Jul. 07, 2023
The late Fletcher Arritt, a member of Fork Union's PG Class of 1960, was inducted as a charter member of the Fayetteville High School Hall of Fame in Fayette County, West Virginia, on Saturday, July 7, 2023. Born in 1942, Arritt's life journey was firmly intertwined with sports and education. His journey began at Fayetteville […]...
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The late Fletcher Arritt, a member of Fork Union's PG Class of 1960, was inducted as a charter member of the Fayetteville High School Hall of Fame in Fayette County, West Virginia, on Saturday, July 7, 2023.

Born in 1942, Arritt's life journey was firmly intertwined with sports and education. His journey began at Fayetteville High School, where he excelled as a three-sport athlete, graduating in 1959.

He attended Fork Union Military Academy (FUMA) as a postgraduate in 1959-1960, co-captaining the basketball team, and running track.

Arritt's athletic prowess earned him a scholarship at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville where he played varsity basketball for four years and was a formidable member of the cross-country team. In addition to his athletic achievements, Arritt proved his academic capabilities by earning a BS degree in biology and a Master's degree in human biology.

Arritt returned to his alma mater, FUMA, in 1966 as a biology teacher and assistant basketball coach. After serving four years as an assistant to head coach Bill Miller, Arritt took the reins as the head postgraduate basketball coach in 1970.

Over a remarkable 46-year career as teacher and coach, Arritt chalked up an impressive 889 wins and only 283 losses as head coach of FUMA's postgraduate basketball team. He paved the way for more than 400 players to reach the collegiate level, including around 200 players at Division I schools. Dozens of his former players carved successful careers in the NBA and international leagues, a testament to Arritt's exceptional coaching skills.

Biography of Coach Fletcher Arritt entitled, "Body, Mind, Spirit and Basketball."
Biography of Coach Fletcher Arritt entitled, "Body, Mind, Spirit and Basketball."

Arritt retired from FUMA in 2012, and his contributions were recognized with inductions into the FUMA Athletics Hall of Fame and later the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. Fork Union honored Arritt's legacy in 2018 by naming the school’s basketball court after him and his wife, Betty. His life and work were documented in a biography, "Body, Mind, Spirit and Basketball," published in 2019. The following year, he received a prestigious nomination to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Fletcher Arritt passed away at the age of 79 on June 16, 2021. He is survived by his wife Betty Jean, their three children, and seven grandchildren.

Arritt's impact extends far beyond his stellar coaching record. He played a pivotal role in the lives of countless young men, instilling values of body, mind, spirit, and basketball. His legacy will continue to inspire and influence future generations of athletes and students.

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