Published: March 24, 2008 09:34 pm            

Alva Leon Paine

Published 3-25-08

Enid, OK — A graveside service for Alva Leon Paine, 88, will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 26, 2008, in Memorial Park Cemetery with Rev. Jerry Galbreath officiating under the direction of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home.

Alva Leon Paine went home Saturday, March 22, 2008. He was born on a farm outside of Harrah, OK in 1919, the next to the youngest of 10 boys and two girls.

You might think that losing his father to murder and then having a fire destroy the family home would traumatize a young boy. But Allie Paine was tough stuff, destined to be captain of the team, not only in sports but also in church and community.

One day his father drove a wagonload of cotton into town to sell it and when it could not be immediately unloaded he took the money and planned to return for the wagon later. While he was walking home he was robbed and stabbed to death.

Left with 12 children, his mother moved into town, but when Allie’s little brother accidentally set the house on fire, she moved them to Oklahoma City into a house large enough to rent rooms. The children worked to support the family. Only nine, Allie sold newspapers on the street.

Interested in sports from “when I could crawl,” Allie was delighted to find a YMCA three blocks from home. Thus began an active association with the “Y,” which didn’t end until he gave up his noon basketball games in Enid at the age of 83. Low blood pressure was the cause, but Allie said it was because for the first time in his life he missed three shots in a row.

In both junior and senior high, Allie starred in football, basketball and baseball. He caught seven passes in the All-State football game but at OU Coach Drake would not let him go out for football. He was captain of the basketball team in junior high and all three years at Central High. He was captain of the OU freshman team, which regularly beat the varsity, and captain of the OU Sooners his sophomore, junior and senior seasons, playing for a National Championship in New York City in 1947. He is one of only six OU basketball players in the 118 year history of OU to be named as an NCAA first-team consensus All-American. He graduated with a degree in business and education while playing basketball, taking a full load of classes and working the night shift at an airplane factory, finding time for only three to four hours of sleep a day. Tough stuff, indeed. He played professional basketball with the San Diego Dons and served in the U.S. Army, receiving an honorable discharge after injuring his knee.

At the airplane factory he was boss of an attractive young woman, Pauline Jones of Hobart, who became his wife of 54 years. Allie said “I was her boss and then she was mine.”

For six years Allie and Pauline made their home in Kansas with Allie coaching one year at Arkansas City and five years at Wellington. In 1953 they moved to Enid, OK where Allie coached basketball and baseball at Phillips University and earned his master’s degree in business. In 1955 he entered business with Robert R. Nigh and for 35 years served as president of Robert R. Nigh Associates and vice president of Industrial Iron Works and Logmaster Services. He was a member of University Christian Place Church where he served as deacon, elder, Sunday school teacher, and member and president of the church board. He delivered communion and meals to shut-ins and the homeless. He was a member and president of the American Business Club and served 18 years on the Enid Board of Education, serving a term as president. He was a Boy Scout troop leader and Little League baseball coach winning a state baseball title in 1962 and going undefeated. He umpired high school football games and was an honorary Lieutenant Governor of the State of Oklahoma. He resided in Enid for 53 years, moving to Norman in 2007.

He continued his relationship with is beloved Sooners as a season football ticket holder since 1947. He and his brother Melvin had not missed an OU home game for over 60 years and attended most away games. He admired Barry Switzer for overcoming his own difficult childhood and Steve Owens for his graciousness and generosity at the 50th reunion of the basketball team. He served as president of the OU basketball Tip-In Club. In later years he took pride in the Sooner women and the good sportsmanship they displayed while competing intensely, especially the softball team and Coach Gasso.

He eschewed material goods and collected that most dear to him, friends and experiences. If you were sick, in trouble or needed help, Allie was there. If you wished to experience the sheer joy of being, Allie was the perfect companion. He was a master of bridge, virtually unbeatable at pitch, dominoes and checkers and the world’s best marble shooter. In high school he could throw a football 50 yards ... underhanded. He once decked a golden gloves boxer ... twice, and at the age of 62 won a basketball bet by making six out of 10 shots ... from half-court. In his late 50s he chased down a KU student who grabbed his OU cap and ran before a football game in Lawrence. The kid said everytime he stopped to catch his breath, he turned around and Allie was still coming. Allie told him “Sooners never quit.”

Gifted mentally and spiritually as well as physically, he possessed intelligence and wisdom that allowed him full understanding. A gentle soul who never held a grudge, he was quick to forgive, and had infinite patience. Every day he worked to improve himself body, mind and spirit.

He spoiled and loved his family: daughter, Paula Jones and husband Daryl of Lampe, MO, son, Allie Jr. and wife Teresa of Norman, OK, granddaughter, Cathy Sheets and husband Daryl of Winfield, KS, and daughters, Shannon and Sunni, granddaughter, Susan Weiser and husband Tim of Manhattan, KS, and daughter and son, Melanie and Rudy, granddaughter Marcia Bartleson and husband Mike of San Antonio, TX, and daughter and son Malorie and Mitch, grandson David Winn and wife Cissy of Bellaire, TX, and sons, Spencer and Andrew, grandson Allie Paine III, wife Jenny, and sons Garrett and Allie Paine IV of Salina, KS and granddaughter, Ashley Paine of Norman, OK.

Although his accomplishments are impressive, life hadn’t always been easy for Allie, but you wouldn’t know it from his upbeat attitude. A negative thought never entered his mind. A discouraging word never passed his lips. The basketball, business and church board captain reminds us of a line from the poem Invictus: “I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul ... I am the captain of my soul.”

Memorials may be made in his memory to Salvation Army with Brown-Cummings Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.

Condolences may be made online to brown-cummings.com.

(Paid Obit 3-25-1)