Granvil Wayne Tedder

Granvil “Wayne” Tedder, 78, passed away on August 2, 2016 in Houston, Texas, surrounded by his loving wife, daughter, grandsons and friends.

He was born on December 23, 1937 in Amarillo, Texas to Granvil Franklin Tedder and Vinita Byrl Irwin Tedder.

Wayne was preceded in death by both his parents; his sister, Ima Lee Tedder Williams; and his niece, Kelly Lee Williams Palmer.

He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, LaVerne Winters Tedder; Daughter, Tanya Tedder Straka; Son, Ron Tedder and Dawn Mizell; Loving Grandsons, Anthony and Michael Tedder; Sister, Rita Kaye Tedder; Brother-in-law, Jim and Winona Williams. Numerous loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Best friend since childhood, Jerry Argovitz. Coaches, students, players and parents. Wayne will be dearly missed by all those who love him and who he has touched their lives. Especially the Bellaire High School Cardinal family.

Wayne was an animal lover. Animals were drawn to him and they loved and trusted him with ease. He enjoyed feeding the birds and squirrels in his yard. All animals loved him.

At an early age, Wayne was involved in numerous athletic activities. He was a two-sport athlete at Borger High School and also found time to participate for the local Golden Gloves Boxing team.

Cameron Junior College (JC) was the next step for Wayne’s stellar athletic career. He was awarded a Boxing scholarship at Cameron and would also compete on their Baseball and Football teams after boxing was dropped from NCAA, in order to retain his scholarship.

In 1957, he won the Oklahoma St. Featherweight Boxing Championship as well as 2 of 3 bouts at the National Golden Gloves Tournament in Chicago. During his sophomore year the Cameron JC Football team was ranked #2 in the nation and the Baseball team won the first JC World Series. Upon completion of 2 years at Cameron, he was awarded a Boxing scholarship at the University of Corpus Christi (UCC) (now Texas A&M at Corpus Christi).

Wayne played on the UCC Tarpon Baseball and Football teams, starting defensive free safety, but he truly excelled in the Boxing program. Wayne’s success at the regional Golden Gloves Tournament here in Corpus Christi propelled him to the Texas Golden Gloves Tournament in Ft. Worth where he won the Texas Lightweight Championship and was voted “Outstanding Fighter of the GG Tournament” by the sportswriters. The next step was the National Golden Gloves Tournament in Chicago winning fights but he would eventually lose to the National Champion.

He was named “Mr. UCC” in 1960 and was awarded the John Hickman Trophy as the most Outstanding UCC Athlete in 1961. In 2010 Wayne was inducted into the Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi Athletic Hall of Honor.

After graduating from UCC, Wayne served in the U.S. Army from 1961-1963 during the Berlin crisis. While in service, in Frankfurt, Germany, he played Baseball for the Army’s divisional baseball team. He was deployed to Germany as a Radio Operator for the 3rd Armored Battalion.

Upon completion of his military career, Wayne began his teaching and coaching career. He coached for 17 years at La Mirada High School in La Mirada, California where his Baseball teams went to the state playoffs 10 times. In 1980, Wayne moved his family back to Texas where he was the Head Baseball and Assistant Football coach at Spring Branch High School in Houston for 3 years. He was then recognized for his ability as a talent evaluator by becoming the Head Scout for the Houston Gamblers of the USFL from 1983-1985.

After a few years in professional football, the USFL failed, and he was drawn back to working with high school athletes and joined Houston ISD’s Lee High School in 1985. Wayne became the school’s Head Football Coach and Athletic Director from 1989-1994.

Since 1994, Wayne has served as Assistant Football Coach and Hitting Coach for Bellaire High School in Houston, Texas. During his 22 years at Bellaire, he’s been recognized as National Baseball Assistant Coach of the Year (1998) and been inducted into the Bellaire High School Baseball Hall of Fame (2000) and also inducted into the Houston ISD Houston Coaches Association Hall of Honor (2016). He was recognized and honored for contributions made to the education of our nation’s youth and acknowledged for excellence as a Distinguished Educator in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers (2004-2005). In 2005, his uniform number was retired from Bellaire and the locker room was dedicated in his honor and in his name. On the Field, his 1999 Bellaire Baseball Team won the State Championship and was named the US National Champions of High School Baseball. He has helped send over 200 athletes to Division I Colleges as well as 7 players to the Major Leagues. Granvil Wayne Tedder has not only been a cornerstone of the storied Bellaire High School Baseball program, but a true role model for young adults, as well as the epitome of an HISD educator.

A memorial service to celebrate Wayne’s life will be held at 3:00 PM, August 10, 2016, in the Sanctuary at Fair Haven United Methodist Church, 1330 Gessner Drive, Houston, Texas. A reception to follow in the Trinity Center.