Legendary Coach Leaves Legacy via Scholarship

By Julie Murphy '94 MS '95

Harry Sockler MS '51 is a legendary coach in the history of Western Illinois University. And he will continue to "coach" Western students-via athletic scholarships-as long as there is football at Western.

Sockler, football coach for the WIU Lab School from 1950 to 1968, recently committed to a planned gift to Western valued at $387,500 to fund athletic scholarships.

"Football was my life," Sockler said. "My wife, Beulah, and I had such a love for young people; we want young people to know the names of Harry and Beulah when we are gone."

The man often referred to as the "Dean of Illinois High School Coaches" had a long and illustrious career.

Sockler had a career record of 114 wins and 12 losses as the WIU Lab School head football coach. His teams had 11 undefeated seasons. "Sorry about those twelve losses," Harry responds when reminded of his record.

During his last three years at Western, his teams were undefeated and untied.

Sockler began his climb to fame as an Illinois coaching legend in 1940, when he accepted the head mentor's job at Westville High School. After having played during his own four years at Marshall High School, he played three years at Milliken University and one year at Eastern Illinois University. In 1936, Sockler became the head coach at Brazil, Ind. From 1942 through 1946, he coached at Robinson High School, where his basketball teams captured two regional championships. He came to Western as a graduate student after a four-year stint in Oklahoma, planning to make the move from teaching and coaching to administration. However, he was persuaded by then-president Frank Beu to stay and accept the head coaching position at the university high school.

Sockler was inducted into WIU's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976. His plaque reads that he "is unparalleled in Illinois high school coaching; his records are unsurpassed. He has set goals others may attempt to reach, but are unlikely to attain."

He set high standards for himself and for those around him, and then proceeded to act accordingly. He instilled confidence and respect in the hundreds of young men he coached, creating loyalty and respect in both his players and colleagues. He and Beulah, his wife of 58 years who passed away in May 2006, opened their home and their hearts to the young people they encountered over the years, impacting countless lives.

"Western was so good to me, giving me an opportunity to complete my master's and then gave me a job," Sockler said. "I came and never left. I did so well at Western and have so many great memories. I loved the kids and they loved me."

 

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