Joseph C. "Joe" Prater
Before High School: Played in the outfield on the Fayetteville Junior Legion baseball team for two seasons (1939-40)
High School: Attended University High School in Fayetteville Arkansas, graduating in 1942... Played for four seasons as a forward on the basketball team, lettering twice (1936-40).
College: Went to the University of Arkansas...Played on the Razorbacks freshman basketball team as for a year at forward (1940-41).
Military: Left college for the US Army...Played football while in the service and was on a team that twice won the 9th Division European Theater Football Championship... Prater also played baseball.
Professional Baseball: Joe played in the outfield for the Olean Oilers of the New York Pony league for a year (1942) before leaving for the Army... After his stint in the service, Prater played outfield on the Oskosh, WI (NY Giants Farm Club) in 1946 and Chanute, KS KOM League in 1947.
Coaching Background: Prater posted a career football coaching record of 111-95-5 at both the high school and college level in 21 years of coaching... He started out as an assistant football coach at Lamar Union H.S. for five seasons (1948-53) before being hired as the school's head coach for the next five years (1951-56) and guiding his team to two, Class A, State Championship teams (1954-1955)....Joe coached three Al-American football players at the college level...One receiver played for the Washington Redskins and New Orleans Saints while several others had brief careers as professionals...He also coached football for seven years (1956-62) at Pueblo Community Colege and at Southern Colo. State College from 1963-73...As a basketball coach, Prater was an assistant at Lamar Union H.S. for one year (1948-49) before taking over the program and leading the Savages to three district championships in seven years there (1948-55)... He also coached basketball for seven seasons at Calvary Baptist Church H.S. (1974-80)... Prater founded baseball at Lamar Union H.S...He served on State Baseball Committee.. His team won the 1951, Class A, State Championship and was the 1952 State runner-up.
Honors:
Namd the NAIA District VII Coach of the Year in 1965.
Received the USC Alumni Faculty Service Award in 1982
Recived the Dedicated Service Award for the years 1956-1988 and again 1989 from the USC Math department.
Occupation: Prater was a Teacher/Football Coach at Lamar Union H.S., Pueblo Community College, Southern Colorado State College (later named the University of Southern Colorado).
Personal: Lived in Pueblo with his wife, Edith M. Prater... Joe passed away on August 1, 2004.
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