Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Family Mourning The Loss Of Dale Roark
December 16, 2020 | Cowboy Baseball, Cowboy Basketball
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State family is mourning the loss of former two-sport standout Dr. Dale Roark, 90, who died on Nov. 27 in Stillwater.
Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Roark came to Oklahoma A&M in 1950 and immediately excelled on the basketball court and the baseball diamond. OSU's 1953 student-body president, Roark's lifelong love of his alma mater never ended, and he is still one of just three Cowboy basketball players to receive his doctorate from OSU.
A January enrollee in 1950, Roark joined Mr. Henry Iba's varsity squad at the semester break of the 1950-51 season and helped the Aggies advance to the Final Four. He also joined the baseball team under head coach Toby Greene and led the squad in stolen bases (11) and walks (25) in his first season. By 1953, Roark would be named the team captain for both teams.
In 1954, Roark and his fellow basketball seniors, All-American Bob Mattick and Tom Fuller, recorded a win in every Missouri Valley Conference arena. Sixty four years would pass before the next Cowboys would earn a victory in every conference venue – Jeffrey Carroll and Mitchell Solomon in 2018.
Over the course of his basketball career, Roark piled up 268 points (3.9 per game) and 141 rebounds (2.1 per game) in 68 career contests. For Cowboy baseball, he batted .296 for his career, with 7 home runs, 34 RBIs, 11 doubles, 20 stolen bases, and 52 walks.
In 1956, Roark decided against professional baseball in order to return to Oklahoma A&M, where he became a graduate assistant basketball coach for his mentor, Mr. Iba. It was then he met Joyce Ann Streeter, and two married on December 21, 1957.
After finishing his Master's degree, he taught business education courses and coached football, basketball, and baseball at high schools and junior colleges in Oklahoma and Kansas. He was a life-long learner, earning his Doctorate in education from OSU in 1973.
In 1976, he was hired as OSU's assistant baseball coach and first athletic academic counselor. His role would eventually grow into OSU's Director of Athletic Counseling, a position he held until his retirement in 1996.
Roark was preceded in death by his sister Thelma Ahrensberg and his brothers Sonny, Sherman, and Gary. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joyce, sons Tim (wife Darci), Chris (wife Leslie), Joel (wife Terri), daughter Dee Dee (husband Russ Muhlbach), and grandchildren Graham, Hannah, Griffith, Chelcie, Kailee, Nate, Sean, Jared, Kyle, Ryan, Addison, Libby, and Jaymee.
Memorial services are schedule for 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 19th at the University Heights Baptist Church in Stillwater, and the services can be seen by clicking here.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations are made to Karman Hospice of Stillwater, the Stillwater Art Guild, or University Heights Baptist Church.
Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Roark came to Oklahoma A&M in 1950 and immediately excelled on the basketball court and the baseball diamond. OSU's 1953 student-body president, Roark's lifelong love of his alma mater never ended, and he is still one of just three Cowboy basketball players to receive his doctorate from OSU.
A January enrollee in 1950, Roark joined Mr. Henry Iba's varsity squad at the semester break of the 1950-51 season and helped the Aggies advance to the Final Four. He also joined the baseball team under head coach Toby Greene and led the squad in stolen bases (11) and walks (25) in his first season. By 1953, Roark would be named the team captain for both teams.
In 1954, Roark and his fellow basketball seniors, All-American Bob Mattick and Tom Fuller, recorded a win in every Missouri Valley Conference arena. Sixty four years would pass before the next Cowboys would earn a victory in every conference venue – Jeffrey Carroll and Mitchell Solomon in 2018.
Over the course of his basketball career, Roark piled up 268 points (3.9 per game) and 141 rebounds (2.1 per game) in 68 career contests. For Cowboy baseball, he batted .296 for his career, with 7 home runs, 34 RBIs, 11 doubles, 20 stolen bases, and 52 walks.
In 1956, Roark decided against professional baseball in order to return to Oklahoma A&M, where he became a graduate assistant basketball coach for his mentor, Mr. Iba. It was then he met Joyce Ann Streeter, and two married on December 21, 1957.
After finishing his Master's degree, he taught business education courses and coached football, basketball, and baseball at high schools and junior colleges in Oklahoma and Kansas. He was a life-long learner, earning his Doctorate in education from OSU in 1973.
In 1976, he was hired as OSU's assistant baseball coach and first athletic academic counselor. His role would eventually grow into OSU's Director of Athletic Counseling, a position he held until his retirement in 1996.
Roark was preceded in death by his sister Thelma Ahrensberg and his brothers Sonny, Sherman, and Gary. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joyce, sons Tim (wife Darci), Chris (wife Leslie), Joel (wife Terri), daughter Dee Dee (husband Russ Muhlbach), and grandchildren Graham, Hannah, Griffith, Chelcie, Kailee, Nate, Sean, Jared, Kyle, Ryan, Addison, Libby, and Jaymee.
Memorial services are schedule for 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 19th at the University Heights Baptist Church in Stillwater, and the services can be seen by clicking here.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations are made to Karman Hospice of Stillwater, the Stillwater Art Guild, or University Heights Baptist Church.
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