Dick Felt

1933 ~ 2012
Richard George (Dick) Felt, 79, passed away suddenly on Saturday, November 17, 2012, from natural causes.
Our dear father and grandfather was born in Lehi, Utah, on March 4, 1933, to Charles Ray and Melba Fox Felt. At a young age he discovered his athletic talents, and went on to letter in five different sports at Lehi High School with top honors. He attended Brigham Young University where he was a three-year letterman playing football. He scored a record four touchdowns in the fourth quarter against San Jose State in his sophomore year and was an NCAA All-Conference player.
Dick served an LDS mission to the Eastern States. He returned to BYU to get his degree in Business and Marketing, and later obtained a master's degree in Physical Education where he was the valedictorian of his class. He served as a First Lieutenant in the Air Force stationed at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington D.C. While there, he was in the Honor Guard at Arlington Cemetery and played football for their service team. Dick and Dayleen Hobson met at BYU and were sealed for eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on April 20, 1960, and became the proud parents of Karen, Curtis, Kristie, and Nancy. He and Dayleen were married nearly 49 years before she passed away in 2009.
Dick was drafted by the New York Titans of the American Football League in 1960. He played there for two years and then for the next five years with the Boston Patriots. He was selected to the All-Pro team in 1961 and 1962, and played in the first two AFL Pro-Bowl games.
Dick was hired as an assistant football coach in 1967 by BYU Head Coach Tom Hudspeth. He worked alongside Defensive Coordinator LaVell Edwards. When LaVell was named Head Coach in 1972, Dick became the Defensive Coordinator and Secondary coach, and later the Assistant Head Coach. Dick's coaching talent contributed to a highly successful record for BYU football, including a national championship in 1984. He was involved with athletic administration for the last five years of his BYU career, where he helped organize the BYU Varsity Club. He was inducted into the BYU Cougar Hall of Fame, Utah Sports Hall of Fame, and was honored by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame Utah Chapter for his Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football. Dick felt privileged to have worked with LaVell and so many great coaches and outstanding players during his 27 years of coaching at BYU, and he greatly valued the personal relationships that he built with his players. Dick retired from BYU in 1998.
While Dick achieved great success on the football field, at heart he was a humble man who never sought recognition for his accomplishments; to his children he was "just Dad". He was known as a great teacher, and players often expressed how much they loved Coach Felt.
Dick was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in numerous callings, including teacher, temple worker, and Bishop of a BYU Singles Ward and also at the MTC. He cherished his MTC experience which increased his deep, abiding testimony of the gospel.
Dick is survived by his daughter Karen (Steve) Rider, son Curtis (RoseAnn) Felt, daughter Kristie (Tom) Jolley, and daughter Nancy (Aaron) Osmond; sister Renie Kopinsky, brother Russ (Rita) Felt; and 16 grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his dear wife, Dayleen, and his loving parents. Our family is very grateful for the Matthew & Lynette Brogdon family for their loving care and friendship they developed with Dick.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 24, 2012, at the Edgemont 4th Ward, 4056 N. Timpview Dr., Provo, at 11 a.m., with a viewing prior to the funeral from 9:30-10:30 a.m. An additional viewing will be held at the Walker-Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 E. 800 N., Orem, on Friday, November 23, 2012, from 6-8:00 p.m. Interment will be at East Lawn Memorial Hills, Provo. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.walkersanderson.com.