Cecil E. Powell

Funeral service for Cecil E. Powell, 91, of Lawton, were held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Lawton, Ok with Dr. Sonja E. Tobey, senior pastor, officiating.

Mr. Powell passed away on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024.

Burial was at Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home.

Cecil was born on Dec. 10, 1932, in Mountain View, Oklahoma, to Lawrence Jackson and Edna Pearl (Pennycuff) Powell. He was happily married to his wife, Leonita (Walker) Powell, since June 2, 1955. They have two children, Sabrina Barker and Shannon “Ty” Powell. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Brock and Brody Barker, Savannah, Kota, Bo-Brooke, and Zak.

Mr. Powell attended school in Mountain View, graduating in 1950. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Education and his Master’s Degree of Education and Administrator’s Certificate from Southwest State University. He served in the Armed Forces during the Korean War in 1953-1955 and had been an active member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church since 1966.

Cecil has 30 years of service in the public school system, including schools in Altus and Anadarko. He spent the last 12 years of his career at Lawton Public Schools, teaching and coaching at Eisenhower Senior High School and was Head Football Coach, Basketball and Baseball Coach as well as an administrator. During his career, he had the privilege of coaching Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee, Johnny Bench.

He was also bestowed with numerous honors including Oklahoma Baseball Coach of the Year 1963, Oklahoma Basketball Coach of the Year, 1977, induction into the SW Oklahoma Football and Basketball Associations Hall of Fame, and led five teams in high school, American Legion and semi-pro baseball to the State Championships and through his accomplishments, the Cecil Powell Award is given yearly to a student who exemplifies high moral standards and family values in both education and athletics.

He was a popular official of basketball, football, and baseball in Oklahoma elementary, junior high, high school and college level games for over 30 years and holds a lifetime pass from O.S.S.A.A.

Following his retirement from the school system, Mr. Powell was elected to the Lawton Public Schools Board of Education, serving as president from 1994-1998 and then served two terms as mayor of the City of Lawton, making numerous strides for the betterment of the community and promoting cost saving, innovative projects saving tax payers millions of dollars. He also received many awards and honors including the Mayor of the Year, State of Oklahoma 2003, Governor Nigh Arms and Humanities Award, Lawton Chamber of Commerce and Industry Wayne Gilley Award for promoting tourism and economic development 2002-2003 and the Patriotic Civilian Service Certificate of Appreciation from Department of the Army. He was also appointed by former Governor Keating as the past member of the Oklahoma Capital Complex and Centennial Commemoration Commission and the Oklahoma Workforce Development Board.

He built Pappy’s Corner, a family business, in 1982. As a popular convenience store, it provides a variety if his famous barbeque dinners, burgers, and subs. The facility also includes a three-bay car wash, a three-bay oil change and gas station, and 60 mini-storage rental units.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his son-in-law, Mark Barker.

Mr. Powell would say “I know there is a race going on for a state championship and that is important, but the greatest race of all is to Jesus.” He also believed that, “We can because we think we can” which was from his favorite Bible verse, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” and he lived by the motto “One Day at a Time.”