Jack Clifton Jacobson of Ardmore Oklahoma passed away on September 5, 2021, in Dallas, Texas. He was with family at the time of his peaceful passing. A memorial service is being planned for Labor Day weekend 2022 in Oklahoma.
Jack was born in Stillwater Oklahoma on June 23, 1941, the second child and first son of C.E. “Tip” and Francis “Fran” Jacobson. He grew up in a variety of Oklahoma and Oregon towns before settling in Ardmore, OK when he was 9 years old.
Jack was a natural athlete. As a pre-teen he waterskied on his first try and he rode a unicycle on his first try around a city block. He was small in the seventh grade, but he was a tough player in all sports. At Ardmore High School he excelled at football, basketball, track and golf and he was a good dancer. Playing Center, Jack was selected for the All-State football team in 1960, playing in the 23rd Oil Bowl Charity Game and would attend Oklahoma State University from 1959-1964 on a football scholarship.
At OSU he lettered in football three years playing receiver and defensive end. Jack was a standout footballer and many of his Cutchin Cowboy teammates recall him as their toughest player. He quickly became a favorite of new Coach Phil Cutchin a disciple of Bear Bryant hired in 1962 who favored hard-nosed, tough players. He was so impressed with Jack he was quoted as saying "If we had 3 or 4 more like him no one could beat us, he’s our chief headhunter.", later this would become an unfortunate reality. Jack earned numerous accolades while compiling impressive game stats and awards including All Big 8 First Team, All-American and playing in the 1964 Senior Bowl where he competed against Joe Namath and Bob Hayes. He used to say his claim to fame was preventing a completion from the powerful duo on his side of the field in a 7-7 tie game. Though clearly it was his influence on his family and those around him that are his legacies.
The 13th player ever drafted from Oklahoma State by the NFL’s Detroit Lions, Jack played one season with the AFL’s San Diego Chargers before injuries curtailed his playing days. He became a coach and had several stops in west Texas including at Lubbock High and Midland Lee. His longest stint was when he coached the defensive secondary at famed Odessa Permian High School in the decade of the 1970’s. The 1972 team won the 4A Texas State Championship and the ESPN National Championship and the 1975 team was runner up.
In 1978, Jack developed a brain aneurysm that required surgery. Though it altered the trajectory of his life, ending his football coaching career and causing lifelong seizure risk, Jack was not a complainer and continued to live a life of activity. To his family he seemed almost indestructible. Coaching the Permian golf teams and continuing to teach he remained a presence around the football program for many years.
Jack is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by sons Scott and Chase, his siblings, Jan Grantham, Frank Jacobson and Page Jacobson, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces. He has donated tissue to Boston University and the Concussion Legacy Foundation for research.
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