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Osborne Due Here to Salute Coach Sullins

Osborne Due Here to Salute Coach Sullins
by Louise Abercrombie, News Staff Writer

One coaching legend will be saluted and another legend will be the speaker here on May 6, when former Ponca City High School coach Earl Sullins is honored at a tribute featuring Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne as the speaker. The event is slated from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., in Sullins Stadium, named for the longtime high school coach some 20 years ago. Sullins coached football in Ponca City beginning in 1931 at East Junior High and moved to the high school in 1939. He became the athletic director in 1959 and retired in 1971. The stadium's name was appropriately changed from Blaine Stadium to Sullins Stadium in 1977.

In December 1996, Sullins was a spunky 90 years old and as everyone knows he's sharp as a tack and is definitely still admired by his students as "The Coach." Over the last 24 years, Osborne's Cornhuskers have won 12 Big Eight Championships and a Big 12 North Division Championship, won 242 games, won nine or more games every year (a continuing NCAA record), gone to 24 consecutive bowl games, been ranked every single year by the Associated Press (AP record) and have lost just one game to a team that finished a season below .500. Osborne's record in 24 seasons as the Huskers head coach is 242-49-3 (.832 winning percentage) with back-to-back national championships in 1995 and 1996. Nebraska was 11-2 last season and finished sixth in the final AP poll. In case of inclement weather the event will be in Robson Fieldhouse. Jack Shilling is heading up the facilities committee. Hosts are to be Tom Catlin (Class of 1949), Chuck Bowman (Class of 1954) and Keni Ray, former football coach at Ponca City High School.

Several Ponca Citians are serving on the planning committee for the special event. Student athletes and friends of "Coach" Sullins over the past 40 years are encouraged to attend this celebration. Dress will be casual. Special guests in addition to Osborne and Coach Sullins' family will be students and athletes who played for Sullins. Former Ponca Citian and voice of the Ponca City Wildcats and the OU football team Sherol Hovis, Oklahoma City, will be the master of ceremonies.

The welcome is to be given by Mayor Marilyn Andrews and Bill White, superintendent of schools. Among the athletes paying tribute before Osborne speaks will be Tom Catlin, former longtime assistant coach for the Seattle Seahawks, who played football here for Sullins. He later played for Bud Wilkinson at OU and was drafted by the Baltimore Colts and played for the Cleveland Browns. The closing will be by Chuck Bowman, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Edmond, who will introduce Sullins. Ray is in charge of inviting city and school officials.
Bowman and Hovis are responsible for the sports celebrities attending, and Ponca City High School alumni. Phil Turney and Bowman will be handling television and news media. John Talley will invite area coaches and athletes. The tribute is a three part program with a reception for personal friends and special guests at 5 p.m., with the location to be determined; "Dinner on the Gridiron" at Sullins Stadium - a combination meal and program ticket is $10 and reservations are required. The meal is to be served from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The program with Osborne as the speaker is open to the public and begins at 7:30 p.m.. Children 12 and under will be admitted free to the program and adult tickets are $5. An Appreciation Award will be presented to Coach Sullins. Persons wishing to have their name engraved on the bronze may do so for a $10 fee. Checks for the meal should be mailed to Chuck Bowman and Tom Catlin, P.O. Box 2643, Edmond, Okla. 73083. Those wishing to have their names engraved on the bronze may also mail their checks to Bowman and Catlin. Deadline is April 28.