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For more than 40 years, Carl Bonner was one of the most soft-spoken, popular and respected coaches in the Chicago Public League. But his players and rival coaches always understood a competitive fire burned inside of him.
"He along with (the late Carver basketball coach) Larry Hawkins were the two greatest inspirations for many of us who went into coaching and wanted to follow in their footsteps," said longtime Dunbar coach Glenn Johnson, who knew Bonner for 40 years.
Bonner, who retired in 1991 after teaching and coaching for 42 years at Wendell Phillips High School on the South Side, died Tuesday of natural causes at Mercy Hospital in Chicago. He was 83.
He coached football for 34 years. His 1973 team, led by Roy Parker, Marty Murray, Glenn Benson and Larry Pruitt, was 10-2 and lost to St. Laurence 40-24 in a memorable Prep Bowl game in Soldier Field. His 1985 team qualified for the state playoff.
Bonner also coached the track and field team, led by Harvey Blair, Vernon Brooks, Willie Collins and Marshall Glover, to the state championship in 1962.
"I just want to be remembered as a man who gave kids a fair shake and treated them like men," Bonner said upon his retirement.
Bonner and his two brothers, Bob, who coached basketball at Du Sable, and Will (Moose), who coached at Hirsch, were legendary figures in the CPS.
Some of the outstanding football players that Bonner produced were lineman Chris Hinton, who played at Northwestern and was the No. 1 pick of the Indianapolis Colts; running back Mitchell Brookins, who played at Illinois and with the Buffalo Bills; running back Mike Pruitt, who played at Purdue and with the Cleveland Browns; tight end Milton Biggins, who played at Miami (Fla.) and with the Miami Dolphins; and running back Larry Murray, who chose baseball and played for the Oakland A's and the New York Yankees.
"He was a father figure for a lot of us," said former Phillips coach Pierre Henderson, who played for Bonner. "He was always there for you. He always stuck with you even when you screwed around and messed up. He was there for you when you came back."
Former Julian coach and Pubic League sports supervisor J.W. Smith said Bonner was "one of the greatest coaches in Public League history, one of the greatest developers of young men and a person who touched so many lives in so many ways."
Hubbard coach Elton Harris said: "We lost one of our pioneers, a person that you had to listen to based on what he said and how he said it, a person that you listened to unconditionally without question."
Former Robeson coach and Public League football supervisor Roy Curry said the city "has lost a great one who paved the way for a lot of young black coaches like myself, Lonnie Williams, Terry Lewis, Al Scott and J.W. Smith. He was one of the first to come into the system and do so well."
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Cell Phone Alerts
A MENTOR, A GREAT MAN, A GIANT OF A MAN, A WINNER ON AND
OFF THE FIELD, WHEN HE SHOOK YOUR HAND AND GAVE YOU THAT
BONNER SMILE, HE MADE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU COULD ACCOMPLISH
A GREAT DEAL! THE PRIDE OF WENDELL PHILLIPS HIGH SCHOOL!
I vividly recall Coach Bonner as a very special human being that had this incredible sense of fair play. We always knew that he meant business and as a result, we took our Physical Education classes seriously. He also had a strut to his walk that exemplied confidence and we all had great respect for him.
Just a small correction, my dad was Carl Bonner's older brother and he coached cross country and track at Hirsch, Uncle Bobby coached football and basketball at Dusable, Uncle Moose coached everything at Parker. All four brothers exemplified the values that we read about today in my Uncle Carl. His many nephews and his sons continue in the same vein to mentor and coach young men on being the best they can be. Uncle Carl was a power in coaching and was a bench mark for me and just confirmed everything that my dad taught us aim high be fair and execute with confidence and energy.
Thanks Taylor Bell for writing this aritcle.
Rob Bonner
son of William H Bonner and nephew to Carl Bonner
Former student class of 1973. When and where will funeral be held. any info please forward to above email. Thanks
I played football at Phillips from 1987 to 1991. My most vivid memory of "Mr. B" was his voice on the practice field. He's say, "YOUR READY NOW" in this real loud, deep, bass voice, and we knew it was time to get down to business. I loved Mr. Bonner. Playing under him and his assistants helped me develop the interpersonal skills, that, besides my faith in God, have helped me to persevere! Not to mention running those "trees" (wind sprints) By the time he finished, you were a machine. Not to mention, you were in great shape. Thanks Mr. B!
mr. bonner was my gym teacher and my fathers football coach. very nice with a beatiful smile. He was so happy to know he coached my dad and my momma was the loudest person who knew the plays better than the team. lol
Coach Carl Bonner was very instrumental in my life. If it were not for him I would not have went to college. Starting with junior college and ending up at the University of Northern Iowa where I net my wife of twenty years. I will always remember his hard work ethic that I carry to this day. He made you proud to be from the "P" and even prouder to be a Wildcat. He was more than simply a coach. He was a mentor,a friend and a father figure. Coach Bonner will be greatly missed. Rest in peace until we meet again
Cedric "BooBob" Hill
Played on Carl's first football team 1967/68.As a student/ player I enjoyed his leadership and since
of humor. Prior to 1967 Carl was Wendell Phillips' track coach.In addition to successful athletes, Carl influenced many of his players in other careers including Accounting , businesses,architecture ( I am an archiect), etc.I will miss him.
Blood
"C'mon Peanut!!!" Was what I heard while rounding the last turn in a 440 run. "Don't let him catch you!" That was Coach Bonner's way of making you scared to lose. Willie Thompson, the MONSTER (Englewood High School), was bearing down on me, he was favored to win but I was determined to make a place for me on this team with this Coach of Coaches.
Bobby Brevard was there that day, Sunshine and Kerome Johnson - ledgens to me (I was 14 years old), there was no way I wasn't going to win this race. As I passed Coach Bonner I noticed the clip board in his left hand and a stopwatch in his right hand. What surprised me is that he had another stopwatch around his neck! Wait a minute. I won! I knew it because the Coach was smiling when he said, "Take a couple 'o breaths, you're in the half in a few minutes." That's the way he was, that's the way I'll always remember him, no non-sense.
Hello there! This post could not be written any better!
Looking through this post reminds me of my previous
roommate! He constantly kept preaching about this.
I am going to forward this information to him.
Pretty sure he will have a great read. I appreciate you for sharing!