![]() J Russell Tribble remembers each year for the Christmas Variety Show, Ambler would gather several senior athletes, have them dress as hillbillies and perform “Razorback Steak.” The chorus went something like, “Now if you think it's tender, you're crazy. “It hurt,” said Steve Black, from another graduating class. Ambler would form his sizeable knuckles into his version of a monadnock hill formation and hit students atop the head. Meanwhile, classmate Kirby Keith received many “monadnocks” from Ambler for cutting up in class. He'd say calmly, “Next time jump off the leg that stings.” Then, while demonstrating how the bicep was actually two muscles, he rolled my bicep as I watched it cramp up in a big knot and shiver, while everyone standing around gasped.”Ĭlassmate Kerri Gilmore Harris, recalls Ambler standing under the basketball goal and slapping players' legs if they went off the wrong one on a lay up. Another time, he filled my hands with bubbles that were filled with oxygen and ignited them, which lit up a huge fire ball to my surprise. He walked up behind me one day in the hall by the cafeteria and picked me up by my head and kept walking as I dangled from his frying pan hands. Remembers my 1977 classmate Chuck Moon, “Bob was full of surprises. “A fine gentlemen” … “Big Bob” … “Gentle Giant” and “favorite teacher” were common to many posts. Ambler influenced thousands of students and athletes over his 30 years (1952-1982) as a science teacher and coach with Midwest City Public Schools. The outpouring on Faceback of sympathy and memories has been extraordinary. ![]() A WWII vet, Ambler went on the GI Bill to the University of Arkansas, where he lettered in football, basketball and track. ![]() Though four decades have passed since I graduated high school, I can close my eyes and see him perfectly, jogging his signature mile in the setting sun at the close of one of our countless spring track practices.Īt 6 feet 8, and upwards of 225 pounds for most of his life, Coach Ambler had a larger than life stature - and spirit. My beloved Midwest City High School track and basketball coach Bob Ambler passed away on Friday night at age 93. ![]()
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