Owen "Wayne" Constant

Owen “Wayne” Constant, better known to some as Coach “C” passed from this life on February 9, 2022, at the age of 82 at his home in Skiatook, OK.  He was a long time wrestling coach and teacher in Oklahoma and loved his animals on the farm west of Skiatook, OK.

He was born to Eva Irene Dodson and Olen Boalton Constant on November 26, 1939 on the family farm outside of Blackwell, OK. He resided here until high school graduation.

He attended school in Blackwell and graduated in 1957, lettering in wrestling for three years. He was a member of the State Championship teams in 1956 and 1957. He placed 2nd at 120 lbs. in 1957.

Wayne joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard March 25, 1957. He was called up for active duty on October 15, 1961. He was then Honorably discharged February 28, 1965.

In the fall of 1957 he enrolled and received a wrestling scholarship at what had just became Oklahoma State University from Oklahoma A&M. While attending Oklahoma State in 1958 he placed 2nd at the AAU tournament.

Due to injury he left Oklahoma State in 1958 and pursued a career at the Tulsa Caterpillar dealership as a printer and sales promotion employee.  This is where he met his wife of 61 years.

After a couple of years learning the printing trade Wayne, along with Janice’s support, decided to start the process of owning their own printing company. (Constant Quality Printing) They started with a single, one-color printing press in the garage. Before long the printing business was booming and Wayne and Janice went full time with a store front in Broken Arrow, OK.

Around 1968 the Broken Arrow school district administration approached Wayne about teaching vocational printing at the high school.  The next thing Wayne knew he had sold his equipment to the school district and moved his family, Janice and Michele, to Stillwater to finish his Bachelor’s degree. A year and a half later he was teaching printing at the Broken Arrow High School.

Wayne’s love for wrestling never ended, he went to OSU matches as often as he could.  At Broken Arrow high school, he began helping out in the wrestling room. For 5 years he was Assistant Coach. Before long he was making a positive impact and wanted more opportunity.

He applied for head coaching positions, but most school districts did not have a vocational printing class or even any equipment.  Skiatook did have equipment. Mr. Helmer printed the needs for the district. So in the fall of 1974 to Skiatook he and the family packed their bags and went.

This was the beginning of several decades at Skiatook Junior and High Schools. Coach coached both high school and junior high for the first 6 years at Skiatook. Skiatook Alumni, Rick Reeves, was hired as the Assistant High School coach and Head Junior High Coach.

For 8 years Wayne coached elementary wrestlers, three years 7th grade football, two years 8th grade football, one-year assistant tennis coach and three years’ head tennis coach.

After 20 years Wayne retired from teaching and coaching in 1994.  However, he returned to coaching at Skiatook in 1998 as the head Junior High Wrestling Coach and assisted the high school for a few years.

Over the years coaching at Skiatook Coach had a high school team record of 187 Wins, 103 losses, and 6 ties. A State Championship team in 1987 (6 individual state championship titles-David Sims, Sammy Francis, Jay Lorton, Clint Cox, Billy Barrow, and Clint Gruenwald.) State Runner-up teams in 1984,1985, 1986. A total of 16 individual state champions and 49 other placing in the top 4 places. At the Regional level there were 4 championship teams and 7 runner-up teams, including 36 champions and 82 placing in the top four.

Coach received numerus awards including:

1976 Wrestling District 6 coach of the year

1976 Skiatook High FFA Honorary Chapter Farmer

1987 The very first coach to receive the “Onions Martin Award” given by the Oklahoma Officials Association

1990 All State Wrestling Coach – Small East School

1994 Partners for Excellence Award from the Oklahoma School Public Relations Association

2007 Named to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame-Oklahoma Chapter for “Lifetime Service to Wrestling”

2011 Inducted –Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame

Even with all the coaching, Wayne still made time to enjoy his farm life.  Riding horses, raising cattle, goats, and chickens has been a part of his life. Michele was always bringing animals home that Wayne would then assist with for her.  Fishing with both Michele and Justin on the farm was a past time as well. Then there was taking Justin to horse shows and tennis tournaments. A very full and busy life.

Wayne is survived by his wife Janice of the home for 61 years, one daughter Michele Vieira and husband Dave, Ocala, FL, Grandson Major Justin Constant (U.S. Army) of Fort Leavenworth, KS. Two Great Grandchildren Jessika Constant and Owen Wayne Constant II, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunt, and extended family members.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Eva and Olen Constant.  His two siblings, brother Eugene Constant and sister Lois Taylor.

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