Another Norman star to Iowa State

Norman North’s Beau Blankenship says he will sign a football scholarship letter of intent with Iowa State. Blankenship isn’t the first star tailback from Norman to become a Cyclone.

Gary King was one of the greatest players ever produced by Norman High School. A star tailback as a junior on Norman’s 1961 state championship team, King was even better in 1962 and set several school records that stood well into the 1980s.

King grew up a huge OU fan, and later in life he would pen “An Autumn Remembered,” a nostalgic book about growing up in Norman and following Bud Wilkinson’s legendary Sooners, particularly the undefeated 1956 team.

But not all dreams come true. King spent a year at OU but transferred to Iowa State after his freshman year. He played for the Cyclones, graduated and became a history professor at Rose State College. He’s now retired in Norman and a good friend of mine. We have lunch on occasion.

Maybe soon, or even in February around signing day, I’ll write a column about another Norman-to-Ames migration.