George B. Powell

George B. Powell
Biographical details
Born(1900-10-02)October 2, 1900
Smithville, Texas, U.S.
DiedMay 10, 1967(1967-05-10) (aged 66)
Smithville, Texas, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1919–1920Rice
Basketball
c. 1920Rice
Track
c. 1920Rice
Position(s)hurdles (track)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1924–1926Texas Mines
Basketball
1924–1926Texas Mines
Head coaching record
Overall11–7–2 (football)
6–13 (basketball)

George Blanton Powell (October 2, 1900 – May 10, 1967), sometimes referred to as Chuck Powell, was an American football and basketball coach. He served as the head football coach at the Texas School of Mines—now known as the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)—from 1924 to 1926, compiling a record of 11–7–2. Powell was also the head basketball coach at Texas Mines from 1924 to 1926, tallying a mark of 6–13.

Early years

Powell was born in Smithville, Texas, in 1900. He attended Rice Institute where he played football and basketball and ran hurdles for the track team.[1]

Texas Mines

In August 1924, he was hired by the Texas School of Mines as its physical director, coach of the school's athletic teams, and instructor in the department of engineering.[1]

In the fall of 1924, Powell won plaudits for eliminating the football team's financial deficit for the first time in school history.[2] In June 1925, he was reelected to serve a second year as Texas Mines' football coach.[2] Powell planned to attend Knute Rockne's coaching school later in the summer.[3]

He led the 1925 Texas Mines Miners football team to a 5–1–1 record, including victories over New Mexico, New Mexico A&M, and Arizona State.[4] The team's record was the best in school history to that point; only three prior Texas Mines teams had compiled a winning record, and those three teams had exceeded a .500 record by only a single game.[4]

Powell's 1926 Texas Mines football team compiled a 3–4 record.[4] At the end of the 1926 season, he resigned his position and returned to his home in Smithville. He left the school for more lucrative employment in Smithville.[5][6]

Family and later years

Powell was married in June 1925 to Anna M. Doak of El Paso.[7] After leaving El Paso, he lived the rest of his life in Smithville and worked as a farmer.[8]

He died in 1967 at Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas. The cause of death was respiratory failure due to carcinoma of the lung.[8][9]

Head coaching record

Football

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Texas Mines Miners (Independent) (1924–1926)
1924 Texas Mines 3–2–1
1925 Texas Mines 5–1–1
1926 Texas Mines 3–4
Texas Mines: 11–7–2
Total: 11–7–2

References

  1. ^ a b "George Powell, Football, Baseball and Track Crack From Rice, Coaches Miners". El Paso Times. August 31, 1924. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "Powell Reelected". The El Paso Times. June 25, 1925. p. 7.
  3. ^ "Faculty Of College Of Mines Enjoys Vacation". The El Paso Times. June 25, 1925. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c "2014 UTEP Media Guide" (PDF). University of Texas at El Paso. 2014. p. 174. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 3, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  5. ^ "Chuch Powell May Return To Coach Miners". El Paso Herald. December 1, 1926. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Can't Quit Job: Miner Coach Faces Dilemma Because of Splawn Message". El Paso Herald. December 1, 1926. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Marriage certificate for George B. Powell and Anna M. Doak, 6/1/25. Ancestry.com. Texas, Select County Marriage Index, 1837-1965 [database on-line]. Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977.
  8. ^ a b Death certificate for George Blanton Powell, born 10/2/00, died 5/10/67. Texas Department of State Health Services. Ancestry.com. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982 [database on-line].
  9. ^ "Ex-Miner Coach Powell Dies". El Paso Times. May 12, 1967. p. 8B – via Newspapers.com.