HSU Athletics Hall of Famer Lynn Warner dies
ARCATA – Lynn Warner, one of the pioneers of women's athletics at Humboldt State, passed away in her home Sunday following a long battle with lung cancer. She was 66 years old.
“She was one of the forerunners in making women’s athletics at HSU what it is today,” head softball coach Frank Cheek said.
As an undergraduate, she participated in several sports for Humboldt State including volleyball, field hockey, basketball and softball. She earned a conference championship in badminton and was a record-holder in three track and field events. In 1967 she served as the Women’s Athletic Association president.
After graduating from HSU in 1970 with a physical education degree, Warner remained within the Lumberjack family as a coach. Her many roles included directing the women’s track and field team and the badminton team. She was also the first head coach of the women’s basketball program and coached softball.
She led the women’s basketball program from its inception in 1973-74 until 1975-76. In 1977 she accepted the position of Women’s Athletics Director at HSU, a position she held through 1981.
In 1978 Warner took over the reigns of the softball program and earned Golden State Conference Coach-of-the-Year honors after leading her team to a 14-9 record overall and a 10-4 mark in conference. She remained the head softball coach until 1983, compiling a 65-55 overall record, the first winning record for a head coach in the program's history. In 1983, her team was the Northern California Athletic Conference co-champs and she was again honored as the conference Coach-of-the Year.
In 1979 she received the ultimate honor for any Humboldt State athlete or coach when she was inducted into the HSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Outside of HSU, Warner played in the AAA softball league for four years and with her team, the Whittier Gold Sox, helping them claim the national championship. On two other occasions the team won the regional crown.
“She was a tremendous athlete,” Cheek said. “Whatever she did she was good at. I believe her game and her love was softball. She always had a lot of etiquette on the field. Playing the game, for the love of the game and for sportsmanship was important to her. She was a competitor. She played her heart out and gave her heart to the team.
“She will always been a winner in my book.”
Per Miss Warner’s wishes there will be no memorial service. Those who wish to honor her are encouraged to make a donation to HSU Women’s Athletics at the Humboldt Area Foundation.