Percy Locey
Encyclopedia
Percy P. Locey was a college football player, a college football coach, and a college athletic director
, the latter at Oregon State College
from 1937-1947. Locey was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
in 1981 and into the Oregon State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
. Returning to Oregon State in 1921, he became one of OSU's outstanding tackles, lettering in 1915 and in 1921-23 and was team captain in 1923. Locey was chosen to play in the 1925 East-West Shrine Game
for his on-field achievements. Locey also served as student body president his senior years at OSU (1923–1924).
In 1926, Locey played football at the Olympic Club
in San Francisco. He was a member of the Olympic's "Winged-O" football eleven that handed the University of California
's "Wonder Team" their first loss in five seasons.
in San Francisco. In his first year with the Olympic Club, his team posted an undefeated season, with wins over future Pac 10 schools Stanford
and California. After the success of that season, Locey was promoted to head coach of all sports at the athletic club. He was named the coach of the West team in the annual East-West Shrine game in 1929, though his team was defeated that year, 19-7.
His next head coaching position was at the University of Denver
, where he spent four seasons coaching in Denver and posted an overall record of 20-14-3, never having a losing season.
to become the athletic director
at his alma mater. His most significant achievement as athletic director may have occurred shortly after the Beavers won the Pacific Coast Conference
title in 1941, earning the right to play in the 1942 Rose Bowl
against Duke
. As Beaver fans hurried to buy tickets to the game in Pasadena
, the attack on Pearl Harbor
by Japan on December 7 soon put the game's future in doubt. The Army canceled the game, citing the potential of the game as a target, leaving Locey and Oregon State to scramble to find an alternative site. Locey chose Duke's home campus in Durham, North Carolina
, and then oversaw the refund and reissue of game and train tickets as well as hotel reservations for the Beaver faithful. Despite being 3-1 underdogs, the Beavers upset Duke, 20-16, in what remains the Beavers' only Rose Bowl victory.
Locey stepped down as athletic director in 1947.
in 1981 and the Oregon State University Hall of Fame in 1990, both for his football prowess. He died in Corvallis in 1981. His grandson, Jay Locey
, is currently the assistant head coach for the Oregon State Beavers football team.
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
, the latter at Oregon State College
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
from 1937-1947. Locey was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame honors Oregon athletes, teams, coaches, and others who have made a significant contribution to sports in Oregon. The first class was inducted in 1980, with new inductees added in the fall...
in 1981 and into the Oregon State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
Playing career
Locey first enrolled at Oregon State in 1915 and excelled at football as a freshman. His career and education, however, would be put on hold for a short period during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Returning to Oregon State in 1921, he became one of OSU's outstanding tackles, lettering in 1915 and in 1921-23 and was team captain in 1923. Locey was chosen to play in the 1925 East-West Shrine Game
East-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
for his on-field achievements. Locey also served as student body president his senior years at OSU (1923–1924).
In 1926, Locey played football at the Olympic Club
Olympic Club
The Olympic Club is a San Francisco, California, athletic club and private social club with three golf courses located at San Francisco's border with Daly City, California. The club's main "City Clubhouse" is located in downtown San Francisco. The club's "Lakeside Clubhouse" is located just north...
in San Francisco. He was a member of the Olympic's "Winged-O" football eleven that handed the University of California
California Golden Bears
The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley...
's "Wonder Team" their first loss in five seasons.
Coaching career
In 1928, Locey took over as the head football coach at the Olympic ClubOlympic Club
The Olympic Club is a San Francisco, California, athletic club and private social club with three golf courses located at San Francisco's border with Daly City, California. The club's main "City Clubhouse" is located in downtown San Francisco. The club's "Lakeside Clubhouse" is located just north...
in San Francisco. In his first year with the Olympic Club, his team posted an undefeated season, with wins over future Pac 10 schools Stanford
Stanford Cardinal
The Stanford Cardinal is the nickname of the athletic teams at Stanford University.-Nickname and mascot history:Following its win over Cal in the first-ever Big Game in 1892, the color cardinal was picked as the primary color of Stanford's athletic teams...
and California. After the success of that season, Locey was promoted to head coach of all sports at the athletic club. He was named the coach of the West team in the annual East-West Shrine game in 1929, though his team was defeated that year, 19-7.
His next head coaching position was at the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
, where he spent four seasons coaching in Denver and posted an overall record of 20-14-3, never having a losing season.
Athletic director
In 1937, Locey returned to CorvallisCorvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
to become the athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
at his alma mater. His most significant achievement as athletic director may have occurred shortly after the Beavers won the Pacific Coast Conference
Pacific Coast Conference
The Pacific Coast Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States which existed from 1915 to 1959. Though the Pacific-12 Conference claims the PCC's history as part of its own, the older league had a completely different charter and was disbanded in 1959 due to a major crisis...
title in 1941, earning the right to play in the 1942 Rose Bowl
1942 Rose Bowl
The 1942 Rose Bowl was the 28th Rose Bowl game. Originally scheduled to be played in the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, it was moved to Durham, North Carolina, due to fears about an attack by the Japanese on the West Coast of the United States following the attack on Pearl Harbor...
against Duke
Duke Blue Devils
Duke University's 26 varsity sports teams, known as the Blue Devils, compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The name comes from the French "les Diables Bleus" or "the Blue Devils," which was the nickname given during World War I to the Chasseurs Alpins, the French Alpine light infantry...
. As Beaver fans hurried to buy tickets to the game in Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
by Japan on December 7 soon put the game's future in doubt. The Army canceled the game, citing the potential of the game as a target, leaving Locey and Oregon State to scramble to find an alternative site. Locey chose Duke's home campus in Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
, and then oversaw the refund and reissue of game and train tickets as well as hotel reservations for the Beaver faithful. Despite being 3-1 underdogs, the Beavers upset Duke, 20-16, in what remains the Beavers' only Rose Bowl victory.
Locey stepped down as athletic director in 1947.
Legacy
Locey was named to the Oregon Sports Hall of FameOregon Sports Hall of Fame
The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame honors Oregon athletes, teams, coaches, and others who have made a significant contribution to sports in Oregon. The first class was inducted in 1980, with new inductees added in the fall...
in 1981 and the Oregon State University Hall of Fame in 1990, both for his football prowess. He died in Corvallis in 1981. His grandson, Jay Locey
Jay Locey
Jay Locey is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He is currently the assistant head coach at Oregon State University...
, is currently the assistant head coach for the Oregon State Beavers football team.