C.W. Ward

C.W. "Butch" Ward, 81, passed away May 1, 2006 after an extended illness. Visitation will be from 2-6 p.m. Sunday at the Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home in Bourbonnais, and from 10 a.m. Monday at College Church of the Nazarene, until the 11 a.m. services. Burial will be in All Saints Cemetery, Bourbonnais. Memorials may be made to Olivet Nazarene University. Ward, after whom Olivet Nazarene University's Ward Field is named, began his athletic career in high school in Murphysboro, where he participated in football and basketball. His high school career was interrupted for three and one-half years during World War II while he served in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific. While in service, he was decorated with 22 battle stars and eight ribbons. Ward enrolled in Olivet Nazarene College and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in education in 1952. In college, he participated in football, basketball and track, received 10 athletic letters and was offered 18 athletic scholarships. Ward also holds a master of arts degree from Auburn University, Auburn, Ala., and a director of athletics degree from Indiana University. He coached and taught in Atlanta, Ga., for six years. Ward served Olivet Nazarene University for 22 years, beginning in 1958 and ending in 1980. During this time, he served as chairman of the physical education department and athletic director. From 1966 to 1976, Ward was founding head coach of Olivet's intercollegiate basketball team. In the fall of 1976, he left the hardwood to become ONU's first intercollegiate football coach. In basketball, his teams had a record of 168-93, and his 1974-75 team went 30-4 to win the National Christian College national title, the first national title in any sport for Olivet Nazarene. In football, his coaching record was 14-17-1. He was the first inductee into the ONU Hall of Fame in 1982, and in 1976, Olivet's Alumni Association awarded him with the prestigious "O" Award. Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Ward was dearly loved by his students and co-workers. Ralph Hodge, coach of Olivet's men's basketball team, says, "Coach Ward was a very special person to me: my coach, my boss and a very dear friend. His love and passion for athletics at ONU will never be matched. He will be remembered as the father of athletics at Olivet." Jeff Schimmelpfennig, current athletic director says, "Coach Ward laid the foundation which we all benefit from today. He was a visionary in that he knew Olivet could be a nationally known athletic department when others believed athletics should remain within these campus walls. He also saw the opportunity in combining athletics with sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. He knew this combination could not only be life-changing for those we compete against and in front of, but particularly for the athletes who represent this institution." Coach Ward loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to whom he gave his heart and soul. He loved College Church of the Nazarene where he taught Sunday school. He loved Olivet Nazarene University, to which he devoted his life. He loved his family of whom he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. His favorite hobbies included motorcycling, golf, camping, RVing and all sports. Survivors include his wife, Lillie M. Ward; daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Tom Pasko of Urbana, Ohio; grandson and wife, Brian and Jessica Pasko of Urbana, Ohio; daughter, Kathy Warby of Bourbonnais; granddaughter, Becky Warby of Bourbonnais; grandson, Ryan Warby and his fianc e, Lonna Rasco of Fenton, Mich. Deceased are his parents, C.W. Ward Sr. and Edna Wilson.

C.W. Ward

January 17, 1925 - May 1, 2006