W. A. Wren, Known Falls Athlete, Dies Before Game
William A. Wren, 48, widely known Great Falls sportsman and athlete and last manager of Morony Natatorium was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital Sunday after he collapsed at Legion Park while preparing to play a benefit softball game.
Wren became manager of the Natatorium in Dec. 1961. When the pool was closed last year, he became employed at the Great Falls Brewery.
He was an enthusiastic participant in many sports, including baseball, golf, tennis, softball, and handball and worked to provide more opportunities for youngsters to take part in athletics.
Wren played baseball with the Seattle Rainiers when he was about 20, friends recalled. He was city handball champion in 1954 and often was runner-up during James Ritter's long hold on the title.
Wren was born in Great Falls Aug. 23, 1916, and graduated from Great Falls High School in 1934.
He served four years in the U. S. Air Force in World War II, holding the rank of master sergeant when discharged in Oct. 1945.
He worked for the Chevrolet Division of General Motors before his World War II service and was associated with the Louis S. Cohn Co. here prior his appointment as manager of the Natatorium. He was a member of the Elks.
Survivors are his mother, Mrs. Magdalene Ursich, Seattle; five sisters, Mrs. Ann Boyce, Mrs. Dorothy Johnson, Mrs. Josephine Dobbs, and Mrs. Mary McDonagh, all of Seattle and Margaret Wren, Detroit, Mich.; and two brothers, Leonard, Seattle, and Nick, Phoenix, Ariz. Another brother, Edward C. Wren, Cascade, the state commissioner of agriculture, died in a plane crash with Gov. Donald Nutter in Jan. 1962.
W. A. Wren, Known Falls Athlete, Dies Before Game
William A. Wren, 48, widely known Great Falls sportsman and athlete and last manager of Morony Natatorium was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital Sunday after he collapsed at Legion Park while preparing to play a benefit softball game.
Wren became manager of the Natatorium in Dec. 1961. When the pool was closed last year, he became employed at the Great Falls Brewery.
He was an enthusiastic participant in many sports, including baseball, golf, tennis, softball, and handball and worked to provide more opportunities for youngsters to take part in athletics.
Wren played baseball with the Seattle Rainiers when he was about 20, friends recalled. He was city handball champion in 1954 and often was runner-up during James Ritter's long hold on the title.
Wren was born in Great Falls Aug. 23, 1916, and graduated from Great Falls High School in 1934.
He served four years in the U. S. Air Force in World War II, holding the rank of master sergeant when discharged in Oct. 1945.
He worked for the Chevrolet Division of General Motors before his World War II service and was associated with the Louis S. Cohn Co. here prior his appointment as manager of the Natatorium. He was a member of the Elks.
Survivors are his mother, Mrs. Magdalene Ursich, Seattle; five sisters, Mrs. Ann Boyce, Mrs. Dorothy Johnson, Mrs. Josephine Dobbs, and Mrs. Mary McDonagh, all of Seattle and Margaret Wren, Detroit, Mich.; and two brothers, Leonard, Seattle, and Nick, Phoenix, Ariz. Another brother, Edward C. Wren, Cascade, the state commissioner of agriculture, died in a plane crash with Gov. Donald Nutter in Jan. 1962.
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