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Hall of Fame basketball coach Butch Blue dies at 78

Blue won 405 games in 26 years at Battle Ground High School

By Will Denner, Columbian staff reporter
Published: February 3, 2025, 12:11pm
Updated: February 12, 2025, 9:50am

Butch Blue, a hall of fame and state champion coach, administrator and teacher, died on Wednesday after a battle with Lewy body dementia. He was 78.

After beginning his career at Castle Rock, his alma mater, Blue and his family moved to Battle Ground in 1972 and became Battle Ground’s head boys basketball coach in 1977, marking the start of a decorated era for the program spanning four decades.

The era reached its pinnacle between the late 80s and early 90s when the Tigers won the 1990 Class AAA state championship against Mount Vernon, placed second in 1991 and third in 1989.

Blue retired as the Tigers’ coach in 2002. His 405 wins in 26 years at Battle Ground currently ranks second among Clark County basketball coaches.

Blue was inducted into the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Battle Ground High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.

The latter event also coincided with the induction of Battle Ground’s 1990 state championship boys basketball team. Led by seniors Mike Brotherton, Jason Hoseney and Travis Blue, Butch Blue’s son, the Tigers posted a 24-2 record and defeated Mount Vernon 95-63 in the championship game — the largest margin of victory in tournament history at the time.

Brotherton was subbed out late in the fourth quarter one point shy of the tournament record. In the spirit of sportsmanship, with fans calling for him to be put back in the game, Blue refused unless he got permission from Mount Vernon coach Mac Fraser, the Seattle Times reported.

Blue also served as an assistant football coach for 20 years, and was Battle Ground’s head coach in 1991, leading the Tigers to an 8-2 record.

Later as an administrator, Blue was an athletic director and principal at Battle Ground. Over the course of his career, Blue’s mentorship impacted countless students and coaches around Southwest Washington.

Current Battle Ground boys basketball coach James Ensley, who played for Blue in high school, said the Tigers plan to pay tribute to Blue at their final home game on Friday, with a larger ceremony involving the Blue family in the works for the beginning of next season.

Blue and his wife, Lorna, who died in 2020, have three children — sons Casey and Travis, and daughter Maggie.

A memorial service will take place on Saturday, March 1 at 2 p.m. at Reign Church in Vancouver.

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