Obituary: Howard Fetz III

In 1951, the family moved to West Linn, Ore., where Howard attended Bolton Grade School beginning in the fifth grade. It was at Bolton Park where he first played the position of catcher on a youth baseball team. Howard excelled both academically and in baseball, graduating from West Linn High School in 1958. He was active in Honor Society, Letterman’s Club, basketball and baseball, was class president and student body vice president, and always maintained several jobs while going to school.

Howard enrolled at Portland State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors in Secondary Education in 1963. A four-year letterman at PSU, Howard was a co-captain of the 1962 PSU Viking Baseball team that finished second in the NAIA National Tournament. The previous year he had been selected as an All-NAIA District II catcher and scholar-athlete, after leading the old Oregon Collegiate Conference with a .500 batting average. Howard was named a State of Oregon Rhodes Scholar representative, and served as an assistant baseball coach at Portland State and the University of Oregon.

In 1963, Howard married Billie (Beagle) Fetz. Howard accepted the position of head coach for the Dutch National Baseball Team, and the young couple lived in The Netherlands from 1965-66. In 1967, Howard accepted two positions at Eastern Oregon State College, an associate professorship of English, and Head Baseball Coach, excelling in both. For the next two decades, Coach Fetz built a highly respected baseball program where the team played as many NCAA Division I teams as NAIA opponents. In 1985, Mountie baseball featured a perfect 12-0 record in conference play, helping to move their coach into the 400-career win club. In 1986, the veteran coach’s record in conference action moved to 153-68 — a 70% success ratio and advancing his overall record to 442-302. During his career at EOSC, Fetz sent 13 players onto pro ball, with 50 former Mountie ballplayers accepting coaching and administrative positions.

Howard and Billie had two sons, Trevor and Teun. Sports were a very important part of their lives, with the family supporting each other in baseball, cross-country, track, basketball, and swimming, as well as music. Howard was the recipient of Doctor of Arts and PhD degrees in English from the University of Oregon in 1970. He completed an Administrative Licensure Program through the University of Oregon, Lewis & Clark College, Portland State University, and Eastern Oregon State College.

Upon leaving Eastern Oregon State College, Howard became a public-school superintendent/principal. Again, his leadership style of collaborative problem solving, allowed him to be successful in guiding educators during a time of fiscal challenges. He led districts to achieve consistently high Oregon Statewide Assessment results, and established an Indian Education Program, while collaboratively establishing an Education Center at Celilo Indian Village. Dr. Fetz cared about ALL students and frequently reminded his staff members of his belief: “Not one way for all, but the right way for each.” He lived by this motto in all areas of his life.

In 2005, Howard married Bernie (Zumwalt Chastain) Fetz, and they settled on Juniper Flat in Maupin. Howard and Bernie worked tirelessly together as educators serving students in the K-12 system. Outside of work in public schools, they supported students through athletic and fine arts arenas. Baseball continued to be an important aspect of their shared interests, attending spring training in Arizona for many years. Howard established a 501(c) charitable organization, America’s Game, with the goal of providing funds for baseball facilities, and scholarships for young prospects seeking to play at the college level. They also enjoyed family time with their grandchildren.

As successful as Howard was at mentoring baseball players, he was equally effective in mentoring his students in positive life skills. Countless students and student athletes have carried Howard’s impact and influence on their lives into actions and effects on the lives they have touched, thus passing Howard’s life lessons from generation to generation. Howard had grit, was tenacious, unflappable, calm, strong, brilliant, and caring. He did everything to excess, never giving up.

Howard also enjoyed working as a real estate salesman, a sports broadcaster at KLBM in La Grande, and author. He published Baseball: The Winning Fundamentals and its accompanying test book, Tests for Baseball: The Winning Fundamentals. They were two of the major texts in the field, having reached the foreign market in such countries as Holland, Italy, South Africa, England, and Australia. The Kansas City Royals and other MLB teams also used his works in their baseball training schools. His knowledge of baseball, and experience as a coach and player, made him a perfect candidate to be an MLB Associate Scout. He served numerous organizations in this capacity from 1985-2021, including the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, California Angels, San Francisco Giants, Tampa Devil Rays, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Howard was inducted into the NAIA District II Coaches’ Hall of Fame, State of Oregon; Eastern Oregon State College Athletic Hall of Fame, La Grande, Ore.; and Portland State University’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Howard is survived by his devoted wife, Bernie Fetz; his children, Dr. Trev Fetz (Dr. Jessica Favis), Dr. Teun Fetz (Katie); his stepchildren, Casey Hayes (Kristi), Abby (Hayes) Kraayeveld (Jeff), Brian Chastain (Tricia), JodiLynn Chastain Kelley (Kyd); his grandchildren, Will and Sarah Fetz; Jackson and Elliot Fetz; Nolan and Piper Hayes; Ava and Hayden Kraayeveld; Grace, Allison, and Kate Chastain; Acie and Tadley Kelley; and his siblings, Dr. Gerald Fetz (Jocelyn Siler), Joanne Reece (Bill Voxman), Diana (DeDe) Baasham (Gary), and Roger Fetz (Sharry); and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life was held on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Quinton Street Ballpark in The Dalles. The service was officiated by Pastor Tim Morelli. A reception followed at Bargeway Pub in The Dalles, Oregon. The family suggests donations to America’s Game, P.O. Box 282, Maupin, OR 97037, or to another charity of your choice.