- GRAMBLING LEGENDS -
HOBDY DIES AFTER LENGTHY ILLNESS
Fred Hobdy, the winningest coach in Louisiana collegiate basketball history, died Tuesday morning (12/8/98) in his home after a lengthy illness. He was 75. He is survived by his wife, Mary; son, Lenny of Grambling; daughter, Lisa of Houston; two brothers and three grandchildren. Funeral services were held December 12 at the New Rocky Valley Baptist Church with Rev. James Thomas officiating. Interment followed at Grambling Memorial Gardens under the direction of Our Christian Funeral Home of Ruston.
FRED HOBDY - LOUISIANA'S WINNINGEST COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACH
A member of the GSU, Louisiana and Southwestern Athletic Conference halls of fame, Hobdy served as athletic director at GSU from August 1989 until September 1996. Hobdy had the difficult task of serving as chief administrator of the Grambling State University athletic department since 1989. The legendary basketball coach last served as special assistant to the President for Athletic Affairs, where he concentrated on moving the athletic department into the 21st century. During his highly successful reign as GSU's head basketball coach, Hobdy's teams posted 572 wins and 288 losses. Hobdy's 1961 team, which was paced by former NBA star Willis Reed, won the National Athletic Intercollegiate Association (NAIA) championship.
A native native of Winnfield, Hobdy played football and basketball under Coach Eddie Robinson and was a baseball player for President-Coath R.W.E. Jones. He earned his undergraduate degree from Grambling. Prior to graduating, his education was halted as he served in world War II from 1942-1945. He earned a master's degree from Iowa State University in 1953. Hobdy was coach at Grambling High School and Peabody High School in Alexandria, Louisiana and has served as an assistant basketball, baseball and football coach at GSU.
Hobdy coached 26 All-Americans at Grambling and had 16 players to play professional basketball. His teams won seven SWAC championships (1959, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1971 and 1972). In addition to winning the 1961 NAIA title, his squads also earned two Midwest Conference championships, two NCAA regional championships and four NAIA district titles. Fifteen of his 30 GSU teams won 20 or more games; two won 30 or more.
Affectionately known as "Lefty" to his close friend, Hobdy played on Robinson's 1942 Tiger team before he left school to fight in World War II. That Tiger football team went undefeated (9-0-0), unscored upon and untied.
Hobdy's efforts can be seen in former players such as Willis Reed, Charles Hardnett, Hershal West, Larry Wright, James Jones and Aaron James. All greats recognized as some of the best to ever play the game
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