Babb coached at OSU after pro football career

A farewell to people with Oklahoma ties who enjoyed the game day experience:

•Gene Babb, 83, of Oklahoma City. Graduated from Odessa Permian High School long before the Panthers became renowned for Mojo and "Friday Night Lights."

Babb played scholarship football at Austin College, before playing in the pros for the San Francisco 49ers, the expansion Dallas Cowboys and the old AFL's Houston Oilers.

The fullback/linebacker — known to family and friends as Duke — went into coaching after his playing days. Babb coached at Austin College, SMU and Oklahoma State, the latter as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator.

Babb went into scouting for the NFL, contributing to the development of the NFL Combine. He also served on the board of directors for NFL Films.

•Wanda Rhodes, 88, of Bethany. Coached women's tennis and basketball at Southern Nazarene University. Chaired the Heath and Physical Education department at the school.

•John Wagner, 95, of Edmond. He captained the Lincoln High School golf team that won the 1941 Nebraska state championship. The World War II veteran had 11 aces during his lifetime — the first at age 12 and the last at age

84. Spent 35 years working for Western Electric.

•Terry Coker, 65, of Oklahoma City. He was a dirt car racer in Oklahoma and surrounding states in the 1970s and 1980s. The U.S. Grant graduate worked for the family business, Coker Transmission.

•Buddy Legg, 79, of Mustang. Legg was a standout in football, basketball and baseball at Bethany High School. Legg played scholarship football at Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford and Eastern Oklahoma A&M in Wilburton. An outdoorsman and Sooner fan who sold aircraft parts for a living.

•Jerry Diehl, 83, of Oklahoma City. Diehl was a marksman in the Army. With an M1 rifle, he placed first in seven of eight matches at the Euro Matches in Grafenwohr, Germany.

•Jeromy Hicks, 46, of Grove. At 6-foot-8, he starred for Oklahoma Bible Academy, helping the Trojans to more than 100 wins over four seasons. Hicks was named All-State by the Oklahoma Coaches Association after he averaged 20.9 points as a senior. He played college ball at Tabor (Kansas) and Northeastern Oklahoma State in Tahlequah.

•Dr. John Clemons, 66, of Midwest City. He was a 1971 grad of Midwest City High School, where he helped the Bombers' wrestling team to its first state championship. Clemons spent 30 years as an emergency room physician.

•Jim Campbell, 86, of Edmond. The career newspaperman was a runner who competed in the Boston, Detroit and Oklahoma City marathons.

•Mary Ballard Watson, 89, of Cleburne, Texas. She played high school basketball at Hollister in far southwestern Oklahoma.