My close friend, 1975 classmate, and highly skilled teammate Harry Sheehy used to share with me insights from his perspective as a successful basketball player, coach, and athletic director on the life lessons of sport and training; that is, the profound value of a well-organized, high intensity, and focused 90-minute practice session. Harry even termed it a “laboratory session,” equal in importance to a rigorous organic chemistry lab. 

I am biased, of course, but the lessons learned from our late mentor and beloved basketball coach, Curt Tong, in those intense practice sessions have resonated with me to this day. Curt was the son of American missionaries, Walter and Margaret Tong, and was born in the Philippines in 1934. During WWII, the Tong family lived as prisoners of war in Japanese internment camps in the Philippines, so faith, toughness and resilience became strong family character traits as a byproduct of this period and it carried over to basketball. 

Curt and his wonderful wife Jinx created a warm family atmosphere which elevated our entire team experience. Lessons of hard work, commitment, perseverance, team/family love and a type of spirituality and calmness characterized Curt’s coaching and teaching style. Curt took the time to write my Mom and Dad after the season was over senior year to expressed his appreciation for our time together in the athletic microcosm. After graduation, I stayed in close touch with Curt and his family and I am full of gratitude for this special Williams relationship.