Wellington native, Boston Celtic, ‘Mr. K-State’ Ernie Barrett dies at the age of 93
Ernie Barrett
Sumner Newscow report — The nation is mourning the passing of Ernie Barrett, a man who got his start growing up in Wellington.
Former Boston Celtics forward Ernie Barrett, who starred at Kansas State and spent 75 years at the school as an athlete, coach and administrator, died Friday in his hometown of Manhattan, Kansas. He was 93.
Barrett’s family announced his death. A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday at Bramlage Coliseum, where the Wildcats play their basketball games and where a banner recognizing Barrett’s achievements hangs from the rafters.
Barrett, best known as “Mr. K-State,” is also legendary here, helping Wellington win its first, and so far, only basketball state championship in 1947. He was the last surviving member of the 1947 team.
He was inducted into the Wellington High School Wall of Fame in 2014. Here is his story:
Barrett was born in 1929 in Pratt, Kans. He and his family moved to Wellington about a year later, where his father worked for the Santa Fe Railroad. Ernie is quoted in Zac Burton’s book as saying “growing up in Wellington was good for me.” Barrett learned the values of discipline and hard work from his parents and coaches. Barrett played football and loved it, but basketball was his passion. Barnett honed his basketball skills in the school gymnasium under Coaches Cade Suran and John Floyd and on the goal his father put up for him in their backyard. He also played at his neighbor and good friend Harold Roger’s backyard court. There he and his buddies would spend many hours shooting baskets and playing pickup games at all times of the year.
In 1947, Barrett and Harold Rogers earned All-State Honors and led Wellington to its first and to date only State Championship with a 21-4 record. After high school, Harold had committed to play college ball at Oklahoma State under legendary coach Henry Iba, and he tried to get Ernie to go there too. But under the recruitment of first-year assistant coach Tex Winter, Barnett committed to play for Jack Gardner at Kansas State
His basketball career at K-State is storied. He captained the 1950-51 team that opened one of America’s most spectacular basketball arenas, the fabled Ahearn Field House. Barrett earned All-America honors for the 1951 team that posted a 25-4 record and advanced all the way to the NCAA championship game, where they lost to Kentucky, 68-58. He was named the most valuable player at the East/West All-Star game in Chicago following his senior year.
After graduation Barrett was drafted in the first round, seventh pick overall, of the NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. Barnett’s basketball career had to wait two years because as a member of the K-State ROTC he had to serve a two-year obligation in the U.S. Air Force as a commissioned officer. After his service, he played one year for the Celtics before sitting out a year while getting his coaching career going. He re-joined the Celtics for one more year when Red Auerbach asked him to come back.
Following his NBA career, he returned to K-State as an assistant basketball coach under “Tex” Winter. In 1961 he joined the athletic staff as assistant athletic director and, in 1969, was named athletic director. He was the first Kansas-born athlete to lead K-State’s athletic program. Well-known for his firm handshake, Barrett was the man who hired Hall of Fame basketball coach Jack Hartman.
He later spearheaded fundraising campaigns for KSU Stadium, the athletic dormitory, synthetic turf on the football stadium, the R.V. Christian Track and Field Complex, the indoor football facility, the Academic Learning Center, Colbert Hills Golf Course, and the new baseball stadium.
Barrett, who is known as “Mr. K-State,” has received many awards for his many accomplishments, including induction into The Kansas State University Hall of Fame and The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1996. “Barrett’s K-State jersey, number 22, was retired in 2005 and hung in Bramlage Coliseum. Outside of Bramlage Coliseum is a Bronze Statue of him honoring “Mr. K-State.”
In 2014 Barrett was honored by The Blue Key Honor Society with the Outstanding Alumni Award.
