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Greatest Sports Legend crowned

Tuesday, January 20, 2009
By SHANNEN HAYES, Staff Writer
Archie Chadd

Archie Chadd is remembered by many as a talented basketball player and coach. His talents earned him an induction in to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

On Saturday, he was named "Greatest Sports Legend" of Putnam County.

Archie Chadd's basketball career started in Bainbridge High School as a four-year regular. The 1924 graduate went on to play basketball for Butler University, where he became assistant coach of its national championship team in 1929. His coaching success continued by winning eight sectionals, six regional championships and three semi-finals at Anderson High School. In 1935 and 1937, he won state championships.

When the late Archie Chadd wasn't coaching, he was teaching. He taught social studies and government, first at a high school in Canton, Ill., then later at Anderson High School. He became the athletic director and eventually superintendent of Anderson schools from 1942 to 1951.

His legacy on the basketball court was honored Saturday by the Putnam County Museum.

"We are very honored," said Ben Chadd, Archie's youngest son, following the announcement his father was voted greatest sports legend by Putnam County residents.

When his father accepted the coaching position at Anderson High School in 1933, he decided to have the high school boys practice against college athletes. Archie's team began winning the scrimmages and left the colleges wanting out of the contracts. It didn't happen; scrimmages continued and Anderson became state champions for the first time two years later.

"He was a very strategic coach," Ben remembers.

Archie married Madonna in May, 1932 and together they had three sons -- Ben, Robert and Billy. He passed away in 1990 at the age of 85. He is survived by his son, Ben who currently resides near Bainbridge; a daughter-in-law, Jeannine Chadd also residing near Bainbridge; and 16 grandchildren.

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  • Larry Steele is the best basketball player from Putnam county!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Tue, Jan 20, 2009, at 3:01 PM

  • The debate will continue as long as time exists....who is the greatest? Jesse MacInally? Larry Steele? Mike Troyer? Bill Lear? Wayne Bright? Bergie Remsburg? Jeff Blue?,,,,,

    -- Posted by TNVOLTUT on Tue, Jan 20, 2009, at 6:42 PM

  • Larry Nelson Steele (born May 5, 1949, in Greencastle, Indiana) is a former professional basketball player, best known for being on the Portland Trail Blazers team that won the 1977 NBA Finals.

    Steele grew up in Bainbridge, Indiana, and played collegiately at the University of Kentucky under coach Adolph Rupp. He was drafted by the Trail Blazers in 1971, with the 2nd pick in the 3rd round (37th overall) and by the Kentucky Colonels in the 1971 American Basketball Association draft.

    Steele played his entire NBA career for the team (retiring from basketball at the end of the 1979-80 season). Steele led the NBA in steals in the 1973-74 NBA season -- the first year steals were recorded by the league. He played 20.7 MPG on the 1977 championship team (starting in only nine games), and his jersey number (15) was retired by the team on October 11, 1981.

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Wed, Jan 21, 2009, at 12:06 PM
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