George B. Powell Explained

George B. Powell
Birth Date:2 October 1900
Birth Place:Smithville, Texas, U.S.
Death Place:Smithville, Texas, U.S.
Player Sport1:Football
Player Years2:1919–1920
Player Team2:Rice
Player Sport3:Basketball
Player Years4:c. 1920
Player Team4:Rice
Player Sport5:Track
Player Years6:c. 1920
Player Team6:Rice
Player Positions:hurdles (track)
Coach Sport1:Football
Coach Years2:1924–1926
Coach Team2:Texas Mines
Coach Sport3:Basketball
Coach Years4:1924–1926
Coach Team4:Texas Mines
Overall Record:11–7–2 (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.

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.

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

Notes and References

  1. News: George Powell, Football, Baseball and Track Crack From Rice, Coaches Miners. El Paso Times. August 31, 1924. 7. Newspapers.com.
  2. News: Powell Reelected. The El Paso Times. June 25, 1925. 7.
  3. News: Faculty Of College Of Mines Enjoys Vacation. The El Paso Times. June 25, 1925. 4. Newspapers.com.
  4. Web site: 2014 UTEP Media Guide. 2014. University of Texas at El Paso. 174. 2019-01-07. 2014-09-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903193201/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/utep/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2014-15/misc_non_event/2014_FBMediaGuide.pdf. dead.
  5. News: Chuch Powell May Return To Coach Miners. El Paso Herald. December 1, 1926. 6. Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Can't Quit Job: Miner Coach Faces Dilemma Because of Splawn Message. El Paso Herald. December 1, 1926. 1. 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. 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. News: Ex-Miner Coach Powell Dies. El Paso Times. May 12, 1967. 8B. Newspapers.com.