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  • Don McClanen, who currently lives in Maryland, stands beside a bust of himself unveiled on Friday at Eastern Oklahoma State College’s Wilburton Campus. The bust honors McClanen’s vision in taking the first steps to begin the Fellowship of Christian Athletes while he served as Eastern’s athletic director and basketball coach in 1954. EOSC photo

    EOSC
December 8, 2008

Hundreds turn out to honor FCA founder

Twenty former basketball players from the early 1950s, mayors from McAlester and Wilburton, the Oklahoma lieutenant governor along with more than 800 others gathered Friday for a tribute to the founding of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes by a former Eastern Oklahoma State College Athletic Director and basketball coach.

Don McClanen, 83, was the first to coach in the new gymnasium on Eastern’s Wilburton campus in 1951. He pointed in the direction where Eastern coaches still pace the floor and admitted he “stomped his feet . . . right over there” at his players back then, just as coaches still pace and stomp today.

McClanen formulated his dream for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes while at Eastern.

When he stopped at his old office in the Eastern gym, his only comment was that “I don’t remember it being that small.” But the office hasn’t changed since 1951.

He said his dream did not just appear all at once. It was a result of a “lot of time as a student and coach.”

Oklahoma Director of FCA, John O’Dell, said the organization evolved because “Don listened to the whispers of God” to formulate an organization over time that today involves more than two million athletes around the globe.

On April 21, 1954, McClanen sent 19 letters to prominent sports figures across America regarding the idea of developing an organization which would provide an opportunity for those in athletics to speak for Christ as well as model wholesome principles, good character and clean living to the youth of the nation.

“I remember starting the letter by saying you don’t know who I am, but I am Don McClanen, the athletic director and head basketball coach of Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton,” he had said earlier.

The first meeting of the organization that was to become known as FCA was known as the “First Huddle” held at the flagpole in front of Eastern’s Library building.

As a tribute to McClanen and his founding of FCA at Eastern, Wilburton Mayor Stephen Brinlee presented McClanen with a proclamation declaring Dec. 5 as Don McClanen day in Wilburton.

Gov. Brad Henry sent a proclamation by Lt. Gov. Jari Askins declaring Dec 5 as Don McClanen Day in Oklahoma.

Eastern FCA Student Chapter President Kelbie Kennedy from Clayton unveiled a “larger than life” bronze bust of McClanen which is to be placed in the life and learning center being built in mid-campus.

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