Former Howard's manager Bobby Lutz has passed.

story by Bill Plummer

Bobby Lutz, one of the best managers in men’s slow pitch softball history, has passed away, at age 76, April 11 at his home in Denver, N.C.  He was born June 30, 1935.

Lutz managed Howard’s Furniture to three national championships and compiled a record of  1,282 wins and only 291 losses for a winning percentage of .815.  In 1973-74, Lutz  managed Howard’s to back-to-back ASA national titles and in 1978 to the USSSA World Series champion.

In the  three years Howard’s won national titles under Lutz, the team compiled a record of  331 wins and only 59 losses for a winning percentage of .849 and were 23-4 in national championship play. 

Besides the back-to-back titles, Lutz managed teams to three third place finishes, one second place, one fifth place and one 10^th place in national championship play.

Lutz, who was known as the “quiet motivator,” played on the Howard’s team for six years before being named manager in 1964 before retiring in 1979.  In 1983, he was elected to the ASA Hall of  Fame in the manager category.

Besides being involved with the Howard’s softball team, Lutz was co-manager of  Howard’s Furniture Store from 1958 to 2001.

Lutz is survived by his wife of 56 years, Janice Howard Lutz, a son, Bobby M. Lutz and wife, Janet, of Raleigh; two grand-daughters, Natalie and Christine, both of Raleigh, three brothers, Hansel Lutz of Sherrills Ford, Elmer Lutz and wife, Abby, of Newton, Thad Lutz and wife, Sue, of Sherrills Ford and a sister-in-law, Peggy Lutz of Sherrills Ford. A funeral service was held April 14.