DALE E. "GENE" O'CONNOR

Fort Dodge - Dale E. "Gene" O'Connor, 75, died February 27, 2011 at Fort Dodge. He was born on January 12, 1936 at Hoisington, the son of John William and Nola (Colhour) O'Connor.

He was a proud member of Beta Theta Pi, Blue Key Club, and president of his senior class at Kansas State University where attended on a full track scholarship and was a five-time Big Eight hurdler champion. He missed qualifying for the 1956 Olympics by one hundredth of a second. He competed in the Air Force World wide in 1960. He was a men's outdoor All American in 1956 and a Men's indoor individual hurdler champion in 1957.He was inducted into the Kansas State Athletic Hall Of Fame in 1995 and the Drake Relays Athletes Hall of Fame in 1959.

He earned an MBA from the Wharton School of business. He worked in banking in the Kansas City area for over twenty five years. In 1991, he returned to Hoisington to teach and coach high school students. He was also an instructor and trustee at Barton County Community College.

Gene lived at Kansas State Soldiers Home for the last six years. He was a devoted volunteer and active in the community until his health declined. He loved his church, his family, and his country. Commissioned in the United State Air Force from 1958 to 1961, during which time he attended Interceptor and Weapons Controller training. He remained tremendously patriotic and was proud of his service.

He is survived by two daughters, Megan and husband Bill Brownlee, Prairie Village; Shannon O'Connor, Centennial, Colorado; five grandchildren, Becca and Will Brownlee and Dan, Claire and Reece Christian. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Bill. The family would like to thank the Soldiers Home for providing excellent and compassionate care to Gene.

Inurnment service will be held on Friday, March 25, 2011 at 10:30 AM at Kansas Veterans Cemetery, Fort Dodge, with Rev. Dick Robins presiding. Military rites will be provided by Howard Gotschall Post # 1714, V.F.W. of Dodge City. Memorial services will follow at Halsey Hall Activity Center in Fort Dodge at 1:30 PM Friday with Dr. Billy Manning presiding. There is no visitation as cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to Kansas Soldiers Home in Fort Dodge in care of Swaim Funeral Home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.