Jack And Clem...And Now, Tony

Cancer has claimed another today. Television and radio personality, newspaper columnist and former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow has died of colon cancer.

Not long ago, stomach cancer claimed former Lt. Governor Jack Mildren.

A week ago, cancer claimed former Congressman Clem McSpadden.

All three were friends of many years. I knew Jack for more than 20 years, Clem for 40 and Tony for 20. I last spoke with Tony when he left the White House; I called him to encourage him to renew the radio show he had previously hosted and that I had placed on the air at KTOK in Oklahoma City. He was upbeat, as always, but was well aware, I believe, that his road ahead was narrow.

Thirty years ago, lung cancer claimed former Governor and U. S. Senator Dewey F. Bartlett, for whom I worked off and on for more than 10 years.

I will make a donation to cancer prevention and cure research in the names of Jack and Clem and Tony. - Mike McCarville

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Dan Boren Honors Mildren On House Floor

Congressman Dan Boren honored former Lieutenant Governor and University of Oklahoma football quarterback Jack Mildren in a speech on the floor of the U. S. House.

Mildren died May 22 after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 58.

"I rise today to honor the life of a remarkable Oklahoman,” Boren said.

Boren noted that the former OU quarterback was known as the “Godfather of the wishbone,” led the Sooners in the 1971 “Game of the Century” against Nebraska and was named most valuable player of a Sugar Bowl win.

“He is most widely recognized for laying the foundation for the success of the Sooner football program for years after his graduation,” Boren said.

Boren also pointed out Mildren’s service as Oklahoma’s 22nd lieutenant governor: “Jack was not only a football star, but also a civic leader and outstanding public servant,” the congressman said, adding that Mildren would be remembered by Oklahomans “for his contributions to the history of our state.”

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Officials, Friends Pack Mildren Service

Hundreds of Oklahoma's top elected officials, legislators, University of Oklahoma football fans and admirers packed Norman's McFarlin Methodist Church this afternoon for services honoring the life of former Lt. Governor Jack Milden.

Mildren died last week at age 58 of stomach cancer. He was an executive of Arvest Bank and a popular sports talk radio show co-host. He is survived by his mother, Mary, and his wife, Janis, and their children and grandson, and by brothers Richard and Glynne.

Among those in attendance at his funeral were Governor Brad Henry, Lt. Governor Jari Askins, Attorney General Drew Edmondson, Congresswoman Mary Fallin, former OU coaches Chuck Fairbanks and Barry Switzer and many of Mildren's former high school and OU teammates.

As his services were underway, a sports blogger revealed that Mildren's legendary high school football exploits may have been the inspriration for the popular movie Friday Night Lights about Texas football: "In an 2004 interview with ESPN.com, 'Friday Night Lights' author H.G. "Buzz" Bissinger said, 'When I was about 13 years old, there was a cover story in Sports Illustrated (Sept. 9, 1968) about a high school quarterback named Jack Mildren, and he played at Abilene Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas. 'I read that story word for word and was enthralled and amazed. He was like the Elvis Presley (or) Marilyn Monroe of the town. He was playing in front of 15,000, his name was on church marquees, and movie marquees all over town. I just said, 'My God.' I think I was jealous. I mean, what is it like to be that young and that famous? It sort of stayed with me and stayed with me.'"

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Jack Mildren Services Today In Norman

Former Lt. Governor Jack Mildren will be laid to rest today after services at 1 p.m. at McFarlin Methodist Church in Norman.

The former star OU quarterback died last Thursday of stomach cancer.

Those wishing to honor his memory are asked to donate to the Jack Mildren Athletic Scholarship Fund at OU. The mailing address is OU Foundation, University of Oklahoma, 180 West Brooks, Room 3575, Norman, OK 73019.

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Mildren Scholarship Fund Established

Jack Mildren's family has asked that those wishing to honor the memory of the former University of Oklahoma football great and lieutentant governor who died on Thursday donate to the Jack Mildren Athletic Scholarship Fund at the OU Foundation.

Donations should be made payable to the OU Foundation and noted they are for the Mildren Athletic Scholarship. The mailing address is OU Foundation, University of Oklahoma, 180 West Brooks, Room 3575, Norman, OK 73019.

Services for Mildren will be held Tuesday at 1 p.m. at McFarlin Methodist Church in Norman.

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Jack Mildren Services 1 p.m. Tuesday

Funeral services for former Oklahoma Lt. Governor Jack Mildren will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church in Norman.

Mildren, 58, died Thursday of stomach cancer. The former University of Oklahoma star quarterback was first diagnosed two years ago and was stricken a second time several weeks ago.

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State Senate Honors Mildren's Memory

The full Senate has given unanimous approval to a resolution honoring the life of former Lieutenant Governor and University of Oklahoma football star Jack Mildren.

Lt. Governor Jari Askins, President of the Senate, presided over the chamber as the resolution was read and approved unanimously. Mildren, age 58, was diagnosed with cancer two years ago and died on Thursday.

Senator Kenneth Corn, principal author of Senate Resolution 105, said he was extremely saddened by Mildren’s passing. He recalled Mildren as a man who loved life and always had a smile on his face.

