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THE PERKINS JOURNAL, Thursday, January 5, 2012 - A3
Myron Roderick
1934-2011
The youngest of five children,
Myron!s arrival was a surprise
to his parents, Boyd and Julia
Roderick. His
twin sister, Mar-
garet, was deliv-
ered first and
then a surprised
doctor delivered
a tiny baby boy.
His fighting spirit
may have started
back then, and
it has continued
throughout his lifetime. He
was a fierce competitor as an
athlete, coach, businessman
and administrator.
Myron was born September
15, 1934, in Anthony, Kansas.
He was raised in rural Kansas,
and attended high school in
Winfield, Kansas, where he
was introduced to the sport of
wrestling. Myron met and mar-
ried the love of his life, Jo Ann
Minor, while he was attending
Oklahoma State University.
He was a three time NCAA
champion in wrestling and
played varsity tennis for Okla-
homa State University. He
placed fourth in the 1956 Mel-
bourne Olympics, losing a split
decision to the eventual cham-
pion. Graduating in 1956, he
was handpicked by Coach Art
Griffith to continue the great
coaching tradition began by
Edward C. Gallagher. Myron
was 21 at that time. In 1958,
Myron led the Cowboys to
the NCAA championship title
at the age of 23, the youngest
coach to direct a team to an
NCAA championship in any
sport. In his 13 years of coach-
ing, his wrestling teams won
Big Eight Titles and 7 NCAA
championship titles. Myron
not only had the opportunity
to coach wrestling, he also
coached the Cowboy tennis
team, winning six Big 8 cham-
pionship rifles.
At the conclusion of his
coaching career, he became
the first ExecutiX, e Director
of the United States Wrestling
Federation, (now known as
USA Wrestling) establisg
lhe national govemingbody
for the Olympic/international
sport. During hisfive year
tenure, he originated the con-
cept of a Hall of Fame for
wrestling and launched a suc-
cessful campaign with friend
Melvin Jones and many others
to create the museum.
Myron then took on the
challenge of becoming the
first Executive Director of the
National Racquetball Associa-
tion. He was as
competitive in
racquetball as he
was in wrestling,
winning several
national cham-
pionship titles
with his doubles
partner Dr. Bud
Muehleisen from
San Diego:
He returned to Oklahoma
State University as Director
of Athletics and served seven
years at the helm of one of the
nation's outstanding all sports
programs. He also served on
the original board that started
the Meridian Technology
Center; he served on this board
for thirty years.
For his many achievements,
Roderick was inducted into
the National Wrestling Hall of
Fame, the National Racquetball
Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma
Sports Hall of Fame, and the
Kansas Sports Hall of Fame,
the Oklahoma State Sports
Hall of Honor, and the Okla-
homa State University Alumni
Association Hall of Fame. He
was named NCAA Wrestling
Coach of the Year three times,
and received the 1971 Man of
the Year award.
Myron is survived by his
wife, Jo Ann; his sisters, Mar-
garet Nelson of Stillwater, OK
and Phyllis Bailey, of Liberal,
KS; his brother, Elbert Rod-
erick, of Kingman, KS; and
many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his
brother, Bryce Roderick.
Myron loved athletics, but his
greatest love was his family:
children, Tara and husband
Tony Linville of Owasso,
OK, and Ty Roderick, Sucy
Roderick both of Stillwater,
OK; and his grandchildren,
Tucker Roderick, Kellen Lin-
ville, Brandi Roderick and Lexi
Linville. The many athletes and
friends he was associated with
made his life complete.
Private services will be held
for the family. Those wishing
to honor Myron may do so with
donations to the OSU Founda-
tion for Wrestling, the National
Wrestling Hall of Fame or phi-
lanthropy of your choice.
Condolences may be emailed
to the family and an online
obituary may be viewed by
visiting www.strodefh.com.
OLBR 00lumni Receives Puw!e Hea00
By Bryan Larison
OLBR Executive Director
Just four days before
Christmas the Oklahoma
Lions Boys Ranch re,
ceived a special gift. A
former resident of the
OLBR joined the boys
and staff for our annual
family Christmas lunch.
Josh came to the ranch at
age 13 after multiple failed
kinship and foster homes.
He lived here 2 1/2years
and found a special place
in the heart of all of us here
at the OLBR.
I often think about what
life would have been like
for Josh if he hadn't came
to the ranch. Would he
have continued bouncing
from failed foster home to
failed foster home? Would
he have gotten the message
that nobody loved him or
nobody wanted to put
up with his troublesome
behavior? Would he have
been sent to an institution
to be raised by rules and
hourly childcare staff?
Would he have entered
adulthood prepared for
success and knowing he
is capable of great things?
My guess is that he would
have been behind edu-
cationally, and he would
have little if any ability to
attach to others. This isn't
just my opinion, the statis-
tics of youth exiting DHS
custody across the nation
are full of young people
that fit that description.
But, Josh chose a differ-
ent path. ':
Josh made the i!of
the opportunities that were
provided to him here. He
participated in athletics,
he was active in his local
church youth group, he
studied hard and worked at
a local restaurant washing
dishes. He made friends
and he opened his heart
to his house parents Jack
and Roberta and they wel-
comed him with open arms.
While here Josh also met
a classmate named Leah
that he would stay in con-
tact with.
Josh moved to a nearby
town with a foster family
that he had met through
Jack and Roberta's family.
He eventually graduated
with ihonors from Bristow
High School and was active
in the Bristow Leo club.
Instead of going to OBU
on a scholarship he decided
to enter the National
Gaurd. Josh served in
Iraq and most recently
in Afghanistan where
he was part of the crew
whose mission was to clear
the route for convoys and
look for IED's. Josh and
his crew found a big one
that blew his Buffalo truck
over 6 feet in the air. Josh
was injured during this
explosion and was put on
a short medical leave, but
recovered quickly and was
back out clearing the way
for others. During his down
time I was able to talk
with him via Facebook.
He assured me that he was
okay and it was no big
deal. He also told me how
eager he was to get back
out there and make sure
nobody else had to endure
such an explosion. He was
given the Purple Heart
for the injuries sustained
during this explosion.
Josh ins home on a two
week ;'sit. Remember that
young lady that Josh met
while here in Perkins? Well
they stayed in contact and
got married last year.
I am so proud of Josh.
He is a true example that
none of us are defined by
our past. Josh had plenty of
Josh and Leah Encinas
reasons to just give up on comes to a close, won't
himself. He also had plenty yoQ consider joining our
ofchallengestoovercorne, mi;Ssion by making an
I am so thankful thatI"had investment that will reach
an opportunity to be a part
of Josh's choice to take a
different path than most in
his situation. I am so glad
that the people that gave to
the Lions Boys Ranch were
able to make an impact
on Josh's life. And I am
taken back by the heart
into generations. Josh's
story is just the tip of
the iceberg of the lives
that have been changed
here at the ranch. With
your help we can continue
that legacy of success.
Our Christmas fundrais-
ing goal is $50,000 and as
of service that is inside of of today we are just over
Josh today.
We have young men here
right now that are starting
their journey toward suc-
cess. Some are deciding
if they should open their
hearts and make a change
$45,000. If you haven't
yet given please consider
making a tax-deductible
year end donation. You
can mail your gift to P.O.
Box 400, Perkins OK
74059 or give online at
for the better. As the year www.olbr.org
I
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