Wenatchee High School Athletic Hall of Fame


Tom Byrne
COACH Football and Baseball 1953-1965
Wenatchee High's statewide gridiron reputation was rekindled during coach Byrne's 13 years on the sidelines. The University of Montana graduate guided teams to a 69-34-3 record including a 9-0 state championship season in 1958. His 1957 squad was the first WHS grid team to break into state football weekly rankings. The Panthers finished three consecutive seasons ranked in the "State Top 10" during Tom's tenure - #7 in 1957, #1 in '58, and #6 in '59. From 1953 until leaving the league after the '56 campaign, Byrne's teams won four consecutive "NCW A" titles.

During a single season as baseball coach, Tom's nine won 14 straight games and a "NCW A League" championship.

Coach Byrne was selected as head coach of the 1959 State All-Star Football Game and was inducted into the Washington State Football Coaches Hall of Fame.

- Caricatures of inductees as they appeared while involved in WHS athletics and the synopsis of accomplishments are drawn and written by Jeff Mertes.