V 11 N. 21 Dee Edward Givens (1937-2021) Oklahoma University Sprinter R.I.P.

      

DEE EDWARD GIVENS

      Another good guy has departed this earthly life to arrive in a new life of Peace, Joy, and Happiness.

      Dee Edward Givens, 83, resident of Tyler, TX, passed away March 8, 2021 while visiting family in Lawton, OK. He was born on September 26, 1937 in Edmond, OK, and grew up in Lawton.  He graduated from Lawton High school in 1955, attended Cameron Junior College for one year and then in the fall of 1956 arrived at the University of Oklahoma on a track scholarship.

      Dee had a very productive and rewarding tenure at OU (1958-60).  He was a sprinter running the 60 and 75 yard dashes indoors and the 100 and 220 yard dashes outdoors.  Dee was lightning fast out of the blocks thanks to his legendary coach, John Jacobs.

       1958 was a good year for Dee, to mention a few of his accomplishments this year.  Dee tied the World Record for 100 yards.  He was Big Eight champ at the 60-yard dash on the indoor track; Big Eight champ on the outdoor track in the 220-yard dash in the time of 20.4 seconds setting an OU school record that still exists today and Big Eight champ in the 100-yard dash; and to top the year off at the Kansas Relays Dee and his other 3 teammates seta new World Record in the Sprint Medley Relay with a time of 3:19.5.   (Gary Parr from Ponca City opened with the 440-yard dash, handing the baton to Dee Givens to run a 220 yards leg, and then passing the baton to Johnny Pellow, Enid, OK, to sprint 220 yards and then handing the baton to Gail Hodgson, South Africa, who clocked a 1:48 half-mile in the last leg of the race.)

      1959  was another good year for Dee, but the competition in the sprints suddenly got a lot better with the arrival of Charlie Tidwell from Kansas University, Billy Cannon from LSU, Bill Woodhouse from Abilene Christian College. and many more from all over the US.  Dee continued to run his sprint events placing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd at every track meet contributing points for the team.  The OU team placed second and third in the indoor and outdoor Big Eight Conference that season.

       1960  Dee ended the season at the Olympic trials where he placed sixth in the 200 meters with a time of 21.2.  Dee, as usual, scored points for the OU team in every track meet during the year.  The OU team won the Big Eight Conference indoors and placed third in the outdoor meet.

       It is pleasant to recall all the good times with my OU teammates.  But when one passes onto a new life after death it moves me to the realization that life is short and those many memories we recall of our friends and teammates are so precious.  Dee was a special and good friend; may he rest in peace.

       Dee is survived by his wife, Babs Yarmuk Givens; two daughters, Janis and Dena, four grandchildren, one great grandchild; and brother  John.  He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Rex.

ed. This remembrance was written by Dee's teammate Hial Gernert, himself a former school co-record holder with Gary Parr in the 440 at 47.1.    

Dee Givens' record at the NCAA outdoor meets

1958  Berkeley     100 yards   7th

1959  Lincoln       220 yards   5th    21.3

1960  Berkeley     220 yards   4th    21.3

Dee is mentioned on the last line of this article as a member of the WR Sprint Medley.

Hi George -

Re:  Legendary coach,  John Jacobs’ contribution to the speed of Dee Givens out of the blocks.  Reminds me of a story Ronald Reagan told about this hard working Kansas Farmer.  “ There was an old Kansas farmer. He had a piece of creek bottom land that had never been developed at all -- it was all rocks and brush and all messed up. And he started in on it, clearing it -- the underbrush, and hauling away the rocks, then cultivating the soil there. And he planted a garden -- everything from vegetables on to corn, and it really became a garden spot. And he was pretty proud of what he'd done. So, one Sunday morning in church after the service he asked the preacher if he wouldn't stop by to have a look.

Well, the preacher arrived. And he took one look and he said, ``Oh, this is wonderful.'' He said, ``These are the biggest tomatoes I've ever seen. Praise the Lord.'' And he said, "Those green beans, that squash, those melons.'' He said, ``The Lord really has blessed this place. And look at the height of that corn.'' He said, "God has really been good.'' And the old boy was listening to all this, and he was getting more and more fidgety and finally he blurted out, ``Reverend, I wish you could have seen it when the Lord was doing it by himself.'' 

 I believe that a coach’s greatest asset to a successful career is to chose and recruit his athletes with both immense vision and great acumen.    As in ‘Picking winners before they are winners’.    Richard Mach