George Chaney

Center (1949-50)

George Chaney was born in Coffeyville, the ninth son in a family of 17 children. He attended McKinley Grade School, Roosevelt Junior High, Field Kindley High School and Coffeyville Community College.

His football career began in 1944 in the ninth grade. He earned his first letter as a junior at Field Kindley on the 1946 undefeated Golden Tornado football squad as a long snapper. He was co-captain of the football and basketball teams his senior year, graduating in 1948.

Wanting to be a Red Raven football player, he signed up for the 1949 season. He was co-captain of both 1949-1950 teams and along with J.D. Akard and Rex Smith, made the All-American team during the 1950 season.

After graduating from Coffeyville Community College in 1951, he continued his education at Kansas University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education. At that time, his goal was to return to Coffeyville to teach and coach football. After teaching for two years at Roosevelt Junior High, things changed drastically when Supt. V.A. Klotz and CCC President Karl Wilson asked him to join the faculty of the college in the mathematics department. His initial goal of being a coach was replaced by the goal of wanting to teach mathematics at a four-year college. George remained in the Coffeyville College Mathematics Department for six years, and he spent summers earning a Master of Science Degree in Mathematics from Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg.

In 1960, he was selected “Teacher of the Year” by the Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce. He continued his studies through National Science Foundation awards at Clemson University and the University of Kansas, where he received his Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics Education in 1967. He spent 1962 to 1967 in the Mathematics Department of Pittsburg State as an associate professor. In 1968, he accepted the position of Professor of Mathematics at Ottawa University, a four-year Baptist college in Ottawa, Kansas. In 1990, he was honored as the “Sybil Martin Distinguished Professor” at Ottawa University. His teaching career included 42 years in the classroom and one year as Provost of Ottawa University.

During his tenure at Ottawa University, he continued his interest in athletics, pursued restoration of a 1928 Marmon automobile, and enjoyed working in his five-acre yard in the heart of Ottawa, Kansas.
Family, a very important part of his life, consists of his wife of 59 years, Dorothy, three sons, one daughter, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Coffeyville College had a significant impact on his life and helped him achieve his life goals. George is a member of the First Baptist Church, Kiwanis International, and has served in many capacities in the Ottawa community.