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Gene Calame

Games Started at QB

Roster Info

Season Class # Pos Ht Wt
1951
1952 SO 31 QB 5-9 165
1953 JR 31 LH 5-10 165
1954 (C) SR 31 QB 5-10 168

Personal Info

First Name: Gene
Middle Name: Dan
Last Name: Calame
Common Name:
Nickname:
Hometown: Sulphur, OK
High School: Sulphur
Birth Date/Place: April 4, 1933
Death Date/Place: February 1, 2003 in Oklahoma City, OK (age 69)
Related To:
Obituary:

(The Oklahoman) Gene Dan Calame left us February 1, 2003, surrounded by the love of family and friends. Born to Guy and Lillian Calame, on April 4, 1933, Gene grew up in Sulphur, Oklahoma, a hometown he loved and which loved him. Active in a number of sports at an early age, Gene was an outstanding football player for the Sulphur Bulldogs and was named All-State Quarterback in 1950. Upon graduation from Sulphur High School in 1951, Gene was recruited to the University of Oklahoma by 'Bud' Wilkinson to play football and was a member of the Sooner squad from 1951-1954. During his tenure at OU, Gene was the Sooner's Quarterback and was a member of the Sooner team that started the 47 straight game winning streak, the longest running successful record in NCAA history. He graduated from the University in 1954 and became a Graduate Assistant football coach for the OU Sooners where he worked his way through law school. Sooner football, and in reality, any Sooner sport, remained one of his fervent passions all his life. It was during law school and his coaching days at OU that he met and married Virginia Davis, the love of his life and best friend. Upon graduation from the OU law school in 1960, Gene worked briefly for the Oklahoma Insurance Department and in 1962 joined the employ of Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company in Oklahoma City, as an attorney. For thirty-seven years, Gene loved his work in the corporate world of Globe Life and Accident where he rose to the position of Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel. The quintessential corporate insurance lawyer, Gene served Globe Life until his formal retirement in April of 1999, but continued to assist them occasionally in a legal capacity between his active retirement of tennis, golf and his favorite pastime of teaching his grandsons his tennis and golf swing. Gene is survived by his wife, Virginia, his son, James Calame and daughter-in-law Colette of Oklahoma City, his daughter and son-in law, Cathy and Bart Boatright, two grandsons, Davis and Bryant Boatright, all of Springfield, Missouri, his mother, Lillian Calame of Norman, Oklahoma, two brothers, Alvin Calame of Oklahoma City, Glen Dale Calame of Allen, Texas, three sisters, Johnelle Longoria, of Brownsville, Texas, Lorraine Calame of Vancouver, British Columbia and Guyanne Brannon of Choctaw, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his father, Guy Calame and two sisters, Fontaine Calame and Yolanda Calame Hartzog. He is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews, countless friends, teammates, and colleagues who feel blessed to have shared Gene's laughter, his love of life and the joy he brought to everyone he met. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, February 4, 2003, at Smith & Kernke, 14624 N. May Ave. A Celebration of Gene's life will take place at the Quail Springs United Methodist Church, 14617 N. Pennsylvania, in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials may be sent to the Quail Springs United Methodist Church Memorial Prayer Garden, 14617 N. Pennsylvania, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73134 or to the charity of your choice.

Notes

  • A (C) indicates that the player was a captain for that season (named before each game in 1982, 1995 through 1998, and 2022 to present).
  • Related To refers to other OU athletes only.
  • Calculations for career totals will be skewed if the season totals are incomplete.