Dr. J Bernard Critchfield

Born and raised in Canada, Dr. "Bernie" Critchfield received his education from BYU and the University of Utah.

He served in the Royal Canadian Infantry during World War II

He was the first Team Physician for Granger High School and attended every game.

Dr Critchfield was chairman of the Utah State Medical Association - Athletic Injuries. He worked for many years to make sure that teams and physicians both understood that a Medical Doctor needed to be at every High School athletic game.

He worked long and hard to educate physicians so that they would know they have a valuable roll in the safety of high school athletes.

At the age of 42, Dr. Bernie Critchfield and a group, chartered an airplane to attend a BYU  game in New Mexico. Dr. Critchfield was a BYU Football Team Booster and rarely missed a game. 

November 27, 1965 "Bernie" along with Garth Eddie (Pilot), Ken Myers (co-pilot), Norma Jenkins (stewardess), TR Glenhill (executive), Dr Gordon Lewis, Dr Marion Probert, Dr Antonie Dalton, James Peterson( executive), Richard Wilkins (attorney), Dr Roger Parkinson, Diane Edde(daughter of pilot) and Calvin Higgs( extra pilot) all perished at the Point of the Mountain when the wing of the plane hit the side of the mountain (near Camp Williams).

At the original Granger High School, there was a plaque that was dedicated to the memory of J Bernard Critchfield. Many of us remember the ceremony at Granger High. Both students and facuitly  praised Dr. Critchfield for his dedication to Granger High School and also to every high school in the state of Utah. 

At the BYU campus there are also 2 bronze plaques memorializing this tragic event. One bronze plaque is on the west side of LaVell Edwards Stadium and the other inside the Smith Fieldhouse. They are entitled In memory of  the seven Cougar Boosters who passed  November 27,1965.

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