Hostages on the Court: The Night the Granger 2nd Ward Faced the Utah State Prison Riot
The Granger 2nd Ward Basketball Team Hostage Incident at the Utah State Prison (1957)
On February 6, 1957, a routine Church basketball game turned into one of Utah’s most unusual hostage situations when the Granger 2nd Ward basketball team and several volunteers were held captive by inmates at the Utah State Prison.
The ward’s team had played the inmates several times before without trouble and were midway through another friendly game when events took a shocking turn.
What Happened
Around 6:30 p.m., during the third quarter with the inmates trailing 49–37, a prisoner suddenly ran onto the court and shouted, “The prison has been taken over by the convicts.”
The inmates had overpowered guards, stolen their guns, and took the visiting team and volunteers hostage. There were 511 inmates in the prison at the time.
The hostages included the entire Church team and several men helping inmates rehearse for the annual Felon Follies variety show.
Granger 2nd Ward Team Members
John R. Condie, George Condie, Ronald Thurman, Robert Fuller, Paul T. Smith, Paul B. Smith, Phillip Condie Jr., Clyde Smith, Howard Condie, Wayne Thomas, Raymond Soloman, Dean White, Bryant Mackay, Blackburn (youth), Coach Severn Smith
Additional Volunteers Taken Hostage
Marvin Hogensen, Clifford Gates, Clair Kilts, Dean Peters, Paul Kuhni, Robert Laney
Inside the Prison
The hostages were moved to the prison auditorium. Remarkably, the inmates treated them well, offering ice cream and candy from the kitchen and letting them watch the Wednesday night boxing matches on TV. None of the hostages were harmed or humiliated.
At 9 p.m., a prisoner called the Salt Lake Tribune to ensure the riot would make front-page news.
Negotiations and the National Guard
Utah Governor George Clyde rushed to the scene and refused to negotiate until the hostages were freed. The National Guard and officers from multiple counties surrounded the prison.
When the inmates agreed to release half the hostages, they suggested drawing straws to decide who could leave. Instead, several of the team members — Wayne Thomas, Clyde Smith, Ray Solomon, Phil Condie, Paul Smith, Bryant Mackay, and Howard Condie — chose to stay behind so that other men, whose wives were expecting babies, could go home first.
Tensions rose when three remaining hostages — Bryant Mackay, Howard Condie, and Paul Smith — were lined up in front of a submachine gun and threatened with death.
The Standoff Ends
After nearly 12 hours, law enforcement prepared to force the situation. Heavily armed officers waited behind a steel door, ready to act if inmates broke through. Seeing the firepower waiting for them, the prisoners realized they were outmatched and backed down.
At 5:55 a.m. on February 7, all hostages were released unharmed — exhausted but safe.
Legacy
This dramatic event showed not only the bravery of the team members and volunteers but also the calm leadership of local and state officials who defused a potentially deadly crisis. The Granger 2nd Ward basketball team returned to their community as quiet heroes — a reminder that sometimes an ordinary Church basketball game can become an unforgettable chapter of local history.
This is a picture with Paul, Clyde and Severn
Severn coached the Granger Ward team February 1956 as they played at the Utah State Prison. The game was well over half-way over and the Prisoners took over the prison and the Granger Ward was taken hostage.
