Amos Curry

Amos Curry, the first head football coach in Cowley history, is one of five former Tiger greats that will be inducted into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday at W.S. Scott Auditorium/Dan Kahler Court.

Curry spent seven seasons as coach of the Tigers (1924, 1926-1932). After going 0-7 in the program’s first season, Curry did not coach the following year as Clarence Cooley coached Cowley in the 1925 campaign.

Curry returned as coach of the Tigers in 1926 and led the squad to what remains as the best season in the program’s history. In just the program’s third year of existence, Curry led the Tiger football team to a record of 9-1, and a conference championship. The Cowley football program would play 57 more seasons and never again reach the nine-win plateau.

He went on to lead the Tigers to winning seasons in 1929 (6-3) and 1930 (6-2-1), and finished with a 26-30-4 career record.

Curry also coached football, track, wrestling, golf, and girls and boys tennis at Arkansas City High School. He led the 1924 Arkansas City High School football team to an undefeated season (8-0). The Arkansas City High School football field, where Cowley used to play its home football games, is named after Curry.

All totaled, Curry spent 37 years as a teacher, coach, and athletic director in Arkansas City schools.

Curry was born in Strawn, and went on to play football at Emporia State Teachers College. He served in World War I, and married his wife Margaret on June 15, 1920. The couple moved into a house in Arkansas City on North Fourth Street in 1923, and remained there until Curry’s death on May 29, 1978.

Following his coaching days, Curry loved to garden and go on fishing trips with fellow Tiger Hall of Famer Dan Stark, who is the winningest men’s basketball coach in Cowley history.
Linda Gibson, granddaughter of Amos Curry, will be on hand to accept her grandfather’s induction into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame. 

“As I read through the other individuals who are in the (Tiger) Hall of Fame, several of them said “Pop” influenced them,” Gibson said. “It’s very exciting.”

The Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2006 induction ceremony will take place at halftime of the Cowley men’s basketball game vs. Allen County at 8 p.m. Saturday.