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JACK VANPOOL Obituary

VanPoolDecember 30, 1931 - January 13, 2013 LAWTON Graveside funeral service for COL (Retired) Jack L. VanPool, 81, Lawton, will be 2:00 p.m. Friday in the Post Cemetery, Fort Sill.Colonel VanPool died Sunday, January 13, 2013 in Lawton. Burial with full military honors will be in the Post Cemetery, Fort Sill, under the direction of the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home. He grew up in Oklahoma City and was a graduate of Capitol Hill High School. He would become an all-star basketball, baseball and football player and be selected as a high school "All American" football player his senior year in high school. In 1949 he quarterbacked a 12-0 and undefeated Capitol Hill High School to the State Championship. He was later inducted into the Capitol Hill High School Activities Association Hall of Fame in 2000. Following graduation he attended the University of Oklahoma where he played quarterback for Coach Bud Wilkinson on the football team from 1951 until 1953. He also played quarterback in the 1954 Orange Bowl and helped quarterback OU to a 7-0 victory over the number one ranked University of Maryland. His distinguished Army career spanned more than twenty-eight years and he retired at Fort Sill on August 31, 1983. He is survived by his wife of the home; a daughter and son-in-law, Debra and David Davis; two grandchildren, Sarah and Michael Davis; a sister, Carol Ann Carter; a sister-in-law, Savilla VanPool; two additional daughters, Kelly Gipson and Sandy Mathis. An online guest book and sympathy cards are available atwww.beckerfuneral.com

Published by Oklahoman on Jan. 17, 2013.
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I'm repeating myself, I'm sure, but Jack was my #1 hero when I was just a young lad in the early 1950's. He is the major reason I have been a life-long Sooner fan. I also graduated from Capitol Hill High School and never miss a chance to brag about my cousin Jack. Besides being a stellar athlete, he was an all around good guy. I was very shy when I was young, but he always made time for me when we were together.

David Senn

Family

January 11, 2021

Tamara Davis

January 18, 2013

I looked up to Jack my entire life and felt that he was the "best looking" and one of the most talented persons I had ever met--and I was fortunate and proud that he was in my family! He remained humble and loving, and never let the great honors that came his way go to his head. You are going to be missed, cousin Jack. We love you so much.

Jeanette Hedrick

January 17, 2013

Cousin Jack was my hero when I was a young lad and teen-ager. I started following the Sooners when Jack played for them and always admired him greatly. He once gave me a program with many of the players' autographs; it was a prized possession. RIP, Jack.

David Senn

January 17, 2013

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