OBITUARIES / PASSINGS / Jim Owens

Jim Owens, 82, an All-American end at the University of Oklahoma under legendary football coach Bud Wilkinson who later coached the University of Washington for 18 seasons, died Saturday at his home in Bigfork, Mont. The University of Washington confirmed his death but did not specify the cause.

Owens coached at Washington from 1957 until his retirement in 1974. He went 99-82-6 in his nearly two decades as coach of the Huskies, including three Rose Bowl trips. The first, in 1960, was Washington’s first victory in the Rose Bowl, a 44-8 rout of Wisconsin. The Huskies came back to win the 1961 Rose Bowl, 17-7, over Minnesota, then lost in 1964 to Illinois, 17-7.

Owens also served as Washington’s athletic director from 1960 to 1969. His accomplishments were honored in 2003 when the university dedicated a statue of Owens outside one of the entrances to Husky Stadium. But that honor came with protests about his treatment of black players during his time at Washington.

“To my players, I thank them and apologize for any hurt they may feel. I hope today we can begin to heal the wounds of the past,” Owens said the day his statue was dedicated.

An Oklahoma City native, Owens served in the Naval Air Corps during World War II. He was a four-year letterman at Oklahoma after the war, and in 1949, his senior season, was team captain and the leading receiver on a Sooner team that went 11-0 with Darrell Royal as quarterback.

Owens played one year with the Baltimore Colts in the National Football League, then became an assistant coach under Paul “Bear” Bryant at Kentucky and Texas A&M; in the 1950s before being named head coach at Washington.