“Even though he’ll always be remembered as the famous football star, he was an extremely successful businessman, creating jobs for countless Oklahomans,” said Corn, D-Poteau. “As Lt. Governor, he showed us that integrity is more important than partisan politics, and he worked tirelessly to promote the state he loved.”

Known as the Godfather of the Wishbone, Mildren also achieved later success in the oil businesses as co-founder and President of Regency Exploration, Inc., and as an independent oil operator. He also hosted a daily sports radio talk show on two local radio stations, as well as two television sports programs.

Senator Jeff Rabon served as then Lt. Gov. Mildren’s senior administrative assistant in the early 1990’s. Rabon recalled Mildren as the most selfless man he’d ever met.

“He was tough and smart on the football field, in politics and business. I admire his character and his tenacity, and I’m very sad that we’ve lost him at such a young age,” said Rabon, D-Hugo. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the entire Mildren family.”

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Holmes: Mildren Considered Campaign

Democratic State Chairman Ivan Holmes revealed today that former Lt. Governor Jack Mildren, who died yesterday of stomach cancer, was considering another run for statewide office.

"Jack Mildren was not only an outstanding individual but a great Democrat as well. His leadership will be missed," said Ivan Holmes, Chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party.

"Mildren came by the Democratic Headquarters a few months ago and we had a lengthy discussion about him running for statewide office," Holmes said.

"He felt like the time might be right for him to again run. The only thing holding him back was he wanted to be sure his cancer was in remission," Holmes said.

"I talked with him again a couple of months later and he said that it looked like he would need additional treatment," Holmes said.

"Jack was one of the most upbeat individuals I have ever met and we had a long discussion about he direction the Democratic Party needed to go. He was looking forward to once again getting involved in a state-wide race," Holmes said. "He will leave a real void in our party," Holmes added.

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JACK MILDREN DIES OF CANCER

Former Lt. Governor Jack Mildren died tonight of stomach cancer. Sources report that family members confirmed Mildren's death. It came just two weeks after it was reported the stomach cancer he had fought for two years had returned.

He was 58.

His death came as a surprise since he had been on the air in recent days doing sports talk shows in Oklahoma City.

He had been undergoing treatment at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Democrat Leader Danny Morgan released a statement on behalf of House Democrats regarding Mildren’s passing.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Lieutenant Governor Jack Mildren’s family tonight,” said Morgan, D- Prague. “Oklahoma has lost one its greatest ambassadors tonight. We will always remember his sports heroics, his accomplishments as a public servant and his dedication to his wife and children. Tonight we mourn the loss of a great Oklahoman.”

Larry Jack Mildren was born on October 10, 1949, in Kingsville, Texas.

He attended Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas, leading the Cougars to the Class 4A state championship game in 1967 against Austin Reagan High School. In one of the most memorable moments in Texas high school football history, with time running out and Cooper down by a single point, Mildren drove the Cougars to the Reagan one-yard line, only to be stopped short of the goal line on a quarterback sneak as time expired.

In football, Mildren is perhaps best known as the "Godfather of the Wishbone" going back to his quarterbacking days at the University of Oklahoma (1969-71).

Mildren set records in his 1971 senior season that have since been exceeded. The Sooners posted an 11-1 record, with the wishbone averaging a remarkable 472.4 yards rushing per game. Mildren set records for most rushing yards in a season (1,140; 1971), most career touchdown passes (25), and season passing efficiency (209.0; 1971). That same season, OU fell just short of a national championship, losing 35-31 in Norman to eventual champ the University of Nebraska in what was billed as the Game of the Century.

Mildren was named both All-American quarterback and Academic All-American his senior season. He was also named the 1972 Sugar Bowl MVP after the Sooners' 40-22 victory over the Auburn, a game OU led 31-0 at halftime.

After his collegiate days, Mildren joined the ranks of the pros for three seasons, playing defensive back for the Baltimore Colts and the New England Patriots.

In 1990, Mildren became Oklahoma's 22nd Lieutenant Governor, a post he held until 1995. In 1994, he ran for governor, losing to Republican Frank Keating.

Mildren served as the Vice-Chairman for the Arvest Bank Group, and as a sports commentator for Jox 930 WKY.

Mildren and his wife have three children; Leigh Woody (married to Russell Woody), Lauren Ford (married to Adam Ford) and Andrew Mildren (married to Caroline Mildren). Leigh and Drew reside in Oklahoma City while Lauren and Adam reside in Washington D.C. He also has a grandson, Jacob Mildren Woody.

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Jack Mildren's Cancer Takes Serious Turn

There's word late this afternoon that former Lt. Governor Jack Mildren's battle with stomach cancer has taken a serious turn. Mildren, a former University of Oklahoma quarterback who ran for governor following his term as lieutenant governor, was diagnosed two years ago and treated; the cancer apparently returned recently and just two weeks ago, it was revealed he was undergoing new treatment.

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Jack Mildren Treated For Stomach Cancer

Former Lt. Governor Jack Mildren is undergoing treatment for stomach cancer, media writer Mel Bracht reveals in today's edition of The Oklahoman.

Mildren, a sportscaster as well as vice chairman of Arvest Bank, is being treated at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston every three or four weeks. He told Bracht he was diagnosed two years ago after an extended bout of the hiccups. He said he began chemotherapy shortly after being diagnosed.

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