Bobcats Lose a Legend
8/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | General
Montana State University lost a legend Thursday when Max Worthington passed away at the age of 93.
Worthington wore many hats, had a myriad of responsibilities and was instrumental in the progress and reputation of MSU for many years.
"Max has influenced untold numbers of people," said Sonny Holland, himself a MSU campus leader for many for the past 40 years as a football player, coach and administrator. "He was as fine an ambassador for Montana State that's ever lived, as far as I'm concerned."
Worthington garnered many accolades over the years including being named to Montana State's 10 greatest athletes by the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and his contributions to the school more than justified the naming of the basketball arena inside of Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in his honor in 1985.
Even without the athletic endeavors, his legacy at the school was impressive.
He was actively involved in student government; campus clubs and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity while a student. He later coached the Bobcat men's basketball team for one year (1947-48) to an 18-9 record.
He served as Director of Alumni for 25 years -- during which time he was one of MSU President Ronald Renne's closest and most trusted confidants -- and as Dean of Student Affairs from 1964-73.
Worthington was one of the most fervent fans and boosters, attending every home football game and was a frequent visitor at practice as well.
"He was a regular at practice and I made sure he got introduced to the team and he always said a few words," current Bobcat men's basketball coach Mick Durham said. "It's not hard to impress the team in when you introduce them to the man the arena's named after.
"He was great guy," Durham added. "He talked about the old days like taking the train to Indianapolis to play Butler. Max just loved being a Bobcat."
Despite his varied resume' athletics is where Worthington really shined.
He grew up in Billings, where he played on two state championship high school basketball teams and tied for a state title in football. He was recruited to MSU by then coach Ott Romney to become the fifth and final piece of what would later be known as the "Golden Bobcats."
During Worthington's freshman and sophomore years, the 'Cats were a remarkable 72-4 on the court and the 1929 team was later deemed the NCAA Champions.
Though he excelled in basketball it was another challenge that drew him to Montana State.
"I thought it would be fun to go to Bozeman and see if we couldn't beat 'them' in football." Worthington said a couple of year's ago.
"Them" was the University of Montana.
At the time the 'Cats hadn't beaten their bitter intrastate rivals since 1908.
The one-sideness of the series ended with the arrival of Worthington.
In 1928 when Worthington was a sophomore the two teams fought to a 0-0 tie but the next year the streak finally ended.
With 7,500 fans in the stands in Butte, Worthington caught one touchdown and ran for another as the Bobcats won 14-12.
"One of the finer compliments that I ever heard for Max came from Schubert Dice, that basketball and football coach back then," Holland said. "He often said that Max Worthington was the greatest athlete that he ever coached."
Being sturdy, strong and agile led to Worthington's versatility but his biggest strength was his competitiveness. He garnered a rare double as a senior -- he captained both the football and basketball teams -- but never had a favorite sport.
"Just never thought of it either way," he said. "I like both and always had the good luck and pleasure of playing with good players."
To everyone associated with Montana State and Bozeman, Max Worthington was not only one of the good players -- he was one of the good guys.
"Max Worthington was one of the greatest Bobcat supporters, ever," local restaurateur and Bobcat booster Phil Schneider said. "He was one of those jewels -- there are very few like him. What a gentleman.
"You hear the phrase that MSU fans 'bleed blue and gold' -- Max's entire soul was blue and gold."
MAX WORTHINGTON
Max Worthington, 93, passed away Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003, at his home in Bozeman. Max was born on Oct. 7, 1909, in Billings, the third child of Leonard Leroy and Mary Ellen (LeSalle) Worthington.
He graduated from Billings High School in 1927 where he was an all-state athlete. His senior year, the basketball team competed in the High School National Championships in Chicago. He attended Montana State College where he excelled in football and basketball, captaining both teams as a senior. He was a starting guard for the 1929 National Champion "Golden" Bobcats.
Max taught and coached in Shelby from 1932 until 1938, winning state championships in both football and basketball.
He married Dorothy Mabel Douglas of Windom in Lewistown on June 1, 1933, a 57-year union ending with Dorothy's death in 1990.
Max taught and coached the Helena Bengals to state championships during his tenure in Helena from 1938 to 1943.
Son, Doug, was born in 1940.
He served in the U.S. Navy from October 1943 to April 1946 as a gunnery officer on troop transports in the South Pacific.
