Benjamin Gilbert "Bennie" Owen
N 35° 36.287 W 097° 29.477
14S E 636657 N 3941162
Bennie Owen was a legendary football, baseball, basketball coach at the University of Oklahoma
Waymark Code: WMABQ1
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 12/20/2010
Views: 33
Bennie Owen was born on July 24, 1875. A three sport coach at the University of Oklahoma, he became a legend in Oklahoma sports and is still a legend in the eyes of many Sooner Fans. He served as the head football coach for the University of Oklahoma from 1905 to 1926. During this period he compiled a career coaching record of 155-60-19. Bennie Owen also served as the Sooner’s head basketball coach from 1908-1921 compiling a record of 113-49. Finally, Coach Owens served as the Oklahoma Baseball Coach from 1906 – 1922 amassing a record of 142-102-4. Coach Bennie Owen was inducted in to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. Owen Field, where the University of Oklahoma Sooners play they football games is named in his honor. Coach Bennie Owen died on February 26, 1970 and is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Source/Credit: The University of Oklahoma
Description:
Benjamin Gilbert Owen was born on July 24, 1875. He played his college football at the University of Kansas and upon graduating he took his first head coaching job at Washburn College before moving on as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan. Bennie Owen was name head coach at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas where his teams defeated the Mighty Oklahoma Sooner in back to back meetings in 1903 and 1904. In 1905 Bennie Owen was hired as the Sooner’s head football coach and immediately turn the program around. In 1907 Owen lost his right arm in a hunting accident. Having achieved success as a football coach, Owen was name the Sooner’s head Baseball Coach in 1906 and held that position until 1922. Finally in 1908 Bennie Owen was named the University of Oklahoma’s head basketball coach in 1908 and guided Sooner Basketball until 1921. During his tenure as basketball coach he lead the Sooner to two undefeated seasons and had only two losing seasons. Coach Owen died in Houston, Texas on February 26, 1970 at the age of 94. He is resting in Memorial Park Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Date of birth: 07/24/1875
Date of death: 02/26/1970
Area of notoriety: Sports
Marker Type: Horizontal Marker
Setting: Outdoor
Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Daily - Dawn to Dusk
Fee required?: No
Web site: [Web Link]
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