Steve Buyer: “Likewise, I rise to honor and pay respects to the life and career of the distinguished Hoosier, Coach John Wooden. He…”

“Likewise, I rise to honor and pay respects to the life and career of the distinguished Hoosier, Coach John Wooden. He was born October 14, 1910, in the small town of Hall, Indiana. Coach Wooden was raised on a family farm that had neither running water nor electricity, and money was often in short supply. He played basketball with his brothers in a barn using a tomato basket and a makeshift ball consisting of old rags. Later in life, he would credit his success to the hard work and discipline he learned growing up on the small family farm. At the age of 14, his family moved to the town of Martinsville, Indiana, where he led the local high school basketball team for 3 consecutive years, winning the State championship in 1927. For his efforts, he was selected three-time All-State. After graduating high school in 1928, John Wooden attended Purdue University, where he helped the Boilermakers as team captain to the 1932 national championship.”