OU men’s golf mourns the loss of longtime supporter
NORMAN, Okla. — The University of Oklahoma men’s golf program is mourning the loss of longtime supporter Richard G. "Dick" Askew, who passed away on Saturday, Nov. 29, at the age of 89.
For the past several years, Askew, whose nickname was "A-Game," traveled extensively to collegiate tournaments and PGA Tournaments to actively support present and past OU golfers. He was always a noticeable figure as he traveled around the golf courses aboard his Sooner Scooter.
Askew served as the first president of the Chip In Club, the golf program’s donor organization. Since his retirement in 1985, he participated regularly in amateur golf tournaments organized by the Senior Golfers Association of America, winning low-gross or low-net trophies 11 times in his age group. In February 2004, he was inducted into the SGA’s Hall of Fame in recognition of his active participation, successful tournament play and support of SGA’s membership activities.
OU head coach Ryan Hybl said Askew will be greatly missed by those within the OU program and in the golf community in general.
"I am just thankful that I was able to be around him for the last five-and-a-half years," Hybl said. "He has been a part of our golf program and traveling around to watch our teams for 30 years now, and he would load up in his own car and on his own expense and travel to California or to Florida or to wherever we were going. He was such a prominent figure in college golf in general, not just in Oklahoma. Everybody knew who ‘A-Game’ was, and our guys loved him and loved seeing him every week. His support was second to none, and he is an Oklahoma Sooner through and through. He is going to be missed by a lot of people, in particular our golf team and program.
"I feel like it is an end of an era since Dick Askew will not be following us around anymore, but his legacy will live on within our golf program forever," Hybl continued. "It makes me sad, but I am happy I was able to be around it and that the guys throughout the years have been able to be a part of his life. It was a beautiful relationship and I am just so thankful that we were able to be a part of what he brought to our golf program.
"He was always such a gentleman to everyone. He was so nice and went out of his way to make everybody feel comfortable. He showed his support not just for our golf program, but he also really supported our school of engineering. He was in the oil business for a long time and traveled all over the world. He had great stories, was super, super smart and just a gentleman through and through. It really was a pleasure to be around him every single day."
Askew was a native Oklahoman, born in Enid and raised in Oklahoma City, graduating from Classen High School in 1943. He attended OU, receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in chemical engineering in 1947 and 1948, respectively.
He was a retired Senior Vice President of Phillips Petroleum Company, where he worked for 37 years in various chemical and international activities. He also held the position of President of Phillips Chemical Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary, at the time of his retirement in 1985.
Askew was actively involved in a variety of boards and organizations, serving as chair or president for many. A life member of the OU Alumni Association, he actively assisted in recruiting prospective OU students and assisted in soliciting financial support for OU’s academic and athletic programs.
He received the OU Board of Regents’ Alumni Award in 1990, was named to the OU College of Engineering Distinguished Graduates Society in 1991, received the OU Athletics Council Merit Award in 1994 and was awarded an Associate Membership in the "O" Club in 1997. In 2009, he was inducted into the Seed Sower Society of OU. Eighteen scholarships in the Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering Department and the College of Engineering carry his name and are annually awarded to deserving students.
He is survived by two sons Ben (wife, Terry) and Marc (wife, Stacey), four grandchildren (Calle, Cambron, Lauren and Garrett) and one great-granddaughter (Addison).
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the University of Oklahoma Foundation. Donations will be split equally between the Department of Chemical, Biological and Material Engineering and the OU men’s golf program.