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Providence High School in Burbank removed a memorial plaque honoring former coach Paul Sutton, who died of cancer at age 41 in 1999 after dedicating 14 years to the school. The school replaced Sutton’s photo and plaque with a digital screen for announcements. Critics argue that this decision is disrespectful to Sutton's legacy and highlights a disregard for history. The change was made by Providence’s Head of School, Scott McLarty, who has been in his position since July 2019. Annual tuition at the private school is $31,800.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A private prep school in Burbank, Providence High School, dismantled a memorial dedicated to former coach Paul Sutton, who died of cancer at age 41 in 1999. The tribute had been placed in the gym foyer after his death and featured a photo and plaque honoring him for his 14 seasons as athletic director, basketball coach, track coach, and cross country coach from 1985 to 1999. Recently, the school replaced Sutton’s memorial with a flat-screen TV without notifying his widow, Dana, who was reportedly informed that the tribute was “no longer relevant for today’s students.” This decision has sparked outrage among critics, who see it as disrespectful and shameful, questioning how the institution values its history and legacies.
Written for “School Removes Memorial For Coach” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.35 for article 16186 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-17
A private Burbank prep school has ripped down a memorial honoring a coach who died of cancer at just 41 and replaced his photo and plaque with a flat screen TV.
Paul Sutton spent 14 seasons at Providence High School, serving as athletic director, basketball coach, track coach and cross country coach from 1985 until his death in 1999.
asserted
Sutton → rip → 1999
After Sutton died, Providence put up a photo and plaque in the gym foyer to honor the coach who had spent years at the school.
asserted
who → die → school
Nearly three decades later, the tribute is gone.
asserted
tribute → go → ?
Sutton’s widow, Dana, reportedly said school officials told her the memorial was “no longer relevant for today’s students.”
uncertain
memorial → say → students
That did not exactly land softly.
asserted
That → land → ?
“Just embarrassing and shameful,” sports columnist Eric Sondheimer posted online.
asserted
Sondheimer → post → ?
Another user ripped the school over the decision, calling it “a terrible look for Providence HS in Burbank.”
asserted
user → rip → Burbank
“AD/Coach died at age 41 of cancer and @PHSburbank put a memorial up for him in 1999: they now tell his widow that the memorial is irrelevant and was removed,” the user wrote.
asserted
user → die → widow
“This is how we treat history, legacies, the past that made us?”
asserted
that → treat → us
The wall where Sutton’s photograph and plaque once hung has been cleared for a flat screen monitor intended for digital updates and announcements.
asserted
photograph → hang → updates
The administration says the screen “better serves” the school community.
asserted
screen → say → community
For Sutton’s supporters, that explanation only makes the situation more galling.
asserted
situation → make → supporters
Sutton spent 14 seasons at Providence and wore a lot of hats.
asserted
Sutton → spend → hats
He was the athletic director and coached basketball, track and cross country.
asserted
He → coach → basketball
On the basketball court, he went 166 and 151 and won three Liberty League titles.
asserted
he → go → titles
Then came his final season.
asserted
season → come → ?
Sutton was battling severe health complications from colon cancer, but he kept coaching most of the 1998 to 1999 season.
asserted
he → battle → season
He led Providence to a league championship and a CIF playoff spot.
asserted
He → lead → championship
His death was covered by the LA Times.
asserted
death → cover → Times
“He legitimized small-school athletics,” close friend Dan Haasch said at the time.
“He [coached] for all the right reasons–he did it for the kids.”
asserted
he → legitimize → kids
Sutton died under the impression that Providence’s new gym facility would be named after him.
asserted
facility → die → him
In 2002, the school’s administration went back on that promise and refused to name the gym after Sutton, deeply upsetting his widow, Dana, and his former players.
asserted
administration → go → widow
The photo and plaque display in the gym foyer became the compromise.
asserted
display → become → foyer
Now that compromise has been ripped off the wall.
asserted
compromise → rip → wall
Providence Head of School Scott McLarty ordered the memorial’s removal.
asserted
McLarty → order → removal
McLarty has led the school since July 2019 and has spent more than 20 years working in Catholic schools as a teacher and administrator.
asserted
McLarty → lead → teacher
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