Former UW Boxing Coach Passes Away
November 02, 2001 | General News
John Walsh, the "Father of Wisconsin boxing," died Thursday, Nov. 1, at a local hospital in Madison. Walsh, who was a prominent attorney in Madison for many years, served as the UW Boxing coach for 23 years until his retirement in 1958.
Visitation will be Sunday from 4-7 p.m. at Maple Bluff Country Club in Madison. Funeral services are scheduled for Monday at St. Patrick's Church beginning at 10 a.m.
A number of Walsh's accomplishments are listed below:
' Walsh was named Badger boxing coach in 1934, the same year he enrolled in Law School at UW-Madison. At the time, he was 20 years old. Walsh coached the Badgers until 1958, when he retired. Walsh's first-year salary as boxing coach was $600, but he also had to pay $100 tuition for attending law school.
' His teams compiled an overall dual record of 116-22-1 in 23 seasons. Walsh's Badger teams won 83.8 percent of their dual meets.
' Nine of his Wisconsin squads were undefeated in dual competition and eight of his squads won national collegiate championships.
' Twenty-nine different Badgers won a total of 35 NCAA championships during his tenure. Walsh was nicknamed by one sportswriter as the "Producer of Champions."
' The 1943 and 1956 Badger teams set scoring margin records at the NCAA championships and produced five individual champions each.
' Walsh was credited with elevating the boxing program, which started as an intramural sport, into an intercollegiate program that rivaled football and basketball for campus popularity.
' Walsh's UW teams played before packed crowds (as high as 15,000) at the Wisconsin Field House and broke all collegiate boxing attendance records.
' His featured student-athletes at Wisconsin included three-time national champs Gene Rankin and Cliff Lutz plus stars Omar Crocker and Woody Swancutt.
' Walsh earned some fame in 1954 for his quote to Esquire magazine that, "A left hook is a boys' best friend!"
' Walsh was an inaugural member of the Wisconsin Department of Athletics Hall of Fame (1991).
' Walsh organized the College Boxing Association and served as its first president.
' He was co-coach of the United States Olympic boxing team in 1948.
' Walsh was named 1948 Madison Jaycee of the Year for his contributions to the city "through wholesome promotion of the ring sport."
' Walsh was born on Aug. 23, 1912 in Minneapolis. His wife 's name was Audrey Beatty.
' He served as a lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 1945 and 1946.
' Walsh received his LLB degree from UW-Madison in 1938.
' The John J. Walsh Scholarship, established in 1988 by his friends and admirers, is given annually to a needy student in the University of Wisconsin Law School.
' As an amateur boxer, Walsh won 98 of 100 bouts (95 of which were knockouts) and was the Minnesota state champion, the Northwest Golden Gloves champion and the Midwest Intercollegiate champion.
' John began his boxing career as a 10-year-old by taking lessons with neighborhood pals in Minneapolis.
