Ken Mendenhall

Ken Mendenhall was born on August 11, 1948. Wikipedia says he was born in Enid, Oklahoma; Grokipedia gives both Enid and Stillwater. He grew up in Pawhuska and moved to Enid before his sophomore year. He won two state titles at Enid High School, was named Oklahoma Lineman of the Year and a high school All-American, and made the Daily Oklahoman's All-Century team in 1999. He started three years on OU's offensive line (1967–1969), at guard and then center. He was a second-team All-American in 1968 and 1969, blocking for Heisman winner Steve Owens, and OU won the 1968 Orange Bowl. Atlanta drafted him in the fifth round, 116th overall, in 1970. He joined the Baltimore Colts in 1970 and stayed through 1981. He held the team record for consecutive starts at center for 25 years and won the Ed Block Courage Award in 1980. He entered the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2018 and later went into ministry. The Daily Oklahoman wrote on January 28, 1970 (NewsBank page 29): "Ward's teammate, defensive tackle Jerry Sherk, was picked by the Cleveland Browns in the second round and Oklahoma center-guard Ken Mendenhall was selected by Atlanta in the fifth."