Photos: John Wooden through the years

John and Nell Wooden are greeted at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in 1973 by one of the coach’s former UCLA players, Mike Connors, who at the time starred in the TV detective series “Mannix.�
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The retired coach catches the action in December 1994 during the inaugural John R. Wooden Classic, a college basketball doubleheader played at the Anaheim arena then known as the Pond.
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Wooden, a longtime resident of the San Fernando Valley, was honored at a ‘Valley of the Stars’ gala at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank in 1998.
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Long after he retired, Wooden continued to offer his services to the UCLA basketball program. Here he confers with guard Earl Watson after the Bruins defeated Oklahoma State in the Wooden Classic in 1998.
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In an interview with The Times, Wooden recalled: ‘My father would always tell me: ‘Don’t look back, don’t whine, don’t complain.’ �
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Students in Pauley Pavilion -- most of whom were not even born when Wooden coached his last game -- show their appreciation for the coach on the day the basketball floor was dedicated as Nell and John Wooden Court.
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Among Wooden’s maxims: “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail�; “Flexibility is the key to stability�; “Be quick, but don’t hurry.�
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John Wooden holds court at a ceremony to rename Aliso High School in Reseda as John R. Wooden High School. Wooden is sitting in front of a mural that outlines his Pyramid of Success motivational program.
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Wooden, two days before turning 95, prepares to blow out the candles on his birthday cake at Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center.
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Wooden takes questions from Special Olympics Southern California athletes at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
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The retired coach wins a round of applause from UCLA players after their 65-62 win over Texas A&M in the Wooden Classic in 2006.
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Wooden, at his Encino home, reads from an assembled book of poems sent to him by one of his former players, Swen Nater.
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Wooden with a group of Special Olympics athletes in 2006.
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Wooden waves to the crowd during the ceremony honoring the Bruins’ 1964 championship at Pauley Pavilion.
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Wooden congratulates Russell Westbrook after the Bruins defeated Davidson in the John Wooden Classic at the Honda Center in Anaheim. “We get behind, but we don’t give up,� he told the crowd. “I’m very proud of them.�
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Wooden and Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully made a joint appearance for charity, conversing on stage at the Nokia Theatre about sports and life. The event also was televised.
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John Wooden waves from the stands as he is introduced at ceremonies honoring the 1970 UCLA championship team.
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