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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss All-America Football Legend Jim Urbanek Passes Away
8/26/2009 | Football
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss lost another football legend who earned All-America status with the passing of James Eugene "Jim" Urbanek, 64, here Monday at his home.
A funeral service will be held Friday, August 28, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Oxford with Dr. Robert Allen and Dr. Eric Hankins officiating. Burial will follow in Oxford Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Waller Funeral Home and prior to the service from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church.
While playing for Coach John Vaught's Rebels, Urbanek earned first team All-America honors in 1966 and 1967 from the Football News and was also named first team All-America in 1966 by Pop Warner and the Hunt Poll, while being selected second team All-America by United Press International. A three-time Associated Press and UPI All-Southeastern Conference selection (1965-66-67) as a defensive tackle, he was named to the Sophomore All-Southeastern team as a defensive tackle in 1965.
A three-year letterman, Urbanek helped lead the Rebels to a 21-11-1 record and appearances in the Liberty, Bluebonnet and Sun Bowls, and then played in the 1968 Hula Bowl all-star game.
He was selected to receive the AP Southeastern Lineman of the Week honors for his 1966 performance against Houston as the Rebels won 27-6 in Memphis. One of his best games was in 1965 when he was credited with 21 tackles (17 solo) against Florida. As a sophomore, he had 114 tackles, including 80 solo stops, both Reb records as was his 21-tackle effort against Florida. As a junior, he was credited with 96 tackles, including 69 solo hits. During his sophomore campaign, Urbanek had 12 tackles and returned a pass interception 15 yards for a TD in 24-0 victory over Mississippi State and as a junior was a standout on the 1966 Rebel squad which led the SEC in rushing defense, allowing only 74.1 yards per game.
Urbanek was selected in the third round of the 1968 American Football League draft by the Miami Dolphins and played the 1968 season with the Dolphins as a defensive tackle.
Born on April 8, 1945 in Oxford, Jim was the first child of Leo Felix Urbanek and Lillian Waurine Moore Urbanek. He graduated from University High School and received bachelor's degrees in business administration and science and health-related professions from the University of Mississippi.
Urbanek retired from the University of Mississippi in 2001 where he served as a manager for the National Institute of Drug Abuse's Marijuana Project and Facilities Coordinator of Faser Hall and the Thad Cochran Natural Products Center. His long association with the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences was interrupted briefly when he served as Park Manager at Percy Quinn State Park in McComb. He returned to the Research Institute in 1978 where he remained until he retired.
Urbanek was a former president of the Oxford Kiwanis Club and was recognized as Oxford's Kiwanian of the Year in 1980. He was a recipient of the Mississippi State Park Commission Outdoor Recreation Professional of the Year award (1976-1977), the All-American Football Foundation All-America award (2005) and The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy Staff Member of the Year (2001-2002).
An active member of the Ole Miss M-Club, Urbanek was inducted into the University of Mississippi Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002. He enjoyed genealogy research, fishing, hunting and spending time with his family and friends.
While a native of Oxford, Urbanek spent 11 ½ school years in Houston, Texas, gaining All-City and All-District Nine (4-A) recognition in 1962. As a fullback and linebacker, he played for Waltrip High School in 1960-62, earning three letters, and was football co-captain in 1962. He completed his high school career in Oxford, adding a track letter.
Jim is survived by his wife of 36 years, Beverly Sanders Urbanek of Oxford; their sons, Michael Lane Upton (Sharon) of Oxford; Timothy Craig Upton (Michele) of Dallas, Texas, and Jim Urbanek II (Amanda) of Oxford; one daughter Karrie Urbanek Bopp (Seth) of Saint Louis, Mo; sisters, Sherry Anne Hollowell (Steve) of Oxford, and Bonnie Urbanek Scott of Oxford; and 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family has requested that expressions of sympathy in Mr. Urbanek's memory be made to the American Cancer Society, 1800 West Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38801 or First Baptist Church of Oxford, 800 Van Buren, Oxford, MS 38655.
