Berry Hinton
Encyclopedia
Frank Berry Hinton, known as Berry Hinton (February 6, 1910–January 22, 2000), was from 1943 to 1967 a champion baseball
coach at Louisiana Tech University
in Ruston
, Louisiana
.
in north Louisiana to Frank A. Hinton (1884–1976) and the former Leila Berry (1886–1985). In 1925, Hinton enrolled at Louisiana Tech and became an outstanding athlete in baseball, basketball
, and football
through 1930, when he began coaching in public schools in Arkansas
. His two sons were born in Camden
. In 1943, he returned to Louisiana Tech in 1943 to teach in a U.S. Navy program. He held a master's degree and was an assistant professor of physical education and the assistant dean of men.
. In time, Hinton joined the ranks of the most successful collegiate baseball coaches in Louisiana history. With seasons then much shorter than today, Hinton's teams through 1967 won 316 games and lost 206. The Bulldogs
won eight conference championships and had just three losing seasons during his quarter century as head coach. On six occasions, Hinton was named Gulf South Conference
"Coach of the Year". He also taught at Tech and was director of men's housing and dean of men.
Hinton's record was 211-125 against conference opponents. Three of his Bulldogs teams won twenty or more games. His 1965 and 1966 teams won twenty-three games. The 1961 team had a 21-6 record and recorded its best-ever conference mark of 15-4. Of the 23 squads that Hinton directed at Tech, only three had losing seasons.
O. K. "Buddy" Davis, executive sports editor of the Ruston Daily Leader referred to Hinton as "highly personable and renowned for his quick wit and anecdotes." After World War II
, Hinton began building the Bulldogs' diamond program into a consistently successful team.
Davis continued, "He was one of the best athletes ever to play at Tech. . . . In three years he earned eight varsity letters. His 300-plus victory total featured eight conference championships."
From 1964-1967, in his last three years as a baseball coach, Hinton was also the director of Louisiana Tech Alumni Affairs. From 1968 until his retirement in 1975, he was the alumni secretary.
Hinton's successor as baseball coach was James E. Patterson. During Patterson's tenure from 1968–1990, the Bulldogs compiled a 741-462-2 record. Patterson produced eighteen winning seasons in twenty-three years, and his teams won forty or more games in five of those years. Patterson was Conference Coach of the Year seven times.
Hinton's coaching years at Louisiana Tech corresponded with those of Joe Aillet
as head football coach at the university.
in Ouachita County in southern Arkansas, whom he married in 1934, had three children: Richard Berry "Dickie" Hinton (born 1935), Robert Brown "Bobby" Hinton (born 1938), and Betty Carolyn Hinton (born 1948).
Hinton, who was Methodist, died of a lengthy illness in Arcadia
, Louisiana, a few days prior to his ninetieth birthday. He and his wife are interred at Wesley Chapel Cemetery near Ruston.
One of Hinton's brothers, Roy D. "Don" Hinton (1912–2011), also a Louisiana Tech graduate and Methodist layman, was a prominent landowner and dairy
and beef farmer in Minden
in Webster Parish
.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
coach at Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
in Ruston
Ruston, Louisiana
Ruston is a city in and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,546 at the 2000 census. Ruston is near the eastern border of the Ark-La-Tex and is the home of Louisiana Tech University. Its economy caters to its college population...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
.
Background
Hinton was born in the rural area of Vernon and Clay in Jackson ParishJackson Parish, Louisiana
Jackson Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish was formed in 1845 from parts of Claiborne, Ouachita, and Union Parishes. In 2010, its population was 16,274. The parish seat is Jonesboro...
in north Louisiana to Frank A. Hinton (1884–1976) and the former Leila Berry (1886–1985). In 1925, Hinton enrolled at Louisiana Tech and became an outstanding athlete in baseball, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
through 1930, when he began coaching in public schools in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. His two sons were born in Camden
Camden, Arkansas
Camden is a city in and the county seat of Ouachita County in the southern part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. Long an area of American Indians villages, the French also made a permanent settlement here because of its advantageous location above the Ouachita River. According to 2007 Census...
