireless work ethic for the sport. He became a member of the NWCA executive committee in 1962, and served as its president in '67. Then he became the "full-time staff" as executive vice president. When he took the helm in 1971, he found a struggling organization with an annual budget of less than $5,000. Today, that budget, and the scope of the association, is 30 times as large.
Hess inaugurated the East-West All-Star Classic. He developed the national tournament T-shirt concession which kept the organization solvent, and spent countless hours behind the sales counter. He managed all the details of NWCA membership. As one of his colleagues put it, "He has been the backbone of the coaches association for nearly 30 years."
Hess never competed in wrestling, but was a basketball, football and track star in high school, All-State in all three sports. At Utah, he was all-conference in football and All-American as a high jumper. He coached football for nine years and track for 14, along with his wrestling duties.
In recognition of his tireless dedication to the advancement of wrestling, Marvin G. Hess is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Marvin G. Hess, 83, died Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009 in Bountiful, UT. Marvin loved the "G" in his name and was always reminding us that it stood for "Grover" "Grace" and "George". As the years progressed his family simply added "Grandpa" and "Goofy" to that list.
Marvin answered to many names throughout the years, but the most common were "Marv," "Coach" and of course "Marvelous Marv."
Marvin was born to Grover and Alice Hess, January 14, 1926 in Farmington, Utah. He graduated from Davis High School May, 1944. He then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in June of 1944. He was shipped overseas in 1945 aboard the U.S.S. Admiral Coontz to the South Pacific. He served as a seagoing Marine until discharge November, 1946.
Back in the States Marvin met his wife Barbara Bailey at an LDS mutual dance in Washington D.C. One year later they were married and living in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Marv enrolled in the University of Utah January, 1947. Throughout college he not only succeeded in athletics but also excelled in academics. He placed in the high jump, was a member of the winning 1947 National Invitational Tournament basketball team and was selected as one of nine graduates for the Beehive Honors Society when graduating from the "U" in June, 1950.
Hess was hired to teach physical education at the "U" in January, 1950. He served as assistant coach in Football 1951-58; Assistant Track coach 1951-58; Head Track coach 1958-64; and Head Wrestling coach from 1955-80. From his success as a coach he was elected President of the National Wrestling Coaches Association in 1967 and also served on the Olympic Committee from 1968-72. Hess continued coaching until retiring in 1995.
Throughout his entire career Marv was recognized with numerous awards. Marv was inducted into several Halls of Fame, most notably the Utah Old Times Athletes Hall of Fame, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Crimson Club Hall of Fame.
Marvin is survived by his daughter Laura (Kevin) Jenkins; three granddaughters; Melissa Jensen, Kirsten (Mike) Maw, and Sabrina Jensen; grandson Jared (Krista) Jenkins; and great-grandchildren, Isla Grace Kaauwai, Jayden and Isabelle Jenkins; brother-in-law, John M. (Grace) Weakland, nephew, Norman (Chris) Weakland. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Georgana and Marilyn, his brother James, his son Eric and his wife Barbara.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 12:00 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. immediately following service interment will be held at Farmington Cemetery. A Ute through and through, a man that lived his dreams.
National Wrestling Hall of Fame biography for Marv Hess
He was a coach who never wrestled. But even so, Marv Hess left an indelible mark on the sport of wrestling. He played overlapping roles as a coach and contributor.
In 25 years at the University of Utah, he posted a dual meet record of 222 victories against 102 defeats and kept the Utes competitive nationally without full scholarships.
He was chairman of the NCAA rules committee, a member of the Olympic wrestling committee and one of the original six organizers of USA Wrestling. He was instrumental in starting Freestyle wrestling in Utah and the Rocky Mountain area. He sponsored the first dozen or so Freestyle tournaments in Utah, providing organization, officials and awards, and also directed the state high school championships.
But it was as executive vice president of the National Wrestling Coaches Association that Hess best showed his tireless work ethic for the sport. He became a member of the NWCA executive committee in 1962, and served as its president in '67. Then he became the "full-time staff" as executive vice president. When he took the helm in 1971, he found a struggling organization with an annual budget of less than $5,000. Today, that budget, and the scope of the association, is 30 times as large.
Hess inaugurated the East-West All-Star Classic. He developed the national tournament T-shirt concession which kept the organization solvent, and spent countless hours behind the sales counter. He managed all the details of NWCA membership. As one of his colleagues put it, "He has been the backbone of the coaches association for nearly 30 years."
Hess never competed in wrestling, but was a basketball, football and track star in high school, All-State in all three sports. At Utah, he was all-conference in football and All-American as a high jumper. He coached football for nine years and track for 14, along with his wrestling duties.
In recognition of his tireless dedication to the advancement of wrestling, Marvin G. Hess is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Read More#
2024 USA Wrestling Greco-Roman Awards: Payton Jacobson (Wrestler), Andy Bisek (Coach)
PIN ratings announced for U20 Freestyle Nationals at CLAW U.S. Open in Las Vegas, April 26-27
Successful 2025 Greg Strobel Leadership Academy fundraiser will benefit future and current National Team members and leaders
NCAA Div. II Edinboro in Pennsylvania adds varsity Women’s Wrestling and Women's Golf
