ABCA Board member and Hall of Fame inductee Chuck "Bobo" Brayton passed away on Saturday, March 28, at the age of 89. Brayton won 1,413 games as head coach of Washington State University from 1962-94 and Yakima Valley Community College from 1951-61.
Brayton was inducted to the ABCA Hall of Fame and was recipient of the ABCA/Wilson Lefty Gomez Award in 1983. He served as ABCA President in 1981 and, since then, served on the Board of Directors.
Brayton began his coaching career with 11 seasons at Yakima Valley Community College, winning 251 games, 10 division championships and nine state championships over that span.
He took over as head coach at Washington State in 1962 and posted a record of 1162-523-8 over the next 33 seasons. The Cougars won 21 conference championships, advanced to the NCAA Tournament 10 times and went to the College World Series in 1965 and 1976. At retirement, Brayton ranked fourth on the NCAA career wins list.
Brayton played baseball, football and basketball at Washington State, graduating in 1950. Brayton enrolled at Washington State in 1943 and, after one year, left to serve 18 months in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He returned to finish his collegiate career, playing three seasons each of baseball and football for the Cougars.
In addition to his ABCA accolades, Brayton was a member of the College Baseball Hall of Fame, State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame, Inland Empire Sports Hall of Fame, WSU Athletic Hall of Fame and Yakima Valley Community College Athletic Hall of Fame.
The current Washington State baseball facility is named Bailey-Brayton Field in honor of Brayton and his predecessor and college coach, Arthur "Buck" Bailey.
Bobo was an avid outdoorsman with a passion for fishing and hunting.
Brayton is survived by his wife, Eileen, three sons, Herb, Fritz and Tom, their wives, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
See Also:
Washington State Athletics website
ESPN.com
Yakima Herald Republic