In Memoriam

Bill Ownby (1959-2012)



Bill in High School

Bill Ownby was a history/government education major at Wichita State University as a returning adult student.  After working at Koch to provide for his family for much of his life, he eventually realized it was time to get this degree and do what he had always wanted - to teach and coach football.  Bill was someone that everyone in our program seemed to know... and he seemed to know everyone.  He was dedicated to learning and to becoming a teacher.  He was looking forward to beginning his student teaching, possibly at his alma mater Southeast High School.  

Bill was the kind of guy to keep information to himself.  During the spring of 2012 he was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer.  Although the doctors told him that he might only have months to a year to live, his outlook remained optimistic.  He finished the spring 2012 semester, attended classes in the summer of 2012 and began the fall semester as well.  It was apparent that the disease was taking its toll by the fall.  In September, Bill was told his chemotherapy was not successful in treating his cancer, which had doubled in size.  Bill continued to attend classes until it was no longer physically possible. He realized that the end was near and he would not able to continue. In typical Bill fashion he didn't complain or ask for sympathy from anyone in our program. He only sent a curt e-mail explaining to Dr. Krutka that he would have to withdraw.  He died later that month, six months short of finishing his goal.

Please see information on the top right hand corner of this site about donating to Bill's scholarship.

- Bill's classmates, the Wichita State history/government education class of 2013