Obituary for Gene Walter Babb Gene “Duke” Babb, age 83, died December 02, 2018. Gene was born December 27, 1934 to James and Margorie Babb. He was a 1953 graduate of Odessa High School with a reputation as a football standout before the famous Friday Night Lights of West Texas.
He accepted a football scholarship to attend Austin College in Sherman, Texas and earned his Bachelor of Art Degree in 1957. He was drafted in the 19th Round of the 1957 draft by the San Francisco Forty Niner’s. After two seasons in San Francisco he joined the Dallas Cowboys for their inaugural season in 1960 playing both fullback and linebacker.
After two years with the Cowboys he finished his professional football career playing two years for the Houston Oilers. After his NFL career he began coaching at his alma-mater Austin College where he coached for four years. He then coached at Southern Methodist University for a season before accepting the job of defensive coordinator of the Oklahoma State University Cowboys where he remained for three seasons from 1969 through 1971.
He transitioned from coaching to a career in scouting in the NFL. Initially he was a team scout for the Atlanta Falcons but eventually became part of the scouting team for National Football Scouting assuming the role of President and Director of the annual National Invitational Combine for twenty-three years until his retirement. During that time, he trained and developed numerous scouts for NFL clubs, and was instrumental in turning the NFL Scouting Combine into the event it is today.
He also served on the Board of Directors of NFL Films. He served as the first Director of Alumni at Austin College. He was inducted into Austin College’s Athletic Hall of Honor in 1969, and each year the school awards the Gene “Duke” Babb Award to its most outstanding football player.
Other Austin College honors Include the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005; a new football scoreboard was dedicated in his honor in 2009; and a classroom in the Athletic Hall also bears his name. While it was his abilities that brought him to the game his real passion was teaching and analyzing it and its players of whom he marshalled thousands. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Gerry Reed Babb; daughter, Tracy Babb Frazier and her husband Steve Frazier; his brother, Fred Babb.
He loved his dogs throughout his life so please consider a donation to the Stillwater, Oklahoma Humane Society in his honor and remembrance. Condolences may be emailed to the family and an online obituary may be viewed by visiting www. strodefh.com .
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