Bobcats Lose a Pair of Legends
8/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | General
Two men who played key roles in building Montana State's storied athletic legacy passed away over the weekend.
Bill Ogle of Bozeman, who played for Brick Breeden's Rocky Mountain Conference Championship basketball teams in 1936 and 1937, and Bob Rudio of Clancy, a member of the school's 1956 National Championship football team, each came to Montana State from Montana high schools, and each put together careers that would land them in the Wendy's MSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Ogle died on Saturday, August 12. After graduating from Montana State, Ogle taught ROTC at the school, and during World War II at various military instalations throughout the west. The long-time owner-operator of Kenyon Noble Hardware in Bozeman, Ogle was a local civic leader for nearly a half-century. He was one of the key members in the operation of Bozeman's American Legion baseball team, Bridger Bowl, and Valley View Golf Club. He was a long-time member of the MSU-ASA.
Ogle earned All-Rocky Mountain Conference honors in 1937, the last season that league featured national powers such as BYU, Utah, Utah State and Wyoming. He helped lead the Bobcats to the "old" Rocky Mountain Conference's final championship that spring, averaging 15.2 points a season that year. MSU's Hall of Fame Room in Brick Breeden Fieldhouse is named in his honor.
Rudio died on Sunday, August 13. An engineer geology graduate, he served in the Army and Army reserves for 20 years. He worked as an engineer for Morrison Maierle, the Department of State Lands Hardrock Mining Bureau, WESTECH, and the State Department of Natural Resources. He was widely respected in his professional field, and in his later years became a passionate golfer, registering a pair of holes-in-one at Bill Roberts Golf Course.
Rudio was an all-state football player at Helena High, scoring 21 touchdowns, and earned the state broad jump title as a senior. He helped lead Montana State to the 1956 National Championship, lettered and finished as one of the team's top two rushers in his final three seasons, and helped lead the Cats to four straight wins over Montana. Rudio holds the MSU school record with 6.3 yards per carry, is 10th in rushing touchdowns (17), and 20th in career rushing yards. His 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Omaha U. in 1958 is the 10th-longest in school history.
The Bobcat Athletics family mourns the loss of both men, who were outstanding Bobcats throughout their lives, and celebrates their contributions not only to Montana State University but to their communities and professions.
Bill Ogle of Bozeman, who played for Brick Breeden's Rocky Mountain Conference Championship basketball teams in 1936 and 1937, and Bob Rudio of Clancy, a member of the school's 1956 National Championship football team, each came to Montana State from Montana high schools, and each put together careers that would land them in the Wendy's MSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Ogle died on Saturday, August 12. After graduating from Montana State, Ogle taught ROTC at the school, and during World War II at various military instalations throughout the west. The long-time owner-operator of Kenyon Noble Hardware in Bozeman, Ogle was a local civic leader for nearly a half-century. He was one of the key members in the operation of Bozeman's American Legion baseball team, Bridger Bowl, and Valley View Golf Club. He was a long-time member of the MSU-ASA.
Ogle earned All-Rocky Mountain Conference honors in 1937, the last season that league featured national powers such as BYU, Utah, Utah State and Wyoming. He helped lead the Bobcats to the "old" Rocky Mountain Conference's final championship that spring, averaging 15.2 points a season that year. MSU's Hall of Fame Room in Brick Breeden Fieldhouse is named in his honor.
Rudio died on Sunday, August 13. An engineer geology graduate, he served in the Army and Army reserves for 20 years. He worked as an engineer for Morrison Maierle, the Department of State Lands Hardrock Mining Bureau, WESTECH, and the State Department of Natural Resources. He was widely respected in his professional field, and in his later years became a passionate golfer, registering a pair of holes-in-one at Bill Roberts Golf Course.
Rudio was an all-state football player at Helena High, scoring 21 touchdowns, and earned the state broad jump title as a senior. He helped lead Montana State to the 1956 National Championship, lettered and finished as one of the team's top two rushers in his final three seasons, and helped lead the Cats to four straight wins over Montana. Rudio holds the MSU school record with 6.3 yards per carry, is 10th in rushing touchdowns (17), and 20th in career rushing yards. His 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Omaha U. in 1958 is the 10th-longest in school history.
The Bobcat Athletics family mourns the loss of both men, who were outstanding Bobcats throughout their lives, and celebrates their contributions not only to Montana State University but to their communities and professions.
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