. In 1943, he returned to Louisiana Tech in 1943 to teach in a U.S. Navy program. He held a master's degree and was an assistant professor of physical education and the assistant dean of men.
Career
Hinton reestablished the baseball team, which had been interrupted by World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In time, Hinton joined the ranks of the most successful collegiate baseball coaches in Louisiana history. With seasons then much shorter than today, Hinton's teams through 1967 won 316 games and lost 206. The Bulldogs
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs baseball
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs baseball team represents Louisiana Tech University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The LA Tech baseball team participates in the Western Athletic Conference. The Bulldogs play their home games on campus at J.C...
won eight conference championships and had just three losing seasons during his quarter century as head coach. On six occasions, Hinton was named Gulf South Conference
Gulf South Conference
The Gulf South Conference is a College Athletic Conference which operates in the southeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division II.-History:...
"Coach of the Year". He also taught at Tech and was director of men's housing and dean of men.
Hinton's record was 211-125 against conference opponents. Three of his Bulldogs teams won twenty or more games. His 1965 and 1966 teams won twenty-three games. The 1961 team had a 21-6 record and recorded its best-ever conference mark of 15-4. Of the 23 squads that Hinton directed at Tech, only three had losing seasons.
O. K. "Buddy" Davis, executive sports editor of the Ruston Daily Leader referred to Hinton as "highly personable and renowned for his quick wit and anecdotes." After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Hinton began building the Bulldogs' diamond program into a consistently successful team.
Davis continued, "He was one of the best athletes ever to play at Tech. . . . In three years he earned eight varsity letters. His 300-plus victory total featured eight conference championships."
From 1964-1967, in his last three years as a baseball coach, Hinton was also the director of Louisiana Tech Alumni Affairs. From 1968 until his retirement in 1975, he was the alumni secretary.
Hinton's successor as baseball coach was James E. Patterson. During Patterson's tenure from 1968–1990, the Bulldogs compiled a 741-462-2 record. Patterson produced eighteen winning seasons in twenty-three years, and his teams won forty or more games in five of those years. Patterson was Conference Coach of the Year seven times.
Hinton's coaching years at Louisiana Tech corresponded with those of Joe Aillet
Joe Aillet
Joe Aillet was the head football coach at Louisiana Tech University from 1940 to 1966. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989. During his 26-year tenure, he amassed a career record of 151 wins, 86 losses, and 8 ties. Additionally, under Aillet, the Bulldogs won nine...
as head football coach at the university.
Family and death
Hinton and his wife, the former Mary Agnes Hammon (July 5, 1914–August 19, 1999), a native of StephensStephens, Arkansas
Stephens is a city in Ouachita County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,152 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Camden Micropolitan Statistical Area...
in Ouachita County in southern Arkansas, whom he married in 1934, had three children: Richard Berry "Dickie" Hinton (born 1935), Robert Brown "Bobby" Hinton (born 1938), and Betty Carolyn Hinton (born 1948).
Hinton, who was Methodist, died of a lengthy illness in Arcadia
Arcadia, Louisiana
Arcadia is a town in and the parish seat of Bienville Parish in north Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,041 at the 2000 census....
, Louisiana, a few days prior to his ninetieth birthday. He and his wife are interred at Wesley Chapel Cemetery near Ruston.
One of Hinton's brothers, Roy D. "Don" Hinton (1912–2011), also a Louisiana Tech graduate and Methodist layman, was a prominent landowner and dairy
Dairy farming
Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an animal husbandry, enterprise, for long-term production of milk, usually from dairy cows but also from goats and sheep, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy factory for processing and eventual retail sale.Most dairy farms...
and beef farmer in Minden
Minden, Louisiana
Minden is a city in the American state of Louisiana. It serves as the parish seat of Webster Parish and is located twenty-eight miles east of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish. The population, which has been stable since 1960, was 13,027 at the 2000 census...
in Webster Parish
Webster Parish, Louisiana
Webster Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is Minden. In 2010, its population was 41,207....
.