Richard Lee Gwinn

Richard Lee “Dick” Gwinn, 82, passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019, surrounded by family. He was a faithful Christian, and we are greatly comforted knowing he is in the presence of the Lord and his beloved wife, Judy.

Dick was born November 2, 1936, in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Stanley Harrison and Grace Palmer Gwinn. “Dicky” was the youngest of three boys. He graduated from Tulsa Central High School in 1955 and attended the University of Oklahoma on a football scholarship. He played on two National Championship teams (’55, ’56), lettering in football and wrestling. He then stayed on as a graduate assistant coach under Coach Bud Wilkinson. He married Judith Head, the love of his life, on August 22, 1959. They were married for 52 years until her death in 2012. Dick graduated from OU with a degree in Business Administration and obtained a M.Ed from Northeastern State College.

“Coach Gwinn” dedicated his life to faith, family, friends and football. He was much admired and loved by players from Tulsa Central, N.E.O, Weber State College in Ogden, Utah, the University of Texas at El Paso and Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri. Coach Gwinn inspired his athletes on and off the field.

Dick was an avid reader of the Bible, history, Western and spy novels. He loved fishing and hunting in his younger days. “Peepaw” enjoyed teaching his grandchildren to fish in Arkansas. He was a quiet, humble man, who wrote poetry and letters to his wife and family on topics he cared about deeply.

Dick is preceded in death by his wife, Judy, his parents, and brothers Billy Ward Gwinn and Stanley Harrison Gwinn, Jr. He is survived by his loving family: Leslie and Gaines Bagby of Austin, Texas; David Gwinn and Kim Jones of Edmond, Oklahoma; Robert and Jennifer Gwinn of Shady Shores, Texas; Leslie Gorman of Charlotte, N.C. “Peepaw” will be greatly missed by his nine grandchildren, Nathan, William and Kathryn Glenn; Meg and Sarah Gwinn; Ryan and Jake Gorman; Haley and Kelsey Gwinn.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Judith Ann Head Gwinn Elementary Education Endowed Scholarship at The University of Oklahoma link.ou.edu/GwinnScholarship or call (405) 321-1174.