Lyle Berryhill

© Rogers Funeral Home

Mar. 29, 2007

Submitted by: Becky Rodgers

Lyle Berryhill
Jan. 11, 1919 - Mar. 27, 2007
Services: Thursday Mar. 29, 2007

Lyle Berryhill a resident of Henryetta passed away on March 27, 2007 in Henryetta at the age of 88. Born January 11, 1919 in Dewey, Ok to Grover and Nell (Vulgamore) Berryhill. Lyle married Viola Jones on May 19, 1955 in Pawhuska, OK and were members of the Henryetta First Baptist Church.

Mr. Berryhill was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City on July 23, 2000. Mr. Berryhill, former teacher, coach and superintendent of Henryetta was selected by association presidents as one of eight distinguished recipients for the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame. Throughout his lifetime Berryhill has implemented sports as a key role for his motivational and teaching skills. As a football and basketball player at Dewey High School, He lettered in both sports and then enrolled in Oklahoma State University on a football scholarship.

In 1941 Lyle was drafted into the US Military where he served 26 months in the 45th Infantry Division. Answering the call to join the skies, he transferred into the Air Force, received his pilot wings in 1943, and served as a flight instructor until volunteering for overseas duty in the European Theater as a P-47 Pilot.

Returning to civilian life, Lyle reincorporated his unfaltering love of athletics when he enrolled at Central State College in January of 1946 on a baseball scholarship. Adding to his list of accomplishments in such a short period of time, he received his Bachelors Degree from Central State, Masters Degree from OSU and Post Graduate work from Tulsa University. As a football and track coach, he drilled students in Henryetta, Cleveland and Claremore on the logistics of excelling. Along the way he polished and prodded several outstanding players including Billy Vessels-winner of the Heisman Trophy, Chuck Yonkers- Tulsa University second All-American and numerous All-State players including Ron Dombek. Pushing forward for a victory in his career like in every past aspect of his life, Lyle was picked to coach the North All-State Football game in 1955 and coach the Texas-Oklahoma Oil Bowl game in 1958.

In 1981 Lyle retired as Henryetta's Superintendent of Schools and served on the Green Country Vo-Tech Board in Okmulgee. Throughout his forty two years of officiating football and basketball and his work with the old NIBL, Lyle had been a member of the Oklahoma Coaches Association. Another passion that he had was bird hunting and golf.

Survived by Wife-Viola Berryhill of the home, Daughter- Kay Rollins and husband Mike of Overland Park, Kansas Son- Stuart Berryhill and wife Carolyn of Conway, Arkansas, Daughter- Michele Garrison and husband Bill of Tulsa 9 Grandchildren and 10 Great Grandchildren,2 Sisters- Ailine Staton of Caney, Kansas,Betty Furnas of Phoenix, AZ Brother-Earl "Bud" Berryhill of Dewey, Ok.

Services will be 2:00pm, Thursday, March 29, 2007 at The Henryetta First Baptist Church with Rev. Jim Paslay and Rev. George Christy officiating. Interment will be 11:00 am, Friday March 30, 2007 at the Ft. Gibson National Cemetery with the US Air Force Honor Guard. Services under the direction of the Rogers Funeral Home.

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