He returned to Bozeman and MSC with his family in 1946, having accepted a position as assistant football coach and physical education instructor. He and Clyde Carpenter coached the Bobcats to their first Bowl appearance at the San Diego Harbor Bowl in 1946. He left the coaching arena in 1948 when tapped by President Roland Renne to energize the floundering alumni/public service office.
In 1951 Max stood in as basketball coach for Bobcat Great John "Brick" Breeden, winning 18 and losing 9 contests. He also promoted a game between that team and the "Golden" Bobcats of yore.
Dr. Roland Renne was the father of the modern MSU, and Max became his "go to guy," sitting on every major campus council and committee and chairing many major projects such as the "Brick" Breeden Field House, the inception of the Bobcat Boosters, the Athletic Scholarship Association and the Renne Library. He was the first university staff or faculty member to sit on the Bozeman Chamber of Commerce Board. Upon the administrative reorganization in 1963, he was appointed as the first dean of student affairs and activities.
In those days of long hours and extreme pressure, he combated his stress and frustrations with rigorous daily handball games against the likes of Renne, Agocs, Lambert, Storti, Berry, Bourdet, the Bobs, Flieger and Beck, Tom Parac and other regulars.
During his years of service and into retirement, Max received every honor and accolade bestowed by the university. In 1985, the arena within the field house was named in his honor. In 2002 he celebrated his 70th class reunion and was recognized for his 75 years as member of the "M" Club.
Retiring in February 1974, he continued to be involved in community affairs and a myriad of university projects. He avidly pursued fly fishing and cruising the back roads of his beloved Montana and traveling the U.S. with Dorothy. He was a fixture at MSU sporting events and practices until the 2002-2003 season "helping" the respective coaches with their jobs and relishing in the successes and various championships achieved by Bobcat athletes in every sport.
He was a lifelong member of the American Legion 40 ET 8, VFW and Elks Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Lesalle and Bonita; and his wife.
He is survived by his son, Doug of Bozeman, four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Max's life will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at the Max Worthington Arena in the MSU Fieldhouse.
Memorials may be sent to the MSU Foundation, designated to the Max and Dorothy Worthington Scholarship Fund, 1501 S. 11th Ave., Bozeman 59717; or to the Athletic Scholarship Association, P.O. Box 173270, Bozeman 59717.
Worthington wore many hats, had a myriad of responsibilities and was instrumental in the progress and reputation of MSU for many years.
"Max has influenced untold numbers of people," said Sonny Holland, himself a MSU campus leader for many for the past 40 years as a football player, coach and administrator. "He was as fine an ambassador for Montana State that's ever lived, as far as I'm concerned."
Worthington garnered many accolades over the years including being named to Montana State's 10 greatest athletes by the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and his contributions to the school more than justified the naming of the basketball arena inside of Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in his honor in 1985.
Even without the athletic endeavors, his legacy at the school was impressive.
He was actively involved in student government; campus clubs and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity while a student. He later coached the Bobcat men's basketball team for one year (1947-48) to an 18-9 record.
He served as Director of Alumni for 25 years -- during which time he was one of MSU President Ronald Renne's closest and most trusted confidants -- and as Dean of Student Affairs from 1964-73.
Worthington was one of the most fervent fans and boosters, attending every home football game and was a frequent visitor at practice as well.
"He was a regular at practice and I made sure he got introduced to the team and he always said a few words," current Bobcat men's basketball coach Mick Durham said. "It's not hard to impress the team in when you introduce them to the man the arena's named after.
"He was great guy," Durham added. "He talked about the old days like taking the train to Indianapolis to play Butler. Max just loved being a Bobcat."
Despite his varied resume' athletics is where Worthington really shined.
He grew up in Billings, where he played on two state championship high school basketball teams and tied for a state title in football. He was recruited to MSU by then coach Ott Romney to become the fifth and final piece of what would later be known as the "Golden Bobcats."
During Worthington's freshman and sophomore years, the 'Cats were a remarkable 72-4 on the court and the 1929 team was later deemed the NCAA Champions.
Though he excelled in basketball it was another challenge that drew him to Montana State.
"I thought it would be fun to go to Bozeman and see if we couldn't beat 'them' in football." Worthington said a couple of year's ago.
"Them" was the University of Montana.
At the time the 'Cats hadn't beaten their bitter intrastate rivals since 1908.
The one-sideness of the series ended with the arrival of Worthington.
