A graduate of Lewiston high school and Northern Idaho College of Education, Dwight Church took time out to serve in WWII in the U.S. Navy and had his beginning in baseball as a champion player under Dunc Branom, the father of one of our inductees to the Hall of Fame.
Following a great high school career in baseball and college he played pro with the St. Louis Browns organization and then returned to his great love, coaching and teaching. For 28 years, Church has been employed by the Lewiston School District, coaching duties included football, basketball and baseball, and now is the Athletic Director. Dwight's record as a coach reads like a Hall of Fame record, 4 Football league champs, 5 State Baseball Championships, and 20 American Legion Baseball Championships. Add four Legion Regional Championships and four trips to the Legion World Series and you have Church's remarkable accomplishments, Church also added the Inland Empire Coach of the Year Award, and the Idaho Sports Banquet named him the "Coach of the Decade" for Idaho in 1970. Church has been nominated twice for National high school coach of the year.
He has been very active in community affairs and is a member of the Elks, Knights of Columbus, Lions Club, and a member of the American Association of College Baseball Coaches. Church, with his wife, Grace, have five children, Doug, Dave, Dan, Dena, and Duane. In the state of Idaho thousands of young athletes have been blessed with the chance to learn and play under the direction and guidance of Dwight Church.