March 26, 2003

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Oren Stoner, who was inducted in January 2003 into the Kansas State Athletics Hall of Fame, has died in Tulsa, Okla., at the age of 92.

Stoner lettered in men's basketball, football and track and field at K-State from 1932 through 1935. He was a key member of the Wildcats' 1934 football team that won the Big Six Conference championship and earned first team all-league recognition as a senior.

In basketball, Stoner was an honorable mention All-Big Six selection, and participated on the K-State track and field team as a hurdler, setting a world record in the shuttle hurdle relay at the 1934 Kansas Relays.

According to the obituary released Wednesday, Stoner was born August 9, 1910 in Sabetha, Kan. He graduated from Sabetha High before attending Kansas State.

Following his collegiate career, he began his coaching career at Eureka High School, heading the football, basketball and track programs from 1935-39.

He arrived in Coffeyville in 1939 as head football and track coach. In the spring of 1942, he was commissioned into the U.S. Army Air Corps as a physical training officer. He left the service as a major and went on to attain the rank of lietuenant colonel through the Reserves.

Stoner returned to Field Kindley High School in the fall of 1946 and coached football, track and field, basketball and golf. He also served as athletics director from 1965 through his retirement in 1972.

On May 24, 1936, he married Gladys Esther Stover in Liberal, Kan. She preceded him in death in April 1999.

Stoner is survived by two daughters, one brother, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 28 at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Edgewood Chapel in Coffeyville, with private burial. Memorials may be given to the donor's choice of charities.

--ksu--