Charlie Wedemeyer
Encyclopedia
Charlie Wedemeyer was a high school
teacher
and football
coach
, famous for continuing to teach and coach after contracting Lou Gehrig’s disease
. He died on June 3, 2010, from pneumonia, a complication caused by a recent surgery. He was 64 years old.
Charlie was the last of nine children born to Bill and Ruth Wedemeyer. He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was a high school athlete and was quarterback of the Punahou School
football team. He was named Hawaii Prep Athlete of the 1960s
. After his graduation from Punahou in 1965 he attended Michigan State University
where he played for coach Duffy Daugherty
.
Charlie graduated from Michigan State in 1969 and obtained a Master's degree
from Central Michigan University
. In 1978, while he was the head football coach at Los Gatos High School
he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
.
The disease took a toll on his body and, at his death, he could only move his eyes, eyebrows and lips.
The PBS documentary about the Wedemeyers, One More Season, won an Emmy Award
. Michael Nouri
portrayed Charlie in the 1988 made-for-TV movie Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wedemeyer Story filmed at Stratford High School
in Goose Creek, South Carolina
. Wedemeyer and his wife, Lucy, penned his autobiography titled Charlie's Victory with Gregg Lewis.
Charlie was the younger brother of Herman Wedemeyer
, the actor who played Duke on the CBS
television series Hawaii Five-O
.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
, famous for continuing to teach and coach after contracting Lou Gehrig’s disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
. He died on June 3, 2010, from pneumonia, a complication caused by a recent surgery. He was 64 years old.
Charlie was the last of nine children born to Bill and Ruth Wedemeyer. He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was a high school athlete and was quarterback of the Punahou School
Punahou School
Punahou School, once known as Oahu College, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu in the U.S. State of Hawaii...
football team. He was named Hawaii Prep Athlete of the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
. After his graduation from Punahou in 1965 he attended Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
where he played for coach Duffy Daugherty
Duffy Daugherty
Hugh Duffy Daugherty was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Michigan State University from 1954 to 1972, where he compiled a career record of 109–69–5. Duffy's 1965 and 1966 teams won national championships...
.
Charlie graduated from Michigan State in 1969 and obtained a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
. In 1978, while he was the head football coach at Los Gatos High School
Los Gatos High School
Los Gatos High School is a high school in Los Gatos, California, a small town near San Jose in the Silicon Valley. Los Gatos High School was founded in 1908 and is part of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District...
he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
.
The disease took a toll on his body and, at his death, he could only move his eyes, eyebrows and lips.
The PBS documentary about the Wedemeyers, One More Season, won an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
. Michael Nouri
Michael Nouri
Michael Nouri is an American television and film actor. He may be best known for his role as Nick Hurley, in the 1983 film Flashdance. He has had recurring roles in numerous television series, including NCIS as Eli David, the father of Mossad officer Ziva David, The O.C. as Dr...
portrayed Charlie in the 1988 made-for-TV movie Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wedemeyer Story filmed at Stratford High School
Stratford High School (Goose Creek, South Carolina)
Stratford High School is a high school located in Goose Creek, South Carolina.Stratford serves grades 9 through 12, and is a part of the Berkeley County School District. Stratford High School was originally built in 1981 and opened in 1983 with approximately 1100 students. An addition was added in...
in Goose Creek, South Carolina
Goose Creek, South Carolina
Goose Creek is a city in Berkeley county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 35,938 at the 2010 census. Most of the Naval Weapons Station Charleston is in Goose Creek. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S...
. Wedemeyer and his wife, Lucy, penned his autobiography titled Charlie's Victory with Gregg Lewis.
Charlie was the younger brother of Herman Wedemeyer
Herman Wedemeyer
Herman John Wedemeyer was an American actor, football player, and politician. He is best known for portraying 'Sergeant/Detective "Duke" Lukela' on the crime drama Hawaii Five-O ....
, the actor who played Duke on the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television series Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
.
External links
- "Coming through loud and clear", by Dave Reardon, Honolulu Star-BulletinHonolulu Star-BulletinThe Honolulu Star-Bulletin was a daily newspaper based in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the second largest daily newspaper in the state of Hawaii...
, June 5, 2005. - "Wedemeyer's greatest feat: beating adversity", by Bill Kwon, July 7, 2009, Honolulu AdvertiserHonolulu AdvertiserThe Honolulu Advertiser was a daily newspaper published in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the largest daily newspaper in the American state of Hawaii. It published daily with special Sunday and Internet editions...
- "Charlie Wedemeyer dies", Honolulu AdvertiserHonolulu AdvertiserThe Honolulu Advertiser was a daily newspaper published in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the largest daily newspaper in the American state of Hawaii. It published daily with special Sunday and Internet editions...
- "Charlie Wedemeyer dies", HawaiiNewsNow
- Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wedemeyer Story at IMDB.com