In 1928 when Worthington was a sophomore the two teams fought to a 0-0 tie but the next year the streak finally ended.
With 7,500 fans in the stands in Butte, Worthington caught one touchdown and ran for another as the Bobcats won 14-12.
"One of the finer compliments that I ever heard for Max came from Schubert Dice, that basketball and football coach back then," Holland said. "He often said that Max Worthington was the greatest athlete that he ever coached."
Being sturdy, strong and agile led to Worthington's versatility but his biggest strength was his competitiveness. He garnered a rare double as a senior -- he captained both the football and basketball teams -- but never had a favorite sport.
"Just never thought of it either way," he said. "I like both and always had the good luck and pleasure of playing with good players."
To everyone associated with Montana State and Bozeman, Max Worthington was not only one of the good players -- he was one of the good guys.
"Max Worthington was one of the greatest Bobcat supporters, ever," local restaurateur and Bobcat booster Phil Schneider said. "He was one of those jewels -- there are very few like him. What a gentleman.
"You hear the phrase that MSU fans 'bleed blue and gold' -- Max's entire soul was blue and gold."
MAX WORTHINGTON
Max Worthington, 93, passed away Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003, at his home in Bozeman. Max was born on Oct. 7, 1909, in Billings, the third child of Leonard Leroy and Mary Ellen (LeSalle) Worthington.
He graduated from Billings High School in 1927 where he was an all-state athlete. His senior year, the basketball team competed in the High School National Championships in Chicago. He attended Montana State College where he excelled in football and basketball, captaining both teams as a senior. He was a starting guard for the 1929 National Champion "Golden" Bobcats.
Max taught and coached in Shelby from 1932 until 1938, winning state championships in both football and basketball.
He married Dorothy Mabel Douglas of Windom in Lewistown on June 1, 1933, a 57-year union ending with Dorothy's death in 1990.
Max taught and coached the Helena Bengals to state championships during his tenure in Helena from 1938 to 1943.
Son, Doug, was born in 1940.
He served in the U.S. Navy from October 1943 to April 1946 as a gunnery officer on troop transports in the South Pacific.
He returned to Bozeman and MSC with his family in 1946, having accepted a position as assistant football coach and physical education instructor. He and Clyde Carpenter coached the Bobcats to their first Bowl appearance at the San Diego Harbor Bowl in 1946. He left the coaching arena in 1948 when tapped by President Roland Renne to energize the floundering alumni/public service office.
In 1951 Max stood in as basketball coach for Bobcat Great John "Brick" Breeden, winning 18 and losing 9 contests. He also promoted a game between that team and the "Golden" Bobcats of yore.
Dr. Roland Renne was the father of the modern MSU, and Max became his "go to guy," sitting on every major campus council and committee and chairing many major projects such as the "Brick" Breeden Field House, the inception of the Bobcat Boosters, the Athletic Scholarship Association and the Renne Library. He was the first university staff or faculty member to sit on the Bozeman Chamber of Commerce Board. Upon the administrative reorganization in 1963, he was appointed as the first dean of student affairs and activities.
In those days of long hours and extreme pressure, he combated his stress and frustrations with rigorous daily handball games against the likes of Renne, Agocs, Lambert, Storti, Berry, Bourdet, the Bobs, Flieger and Beck, Tom Parac and other regulars.
During his years of service and into retirement, Max received every honor and accolade bestowed by the university. In 1985, the arena within the field house was named in his honor. In 2002 he celebrated his 70th class reunion and was recognized for his 75 years as member of the "M" Club.
Retiring in February 1974, he continued to be involved in community affairs and a myriad of university projects. He avidly pursued fly fishing and cruising the back roads of his beloved Montana and traveling the U.S. with Dorothy. He was a fixture at MSU sporting events and practices until the 2002-2003 season "helping" the respective coaches with their jobs and relishing in the successes and various championships achieved by Bobcat athletes in every sport.
He was a lifelong member of the American Legion 40 ET 8, VFW and Elks Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Lesalle and Bonita; and his wife.
He is survived by his son, Doug of Bozeman, four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Max's life will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at the Max Worthington Arena in the MSU Fieldhouse.
Memorials may be sent to the MSU Foundation, designated to the Max and Dorothy Worthington Scholarship Fund, 1501 S. 11th Ave., Bozeman 59717; or to the Athletic Scholarship Association, P.O. Box 173270, Bozeman 59717.
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