Coach Ben Henry Ward

Ben Henry Ward’s name stands tall in Chicago’s athletic history — not only for his achievements as a player and coach, but for the integrity, discipline, and compassion he brought to every field, classroom, and athlete he touched.

From his early days at Marshall High School, where his family’s move to the West Side allowed him to pursue his dream of playing football, Ben showed the determination that would define his life. A standout guard on the gridiron and a fierce competitor in the shot put and discus rings, he went on to attend Eastern Illinois University, where he became both a star athlete and, later, a Hall of Fame inductee.

Ben’s love for sports, and for young people, never faded. As a coach at Marshall High School, he built not only a championship football program, but also introduced a wrestling program that helped student-athletes become stronger, more disciplined, and academically driven. His insistence on maintaining high academic standards was legendary: to compete, his students had to achieve in the classroom as well as on the field.

Those who knew him best describe him as a hard taskmaster whose heart was always in the right place, a man who demanded the best because he saw the best in others. His guidance produced champions, scholars, and generations of young people who learned from him the values of preparation, respect, and perseverance.

Coach Ward’s passion for track and field, especially in the throwing events, became a lifelong calling. As an official and volunteer, he worked more than 50 consecutive years at the Illinois State Track & Field Championships in Charleston, serving as an anemometer, ensuring the integrity of every performance by monitoring wind conditions with precision and fairness. His expertise earned him recognition as the Honorary Referee of the State Finals in 2005, a fitting tribute to a man who embodied the sport’s highest standards.

Beyond coaching, Ben was known across Illinois and Indiana as the force behind “Big Ben Shot Put and Discus Instruction,” traveling in his van to mentor athletes and assist fellow coaches. His reputation and warmth earned him respect from peers like Coach Sandy Jenkins and lifelong friends such as Elzie Higginbottom, Booker Edgerson, and Leroy Jackson, all fellow champions of the sport.

When Marshall High School dedicated its Track & Field and Football Stadium in his name, it symbolized not just his accomplishments, but the enduring spirit he left behind.

To his colleagues and friends in Friends of Track & Field, Ben Henry Ward wasn’t just a member, he was family. A man of conviction. A man of faith in the power of athletics to shape lives. A man whose influence, like the records he helped measure, stands the test of time.