Montana Western, University of

Ted Kato, a native of Havre, Mont., is a 1955 graduate of Western Montana College (WMC) with a Bachelor of Science in elementary education with a major in social studies and minors in English and physical education.

Kato was a four-year football letterman and a two-time first team all-conference selection. His teammates elected him team captain for his junior and senior seasons.

He was active in several campus organizations including M-Club (president and vice-president), student council (rep.) and student activities council.His classmates elected him the sophomore class vice-president and the senior class president. Kato was selected to Who’s Who in his senior year.

During the summer, for three consecutive years, Kato was on the counseling staff of the Montana State Boy’s State.

After graduation, he began his education career at Beaverhead County High School (BCHS) in Dillon, Mont. as head football and wrestling coach, social studies and physical education instructor. His 1959 Beaver football team were Southwest Division, Western Conference co-champions and Kato was named Coach of the Year. During his BCHS days, he completed a Master in Education from WMC.

His next stop was his hometown of Havre where he was head football and track coach at Northern Montana College. He left the education world for two years and explored the insurance business.

Selling insurance didn’t suit him and Kato returned to teaching and coaching at Glasgow High School, Glasgow, Mont. as head wrestling coach and as an instructor in social studies. In 1973 he moved to Sidney, Mont. as vice-principal, athletic director, head wrestling coach and  freshman football coach.

In 1983, Kato moved to Thompson Falls, Mont. as principal and assistant football coach. Beginning in 1987, he was superintendent of schools in Sanders County and wrestling coach at Plains High School. Kato was twice nominated for National Wrestling Coach of the Year by the Montana Coaches’ Association (MCA).

The MCA honored him for his 30 years of service in athletics. During his time at Thompson Falls, the school was recognized with a certificate of merit from the U.S. Department of Education. In January of 1993, the MCA presented him the prestigious Service Citation Award.

Kato lost his battle with cancer on March 31, 1993. His legacy in high school wrestling is immortalized with the Ted Kato Memorial Tournament hosted each year by Thompson Falls High School.