The Oklahoma State family lost a legend on June 28, 2010, with the
passing of two-time All-American gridiron star Bob Fenimore.
A
two-way star for the Aggies of Oklahoma A&M, the "Blond Bomber" was
named a two-time consensus All-American after leading the Aggies to
victory at the 1944 Cotton Bowl and the 1945 Sugar Bowl and a 17-1
record over the 1944 and 1945 seasons.
"Bob Fenimore put OSU football on the map as the first in a long line
of great running backs. He was a tremendous player but an even better
man," said longtime friend and OSU's Executive Director for Major Gifts
Larry Reece.
"He was a lifelong supporter of all things Cowboy. OSU athletics may
have lost one of our legends, but the OSU family will never forget the
Blond Bomber."
"Bob Fenimore will never be forgotten," Gundy said. "He may have been
the most dominant player in America during his years in Stillwater. He
is still listed in our record books nearly 60 years after he played. He
truly is a legend."
While guiding the Aggies to an 8-1 mark in 1944, he led the nation in
total offense with 1,758 yards, was third with 899 rushing yards, eighth
in passing yards with 997 and ninth in scoring with 77 points.
Fenimore helped A&M to a perfect 9-0 mark the following year while
leading the nation in total offense with 1,641 yards and rushing with
1,119 yards. He also ranked seventh on the punting chart and 13th in
scoring.
He finished his career with 4,627 yards of total offense and was
referred to by Homer Cooke of the National Collegiate Athletic Bureau as
"the greatest one-man offense in college football history".
Early settlers of Oklahoma Territory could never
have imagined the growth and impact of Oklahoma A&M when it was
established in 1890. From unplowed prairie rose a university that
brought out the best in its students in the classroom and in athletic
competition.
Athletics have been integral in the life of OAMC
and OSU since the earliest years. Now that rich heritage is proudly on
display in the new visual history section of OKState.com, Cowboy
Classics.
Oklahoma A&M fielded perhaps the most dominant athletic
department in America during the 1940's.
Ed Gallagher's
wrestling squads won six national championships. Henry Iba's
basketball program won back-to-back national titles in 1945 and
1946. Jim Lookabaugh's football teams won both the 1945 Cotton
Bowl and 1946 Sugar Bowl in convincing fashion.
1945 Cotton Bowl Classic Watch classic newsreel footage from A&M College's 34-0 rout
of TCU in the 1945 Cotton Bowl. The win was the culmination of
an 8-1 campaign in 1944, and laid the foundation for OAMC's
undefeated 1945 season.
Basketball's First Dynasty Under the guidance of legendary head coach Henry Iba,
Oklahoma A&M became the first school in NCAA history to win
back-to-back national titles in 1945 and 1946.
Oklahoma A&M Wrestling Read the championship history of America's most prolific
college wrestling program, and a dynasty that began in the
Roaring 20's that continues to this day.
