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Rick Bryan, beloved by his community
Coweta pays its respects to Rick Bryan, whose impact and influence was felt by many in town.

FAVORITE SON
Rick Bryan: Coweta native always maintained his small-town roots even while he attained football stardom at OU and in the NFL.
 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 7/31/2009  2:24 AM
Last Modified: 7/31/2009  8:16 AM

 COWETA — The town wept.

Coweta's favorite son was laid to rest on Thursday as rain poured from the sky and mixed with tears from thousands of mourners, puddling into soggy recollections of a legendary life well-lived, but cut far too short.

Rick Bryan, the country boy football star who never left his small town roots, died of heart failure Saturday, asleep in his recliner at home on his Coweta ranch. He was 47.

This mountain of a man, this teddy bear tough guy, was an immovable pillar in his community. Census estimates place Coweta's 2006 population around 8,600, and, one resident said, "everyone in the town loved him." But Bryan's impact on Coweta will remain for generations.

"If it hadn't been for him, my boy wouldn't be going to college and he wouldn't be playing college football," said Andy Jones, whose son, T.J., is off this fall to Northeastern A&M Junior College on a football scholarship after receiving Bryan's volunteer coaching at Coweta High School.

"He's the greatest man I've ever met," Andy Jones said. "I've never seen anybody that was more humble, that had more ability, was more giving. He was the greatest man I've ever known. He never met anybody he didn't like."

Some 2,500 friends, family and fans packed into Coweta High's gymnasium for a 114-minute funeral ceremony that recalled Bryan's roots, his playing career as a defensive tackle at the University of Oklahoma (he was three-time All-Big Eight and two-time All-American), his 10-year career with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons (he was a first-round draft choice, NFC defensive rookie of the year in '84 and NFL defensive lineman of the year in '87), and his post-playing career as a volunteer football coach and successful soybean, wheat and melon farmer and cattle rancher.

A neighbor of Bryan's stopped for a quick word but, like his much younger friend, wished to stay out of the spotlight and declined to give his name.

"Picture this," the neighbor said, "here we were not too long ago, two big ol' boys down in the dirt on our hands and knees, planting cucumbers."

Barry Switzer visited the family on Sunday and, after a last-minute change of plans, raced through the rain to help officiate. Former OU assistant coach Merv Johnson, who recruited Bryan, called him "the most unpretentious man I've ever met."

Cowetans couldn't agree more.

"He was the same man every day, no matter what," said Harlan Wheeler. "His brothers are the same way. His dad was that way. Same, every day."

Bryan leaves behind wife Shelby (their 27th wedding anniversary is Friday), son Mike, daughters Kristin and Jenni, mother Sandra, brothers Mitch and Steve and sister Terri Pearcy.

As Bryan's family tries to piece together life without him, perhaps their greatest solace can come from knowing the unforgettable influence he had on squadrons of Coweta youth. He was instrumental in forming the Coweta Little League Football Booster Club (for years he served as president) and later became a volunteer coach at Coweta High School.

While Bryan was president of the booster club, Donnie Yocham was a coach.

"He came back to this town after being somebody and devoted his life to helping all these kids," Yocham said. "You just can't find anybody like that."

Bryan told friends he always wanted to own 2,000 acres, and only recently completed the purchase that boosted his ranch to that figure.

His life's dream, everyone said, was to be a farmer and rancher, and, apparently, to stay involved in the lives of Coweta's youth.

"They didn't pay (NFL salaries) like they do now," Yocham said, "but he made enough money that he didn't have to come back here and do nothing. He could've sat around, invested his money and spent all his time with his kids, and instead he chose to spend it with people like me and help keep kids off the street doing things they shouldn't be doing."

"He was amazing," said Andy Jones. "And to look at him, to see him driving down the road in his beat-up truck or see him out hauling hay, you wouldn't think he was any different than anybody else. And to him, he wasn't. We all looked up to him and thought he was something great, and he was, to him, just Rick. Just Ricky."

Said Yocham, "You won't see one like him again. You won't see anyone who goes off and becomes somebody and has money and comes back to this town, without their head swelling up, and gives everything back their community. You just ain't gonna find people like that."

John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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15 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Crowd of 2,500 comes to honor Rick Bryan," which was published on 7/30/2009.
Report Comment
T!ger,, Tulsa (7/30/2009 4:25:59 PM)
RIP Rick! You were a great player and a great guy!
Report Comment
LostboyfromKS, Tulsa (7/30/2009 4:28:20 PM)
RIP! Hook Em Horns!
Report Comment
HOGRIDER, BA (7/30/2009 4:30:43 PM)
RIP Rick. You will be remembered by many.
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burgerman, Tulsa (7/30/2009 4:39:46 PM)
maybe they will have his funeral at the BOK center
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T!ger,, Tulsa (7/30/2009 4:56:53 PM)
LOSTboy,

How bout we hook you on a closet and hang you there. Have some sympathy for the guy. Even if it was a longhorn player that died, I would feel bad for the guy! Have some feelings for once!
Report Comment
LostboyfromKS, Tulsa (7/30/2009 5:07:34 PM)
I said RIP. Isn't that feelings?
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HospRx, Broken Arrow (7/30/2009 5:59:14 PM)
I remember Rick when he refereed basketball games in the spring tourneys in Coweta. He was also a very nice man to the kids(me at the time included). RIP.
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webparent, Tulsa (7/30/2009 6:30:32 PM)
All men must die....few will live on after they are gone....Rick Bryan will live forever in the heart of the state of Oklahoma.

RIP friend, father and hero.....we will remember!
Report Comment
Ol City Boy, (7/30/2009 8:27:50 PM)
Mr. Hoover, you did a wonderful job in covering details of the funeral service. I didn't attend, but I almost got cold chills from gaining the feeling and atmospherics that must have existed at the service.

Too, as an unabashed fan of Barry Switzer, you have to admire his efforts to get to the service in a timely manner. Kudos to the OHP trooper who displayed a most human side in assisting Coach Switzer.
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boxcar mikey, sapulpa (7/31/2009 5:44:10 AM)
(THE REAL DEAL) GOD BLESSED US ALL
Report Comment
Arbythree, Tulsa (7/31/2009 9:46:59 AM)
Rest in peace Rick.
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SUEA, MESQUITE (7/31/2009 10:48:55 AM)
I remember '83 when the top ranked Huskers came to Norman.......believe the Sooners had 3 or 4 losses...they weren't going bowling and ol Rick said this game was their bowl game.....Nebraska 28-21 but Bryan and the defense played lights out....was a pleasure to watch you...Thank you, Mr. Bryan........
Report Comment
Pokes fan, (7/31/2009 12:45:36 PM)
What a great sports role model....we should have more like him.
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Few Clothes, Austin, TX (7/31/2009 5:12:00 PM)
Only The Good Die Young.

Billy Joel
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okie ridgerunner, Small Country Town State Line (7/31/2009 8:59:24 PM)
A great man. my condolence to family and all.
 

 
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