Saying farewell to people with Oklahoma, athletic ties
Scott Munn
A farewell to people with Oklahoma ties who enjoyed the game day experience:
• 97, of Little Rock, Ark. Was believed to be the oldest living Oklahoma City professional baseball player, suiting up for the Indians in 1939. The El Reno native also played semi-pro ball, helping the Champlin Refiners to the 1940 national championship. Some travel was done by train — but like today, minor leaguers often went from site to site by bus. Reeser recalled in an interview with The Oklahoman that when he played in Texas, he also drove the team bus for an extra dollar.
• 57, of Tulsa. The Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, native remained a Tulsa resident after playing the 1979-81 seasons for the Oilers of the original Central Hockey League. Hoyda, who played in the NHL for the Philadelphia Flyers and Winnipeg Jets, was a left-winger. He had 24 goals and 42 points in 74 games for Tulsa. He married a local girl, Gina, and worked in equipment sales after his playing days.
• 72, of Warr Acres was the girls sports coordinator for the Tri-City Athletic Association. Moore also served as commissioner for ASA Junior Olympic Fastpitch Softball.
• 85, of Oklahoma City. Attended OU football games for more than 45 years with husband
• 80, of Tulsa coached youth sports.
• 90, of McLoud returned from the Navy in 1946. Shortly after an honorable discharge, he attended a county basketball tournament in Shawnee and fell in love with who was playing ball for the Bethel Wildcats. They were married for 66 years.
• 86, of Oklahoma City. She played high school basketball in Bolivar, Mo.
• 44, of Edmond. The wife of Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coach died from injuries suffered in an automobile crash. A former track and field athlete at Notre Dame. She was the mother of five.
• 78, of Stamford, Texas. Played center and linebacker for the Oklahoma Sooners over the 1956-58 seasons. The UPI National Lineman of the Year in ‘58. Played nine seasons in the NFL, mostly for the San Francisco 49ers. Returned to Norman for 23 consecutive years to play in OU’s Varsity-Alumni Game.
• 44, of Tulsa. He played football and wrestled at Claremore High School. As an adult, he studied the martial arts, golfed and ran marathons.
• 46, of Midwest City was an avid weight lifter.
• 38, of Tulsa was a skilled driver on the Sports Car Club of America circuit. He was a club driving instructor for those who raced the BMW and Porsche. Lieberman’s funeral was held at Hallet Motor Racing Circuit near Tulsa.
• 81, of Tulsa. He co-captained the Tulsa Central High School football team.
• 80, of Midwest City. An All-American quarterback at Tennessee Tech. Went into coaching and led teams to state football and track championships while living in Dallas. After moving to Tulsa, Robinson started the Eastside Sports Program and was involved in youth sports for several years.