WAYNE ESTES' FANS WEIGH IN

Former Utah State All-American Wayne Estes ("Larger Than Life in Death") is fondly remembered by many readers. Some had the pleasure of seeing him play in person, others just recall the stories that their parents have passed along. Below is a sampling of some of the emails we've received regarding Estes in the past few days.

Your story has made my day!

Hell, it has made my year!

I am 52, and Wayne was my hero. I was 11 years old the night he died. It changed my life forever!

You see, I was a pudgy 11-year-old who went into the locker room before the game that night against Denver. I got Waynes autograph, and I was chosen to walk from the locker room out onto the court with Estes! I was devastated the next morning when I went to my three-room schoolhouse in Trenton, Utah (northwest of Logan), when my fifth-grade principal met us six boys and told us that Wayne had been killed last night! We were numb! We always shot free throws during lunch. We did that day, but tears came down all six of us boys. We didn't say much that day! Our hero was gone, how could we go on? How could I help my dad milk the cows that night on our dairy in Trenton?

Mark Grant
St. George, Utah

I was a 10-year-old growing up in Logan, Utah, at the time and like most of us there,looked to Wayne as my hero. As far as I was concerned, he was eight feet tall! I don't ever remember crying as long, nor as hard, at any time in my life as I did after hearing of Wayne's death. I was at that last game, sitting behind the chain link at the end of the court. Though it brought back painful memories, I haven't read anything for a long time that touched me like your
article did. It makes me wonder, where are all the Wayne Esteses in today's sports world?

Mark Haslam
Salt Lake City

I was 11 years old and at Wayne's final game on Feb. 8, 1965. I saw all of his games (at least all his home games). Like most kids in Logan, if Wayne was on the court I was watching him, and if Wayne was on the bench I was still watching him.

Kay Olsen
Providence, Utah

I was 5 1/2 years old that night in 1965 when the "Giant of a man" was tragically taken from us. I remember that night like it was yesterday. I would tag along to the games in the Fieldhouse with my father and grandfather -- usually sitting on their laps so I could see the game in that crackerbox of a gym. Those experiences are bigger than life to me -- even today.

The night Wayne died and the next day (and for days to come) was just like you portrayed: there was a dark cloud hanging over that whole valley and we collectively hurt for what had happened. Even today my father can't talk about the experience without having tears come to his eyes.

You mention in your article that we should let you know if we would like to buy a copy of the book Wayne Estes: A Hero's Legacy. I would like to purchase one so that when I'm done reading it I can give it to my high school son who loves the game of basketball but thinks it is all about how many slam dunks you can get in a game or whether it will be "Dollar Night" at the game (scoring 100 points on the other team).

Scott Nixon

(If you'd like a copy of the book, e-mail John Walters at john.walters@nbcuni.com.)

My parents were in school with Estes, were (and are) big Aggie fans, and were in attendance at the last game. Even after all of these years, my Dad gets choked up talking him and he didn't even know him well. I have seen other grown men break down as well who were kids at that time. He was their hero. Even those of us that never knew him, love him as a brother and are grateful for his life.

Terrall Budge

I was Ladell Andersen's student manager two years after that 1964-65 season. When he talks about Wayne's shooting skills, as I hope you might have sensed, he's not exaggerating. It was remarkable to watch.

Craig Hislop
Logan, Utah

Thank you for your recent article on Wayne Estes. Like many who attended USU at that time, I got to know Wayne. We roomed in the same Quad in Richards Hall ... Room 5111 ... my freshman year. ... Wayne was a sophomore. Eight athletes ... two bathrooms! I was from Ontario, Canada ... and on a football scholarship. Live somewhat together for a year ... and you get to know each other. We later joined the same fraternity ... but it didn't work out. Wayne and I were not the frat types.

Wayne then dated my wife (of 40 years) a few times. The girls liked Wayne. Coincidentally, my wife and Mike Murry have taught at the same high school in Sandy for twenty years. We often reminisce about "Baby Huey." We are amazed at how many "best friends" Wayne still has in Utah.

Win Matthews
Sandy, Utah

I am a student at Utah State. For two years I sat in the Spectrum and looked up at his jersey, wondering who he was exactly. None of the current students, even die hard b-ball fans, really knew. I finally found out about his story from an old professor who was telling stories about him in class. Since then I have been looking for something like this! Thanks again for this much-appreciated and much-needed article.

Lance Tyrrell
Logan, Utah

I was a junior in high school and attended that last game. My folks had season tickets in the bleacher seats above the west basket where Wayne shot his last shot. Wayne and Del Lyons lived in a basement apartment in my uncle's house. Every time I attend an Aggie basketball game I pass the trophy case where the picture of Wayne along with his shoes has been displayed for decades. Can't do that without a flashback.

Randy Weston
Logan, Utah

Congratulations on capturing what is most important in our small, family based town. Athletics is the means to an end here, sometimes to a fault. Every year, at least 125 teams flock to Anaconda for the Northwest's biggest basketball tournament, named after Mr. Wayne Estes. This year the dates are from March 28 to April 1.

Blake Hempstead
Anaconda, Mont.