James "Joe" Kretschmar

James Joseph "Joe" Kretschmar Jr.

75, a resident of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, passed away October 14, 2009 at his home in Prairie Grove. He was born May 2, 1934 in Jefferson City, Missouri, the son of Jim and Ruby Barbour Kretschmar.

He was a member of the Viney Grove United Methodist Church where he was an Adult Sunday School Teacher. He attended high school in Jefferson City Missouri where he was a three-year letterman in basketball and baseball and All-State in 1952 in basketball. He graduated in 1954 from Jefferson City Junior College where he was a two-year letterman in basketball, he then received a basketball scholarship to the University of Arkansas, where he lettered in basketball and baseball for two years. In 1956 he graduated with a Bachelor Degree and later went on to receive his Masters in Education in 1964.

After graduation from the University of Arkansas, Joe signed a professional baseball contract with the Kansas City Royals. He played in the West Texas league with the Pampa Oilers.

In the summer of 1954, Joe played professional baseball in Liverpool, Nova Scotia Canada for the Boston Red Sox.

In the summer of 1955, Joe played baseball in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and in the same summer, played shortstop in the first baseball Global World Series, representing Canada in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Joe’s first coaching job was in Iberia, Missouri, from 1956 until 1959. He coached high school boys and girls’ basketball and baseball.

Joe coached in Centralia, Missouri, from 1959 until 1962. He was the high school boy’s basketball coach and assistant football coach and taught 9th grade civics.

Joe returned to Fayetteville, Arkansas, in September of 1962 as the junior high baseball, football and track coach at Hillcrest Jr. High, now known as Ramay Jr. High.

From 1965-1966 Joe was the assistant basketball and football coach at Fayetteville High School. From 1966 until 1992 he was the head men’s basketball coach and athletic director until his retirement.

He was assistant basketball coach for the West All-Star team in 1975, coach of the year in 1987, National Federation Interscholastic Coaches Association Coach of the Year in Arkansas 1987. His teams played in the State Tournaments 24 of the 26 years. He was selected AAAA West coach of the year eight times. He won 10 conference championships, sent 38 athletes onto college on athletic scholarships and six were All-Americans. Five assistants who worked with Joe became head basketball coaches in Arkansas’ largest classification schools. He won 3 state championships and was inducted into the Arkansas High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2007.

He coached the 1st high school basketball game on prime time television in Northwest Arkansas. He was the first coach to take teams to the “next level” of National High School Tournaments and the 1st active basketball coach to become athletic director and coach at a AAAA high school. In 1975, Joe was assistant coach to the University of Arkansas’ Coach Pat Foster in the Arkansas College Senior All-Star Game. In 26 years as Fayetteville High School head coach his record was 535-230 (over 20 wins/season).

Joe was a member of Phi Delta Kappa at the University of Arkansas, a lifetime member of the Razorback A Club and a lifetime member of the Arkansas Activities Association.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Frances Carnahan Kretschmar of the home; two sons, Mike Kretschmar and wife Pam of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Jason Daugherty and fiance Mary Kate Chambliss of Fayetteville, Arkansas; two daughters, Kelly Kretschmar Smith of Farmington, Arkansas and Christi McKnight and husband TJ of Frisco, Texas; three grandchildren, Lauren Smith, Ryder McKnight, and Finley McKnight.

Visitation will be held Friday night from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Viney Grove United Methodist Church near Prairie Grove.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 17, 2009 - 1:00 P.M. at the C.A.C. Building Central United Methodist Fayetteville, Arkansas, with Randy Nix officiating. Burial will be in the Prairie Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to the Viney Grove United Methodist Church - 721 E Parks Street - Prairie Grove, AR 72753.

Pallbearers will be Bill Brunner, Tommy Lee, John Everett, Don Pinkley, Jack Gabler and Harold McDowell.

Honorary Pallbearers will be his former Fayetteville High Athletes.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Luginbuel Funeral Home of Prairie Grove, Arkansas. The complete obituary may be viewed on the Luginbuel Web Page. To sign the online guest book, visit www.luginbuel.com