A funeral service will be held Friday, August 28, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Oxford with Dr. Robert Allen and Dr. Eric Hankins officiating. Burial will follow in Oxford Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Waller Funeral Home and prior to the service from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church.
While playing for Coach John Vaught's Rebels, Urbanek earned first team All-America honors in 1966 and 1967 from the Football News and was also named first team All-America in 1966 by Pop Warner and the Hunt Poll, while being selected second team All-America by United Press International. A three-time Associated Press and UPI All-Southeastern Conference selection (1965-66-67) as a defensive tackle, he was named to the Sophomore All-Southeastern team as a defensive tackle in 1965.
A three-year letterman, Urbanek helped lead the Rebels to a 21-11-1 record and appearances in the Liberty, Bluebonnet and Sun Bowls, and then played in the 1968 Hula Bowl all-star game.
He was selected to receive the AP Southeastern Lineman of the Week honors for his 1966 performance against Houston as the Rebels won 27-6 in Memphis. One of his best games was in 1965 when he was credited with 21 tackles (17 solo) against Florida. As a sophomore, he had 114 tackles, including 80 solo stops, both Reb records as was his 21-tackle effort against Florida. As a junior, he was credited with 96 tackles, including 69 solo hits. During his sophomore campaign, Urbanek had 12 tackles and returned a pass interception 15 yards for a TD in 24-0 victory over Mississippi State and as a junior was a standout on the 1966 Rebel squad which led the SEC in rushing defense, allowing only 74.1 yards per game.
Urbanek was selected in the third round of the 1968 American Football League draft by the Miami Dolphins and played the 1968 season with the Dolphins as a defensive tackle.
Born on April 8, 1945 in Oxford, Jim was the first child of Leo Felix Urbanek and Lillian Waurine Moore Urbanek. He graduated from University High School and received bachelor's degrees in business administration and science and health-related professions from the University of Mississippi.
Urbanek retired from the University of Mississippi in 2001 where he served as a manager for the National Institute of Drug Abuse's Marijuana Project and Facilities Coordinator of Faser Hall and the Thad Cochran Natural Products Center. His long association with the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences was interrupted briefly when he served as Park Manager at Percy Quinn State Park in McComb. He returned to the Research Institute in 1978 where he remained until he retired.
Urbanek was a former president of the Oxford Kiwanis Club and was recognized as Oxford's Kiwanian of the Year in 1980. He was a recipient of the Mississippi State Park Commission Outdoor Recreation Professional of the Year award (1976-1977), the All-American Football Foundation All-America award (2005) and The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy Staff Member of the Year (2001-2002).
An active member of the Ole Miss M-Club, Urbanek was inducted into the University of Mississippi Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002. He enjoyed genealogy research, fishing, hunting and spending time with his family and friends.
While a native of Oxford, Urbanek spent 11 ½ school years in Houston, Texas, gaining All-City and All-District Nine (4-A) recognition in 1962. As a fullback and linebacker, he played for Waltrip High School in 1960-62, earning three letters, and was football co-captain in 1962. He completed his high school career in Oxford, adding a track letter.
Jim is survived by his wife of 36 years, Beverly Sanders Urbanek of Oxford; their sons, Michael Lane Upton (Sharon) of Oxford; Timothy Craig Upton (Michele) of Dallas, Texas, and Jim Urbanek II (Amanda) of Oxford; one daughter Karrie Urbanek Bopp (Seth) of Saint Louis, Mo; sisters, Sherry Anne Hollowell (Steve) of Oxford, and Bonnie Urbanek Scott of Oxford; and 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family has requested that expressions of sympathy in Mr. Urbanek's memory be made to the American Cancer Society, 1800 West Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38801 or First Baptist Church of Oxford, 800 Van Buren, Oxford, MS 38655.
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