Steve Owens

Steve Owens was born in Gore, Oklahoma, and raised in Miami, Oklahoma, where a sculpture of him stands near the high school field and a main road bears his name. At Oklahoma (1967–1969) he was a three-time first-team All-Big Eight pick and twice the Big Eight Player of the Year. In 1969 he was a unanimous All-American and won the Heisman Trophy, OU's second after Billy Vessels. His 57 touchdowns were OU's career record until DeMarco Murray passed him in 2010, and his 4,041 rushing yards still rank third. Detroit drafted him in the first round, 19th overall, in 1970. In 1971 he became the first Lion to run for 1,000 yards in a season and made the Pro Bowl. In 2006 OU put up a bronze statue of him. His younger brother Tinker also starred at OU. The Daily Oklahoman wrote on January 28, 1970 (NewsBank page 29): "Steve Owens was the first round choice of the Detroit Lions in the National Football League college draft Tuesday but two Oklahoma teammates, Steve Zabel and Jim Files, were selected before the Heisman Trophy winner."