Wrestler Macias dies
Tony Macias starred in wrestling at Perry High School and Oklahoma. He was also a builder — starting the wrestling programs at Noble and Southeast high schools. The Oklahoman salutes Macias and others with state ties who enjoyed the game day experience.
A farewell to people with Oklahoma ties who enjoyed the game day experience:
•Tony Macias, 78, of Perry. A state champion wrestler at Perry High School and an All-American at Oklahoma. The 123-pounder helped the Sooners win a national championship in 1960.
Macias was in college when he started the Noble High wrestling program; the Bears worked out in a garage in their early years under their young coach. He later started the Southeast High wrestling program, guiding the Spartans to a pair of state runner-up finishes and one state title.
Macias also coached at Southwestern Oregon Community College and led the Lakers to their first winning season and a No. 14 national ranking.
•Martin Erdoes, 60, of Oklahoma City was an adventurist. He not only enjoyed jujitsu and fly fishing, but he also climbed Mount Everest. The Northwest Classen High School graduate explored the Amazon River.
•Joe Phillips, 81, of Choctaw. He was a coach in the Mid-Del school system for 37 years. Phillips taught Oklahoma history and coached at Midwest City High School and Carl Albert Junior High.
The Wetumka native moved to Midwest City in the 1940s and played football for the high school Bombers, graduating
in 1954. He played two seasons at Tulsa, then transferred to Central State College.
•Earl Naylor, 92, of Edmond was an all-around athlete. Despite losing a leg during a World War II battle, Naylor loved to swim, water ski, snow ski and ride his bike. He worked for Remington Rand Business Machines.
•John Bumps, 68, of Oklahoma City was an exceptional swimmer. He also coached soccer.
•Herschel Williams, 83, of Del City. He raced stock cars as a young man at State Fair and Altus speedways. A fisherman.
•Dylan Collier, 16, of Oklahoma City. He was a tight end and linebacker for the Putnam City High School freshman football team. He wore jersey No. 43. A straight-A student who had an ornery spirit.
•John Carter, 75, of Broken Arrow was a soccer referee.
•Dennis Marshala, 67, of Choctaw was a race car driver for several years. He drove super-modifieds in the 1970s at State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City and the Grady County Fairgrounds in Chickasha. After retiring as a driver, he was a sponsor for several drivers.
The machine shop owner and Air Force vet also sponsored fishing outings with the Cavett Kids Foundation.
•Jack Wallace, 66, of Oklahoma City. He excelled in wrestling and football at John Marshall High School. Wallace helped the Bears’ wrestling team to a Class 2A state championships in 1969. He was an allconference linebacker for the football team. Wallace went on to wrestle and play football for the Air Force Academy, and then worked as a geologist for many years.
•Bobby Boyd, 79, of Garland, Texas, played college football at Oklahoma. The cornerback went on to a nine-year career with the Baltimore Colts; he led the NFL with nine interceptions in 1965 and finished his career with five turnovers returned for touchdowns.
•Don Soergel, 83, of Edmond was an All-State baseball player at Capitol Hill High School. He also played football and basketball for the Redskins, before spending four years in the Navy.
After the military, Soergel went to Oklahoma State, where he played football and baseball. He was a member of the 1959 national championship baseball team. Soergel, the brother of OSU threesport standout Dick Soergel, retired as vice president of Carpenter Paper Co.
•Paul Ewald, 48, of Grove City, Ohio. Despite living in
Ohio State Buckeyes turf, the Oklahoma City native continued to support the Oklahoma Sooners. Ewald coached basketball and baseball for Grove City Parks & Recreation. He was given the Helping Hands Award by the Ohio Department of Education for his volunteer work.
•Jerry Hopper, 82, of League City, Texas. He played two seasons of right halfback at Crooked Oak High School. The Korean War veteran spent several working for Ford Motors and Homeland.
•Bob Rollins, 85, of Oklahoma City was an OU football season ticket holder for more than 60 years. He never missed a home game or attending a bowl game. The Korean War veteran was in the tour business. •Nonna Amis McCorkle, 71, of Edmond was a former Midwest City High School cheerleader. She was a fan of OU football and the Oklahoma City Thunder. McCorkle was a reading teacher. •Jimmy Fitzpatrick, 70, of Midwest City. He overcame polio as a child and competed in football, wrestling, track and cross country for Midwest City High School. The Army veteran was an outboard boat racer. Fitzpatrick found time to coach and referee youth soccer and twice went to Africa to hunt. After retiring from Tinker Air Force Base, he worked at H&H Gun Range.