Fenimore's Induction into Ring of Honor Extra Special to Our Family

STILLWATER – There is no doubt that the gesture is due. Bob Fenimore was one of the great Saturday afternoon matinee heroes in the history of college football. America was thrust into the serious global crisis of World War II and although Fenimore’s collegiate career really blossomed as the war had turned in Europe those were still times where America needed sports. In Oklahoma the 1944 and 45 Aggies teams and Fenimore and his teammates brought great joy and pride to fans of Oklahoma A&M.  He is so deserving to have his No. 55 go up alongside Barry Sanders (21) and Thurman Thomas (34). While Bob Fenimore has passed, as well as his lovely wife Veta Joe, his two daughters and their families will enjoy seeing the pageantry on Oct. 8 in Boone Pickens Stadium when OSU will play Texas Tech. All Cowboys fans will enjoy it and certainly the Allen family will as Fenimore once loaned a longtime Cowboy fan and modern day player that hallowed 55.

Pokes Report

The Ring of Honor announcement.

Fenimore and one of his lifelong and best friends, Neill Armstrong, led the Oklahoma A&M team that went 8-1 with a Cotton Bowl victory in 1944 and a perfect 9-0 with a Sugar Bowl win in 1945 and a ranking of fifth in the final Associated Press poll. Fenimore’s play was legendary. Later the AFCA would award Oklahoma State the national championship for that 1945 unbeaten season.

In 1944, Fenimore led the nation in total offense (1,758 yards), was third in rushing (899), eighth in passing (997), ninth in scoring (77), and 13th in punting (37.3).

In the undefeated 1945 season, Fenimore was the national leader in both total offense (1,641), and rushing (1,119), while ranking seventh in punting (39.0), and 13th in scoring (72). His 18 interceptions during his OSU career remain a school record, and his 4,627 career yards of total offense were not eclipsed until Mike Gundy came along more than 40 years later.

Fenimore twice finished in the top five in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. In 1947 he was the first overall pick in the NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. Ironically, his good friend Armstrong would later be head coach for the Bears and an assistant with the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys.

Fenimore chose Massachusetts Mutual and a profitable career in  the insurance business over the NFL, which in those days was not nearly what it is today.

I got to know Bob Fenimore through my Aunt Billie Jean Ward, who worked at the University for 45-years. I met Bob Fenimore as a kid, then again in college, and as a reported at Channel 4 in Oklahoma City even interviewed him on a couple of occasions. My son Zach started going to Cowboys games with Billie when he was four. He too learned of the legend of Bob Fenimore. As a center he chose 55 to wear and we would often make reference that it was “cool” that was Bob Fenimore’s number.

Pokes Report

Zach Allen at Oklahoma State.

When Zach walked on at Oklahoma State as a deep snapper, he wanted to wear 55 and while it was not officially retired it was in the minds of the equipment staff including Matt “Chief” Davis and Justin Williams. Zach asked Mr. Fenimore if it was okay for him to wear No. 55. Fenimore graciously told him that it was. That is the kind of man he was.

That gave then special teams coordinator and associate head coach Joe DeForest permission to put Zach Allen down for 55.

Justin Williams

Today’s Oklahoma State equipmwn truck shows the retired numbers.

I like to think that Zach, who went on to go on scholarship, started four-years, and was a three-time All-Academic All-Big 12 gave suitable homage to that number. The glory it has had since the 40s. Since then it has not been worn again. The number 55 is retired along with 21, 34, and 43. For anyone not knowing that is Barry Sanders, Thurman Thomas, and Terry Miller. All four of those number belonged to Cowboys in the College Football Hall of Fame.

We’d like to thank Mr. Fenimore for letting a member of our family briefly borrow one of the greatest numbers in Oklahoma State football history. I think it will be nice to explain it my oldest grandson Cash, who is seven and will be at that game next October. He needs to know the legend of one of the Cowboys greatest, Bob Fenimore.