Hall of Fame: ​Bruce B. Blevins – PTHS Coach 1930-1957
Wood Shop Teacher 1951-1965 & Athletic Director 1960-61

The Legacy Achievement Award 

As Tom Camfield notes in Port Townsend: An Illustrated History, the 1933 football team at Port Townsend High School was coached by the institution’s legendary Bruce Blevins (who the same year also was the star pitcher for the town’s amateur team during baseball season.) Unable to schedule an opponent for the week after their belated season’s opener against Chimacum and with another open date, the PT team had a somewhat abbreviated schedule. But against strong opponents, they racked up five victories, and two ties, winning the Olympic Peninsula championship.
 
In 1952, Coach Bruce B. Blevins was honored as Port Townsend’s “Man of the Year” by the Chamber of Commerce for his exceptional leadership in football and basketball, guiding young athletes to success and bringing statewide recognition to the city. Under his coaching, local teams consistently excelled, fostering a sense of pride and achievement in the community. As reported in the Jefferson County Herald on January 8, 1952, the award was presented “to show appreciation for the fine record of coaching the youngsters so well... especially the past year.” The announcement at the Central Café was met with “jubilation and well-deserved congratulations,” a testament to the lasting impact Blevins had on his athletes and the broader Port Townsend community. His dedication to sportsmanship and excellence left a legacy that extended beyond the playing field, influencing generations of students who benefited from his mentorship and guidance.

The Port Townsend High School gymnasium was named in honor of Bruce Blevins in 1960, with a plaque presented to him during a school assembly. This event was documented in that year’s WaWa school annual. While the original plaque remains mounted by the gym’s entry doors, the building itself was labeled only as “GYM” when names were added to all school buildings in the 2000s. In the spring of 2024, the PTHS Alumni Association questioned this omission and contacted the school, providing the recently discovered photo of the 1960 naming ceremony and requesting that Blevins’s name be properly displayed on the building. The Principal, Superintendent and Head of Maintenance agreed, and in April 2025, "Bruce Blevins Gymnasium" will be finally have a prominent position on the building’s front—restoring the recognition he deserved.