Horace Leroy Sprague

Former area resident Horace Leroy Sprague, departed this life on Sunday, October 8, 2023, at the Oars at Greenback Lane, Citrus Heights, CA at the age of 88 years.

Graveside Services will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, October 25, at Parkview Cemetery, 1246 North Elm Avenue, Hastings with Pastor Joel Remmers officiating. There will be no viewing or visitation. Memorials may be given to the family for a memorial to be established at a later date.

Horace Leroy Sprague, son of Curtis E. and Rosella (Colip) Sprague, was born February 19, 1935, in rural Almena, KS. Leroy’s, early childhood was spent in Almena, KS. At the age of three, he moved with his parents to a farm north of Edison, NE, and graduated from Edison High School.

Leroy Sprague was a three-sport star for the Antelopes, graduating in 1958. He was an all-conference end in football, an all-conference forward in basketball, and conference champion in the discus and javelin. He qualified for the national NAIA track meet in 1957 and 1958, placing fourth in the discus in 1958. He was co-captain of both basketball and track squads. As a coach at Cheyenne, WY, Sprague was Wyoming Coaches Association Coach of the Year in three sports: cross country, track, and golf. In 1981, he was the National High Coaches Association District 9 Coach of the Year. Leroy was inducted into the Wyoming Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1985.

Leroy was cross country coach of the year in 1982, and Wyoming Coaches Association Track Coach. Leroy began his coaching career in 1958 and coached at the following schools: 1958-1959 Juniata High School (Juniata, NE); 1959-1960 Bertrand High School (Bertrand, NE); 1960-1983 East High School (Cheyenne, WY); his coaching career concluded in 1983 with a total of 25 years experience. Leroy went on to serve as Athletic Director at Cheyenne East High School from 1983 to his retirement. Noted for his success in cross country and track, Leroy had a record of nine regional championships, six state runner-up titles, and eight state championships. During his coaching career, Leroy achieved the following: National High School Athletic Coaches Association, District 7, Cross the Year – 1976.

Preceding him in death were his parents; wife, Lillian; four brothers, Berle, Paul, Duane, and Harry; and sisters, Ora Wagner, Elda Becker, and Opal Brown.

Left to treasure his memory are his wife, Joan, other relatives, and a host of friends.