University of Tennessee Athletics
Former UT Baseball Standout Billy Joe O'Kain Passes Away
May 01, 2020 | Baseball
Former Tennessee baseball player and Oak Ridge resident Billy Joe O'Kain passed away on Tuesday, April 28 at the age of 89.
O'Kain attended the University of Tennessee from 1949-1953 and lettered for the Volunteers' baseball team in 1951 and 1952. O'Kain was a right-hander pitcher on UT's 1951 SEC Championship and College World Series team, posting a 3-0 record that season. The 1951 Vols were the first team in program history to appear at the College World Series and finished as the national runner-up to Oklahoma. Tennessee went 16-1 in conference play and finished the 1951 season with a 20-3 overall record and a .870 winning percentage, which still stands as the highest in program history.
Prior to attending Tennessee on an athletic scholarship, O'Kain starred on the baseball and basketball teams at Oak Ridge High School.
After graduating from UT in 1953, O'Kain dealt with major issues with his vision. Despite going blind in 1954, O'Kain still went on to open his own insurance agency in his Oak Ridge home. The Bill O'Kain Insurance Agency opened in 1956 and was renamed the O'Kain and Clark Insurance Agency in 1989. O'Kain officially retired in 1996.
He was also an avid amateur radio operator and was licensed as K4LTA in 1956. O'Kain was a member of the First Class CW Operators Club, the Oak Ridge Amateur Radio Club, the East Tennessee DX Association and the American Radio Relay League.Â
O'Kain was a faithful member of Robertsville Baptist Church since 1948, where he served in numerous capacities. He was a secondary school teacher, an ordained deacon and an Evangelism Explosion ministry team leader, among other roles.
O'Kain and his wife, the former Ruby McGinnis, enjoyed attending Tennessee football, basketball and baseball games. They also enjoyed travelling with their family, which includes two daughters, Ginger O'Kain and Linda O'Kain Clark, two grandchildren, Landon Clark and Kelsie Clark Suggs, and numerous great grandchildren.
O'Kain is survived by his aforementioned wife of 68 years, his daughters, his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a private graveside and burial will be held with family at Anderson Memorial Gardens. Keeping in mind the 10-person limit for public gatherings, friends may call at Weatherford Mortuary on Saturday, May 2 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Any memorial gifts may be made to Robertsville Baptist Church (251 Robertsville Road, Oak Ridge, TN). An online guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Billy Joe O'Kain please visit the Tribute Store. Additional obituary information can be found by clicking HERE.Â
A full feature story on O'Kain can also be seen on KnoxTNToday.com by clicking HERE.
O'Kain attended the University of Tennessee from 1949-1953 and lettered for the Volunteers' baseball team in 1951 and 1952. O'Kain was a right-hander pitcher on UT's 1951 SEC Championship and College World Series team, posting a 3-0 record that season. The 1951 Vols were the first team in program history to appear at the College World Series and finished as the national runner-up to Oklahoma. Tennessee went 16-1 in conference play and finished the 1951 season with a 20-3 overall record and a .870 winning percentage, which still stands as the highest in program history.
Prior to attending Tennessee on an athletic scholarship, O'Kain starred on the baseball and basketball teams at Oak Ridge High School.
After graduating from UT in 1953, O'Kain dealt with major issues with his vision. Despite going blind in 1954, O'Kain still went on to open his own insurance agency in his Oak Ridge home. The Bill O'Kain Insurance Agency opened in 1956 and was renamed the O'Kain and Clark Insurance Agency in 1989. O'Kain officially retired in 1996.
He was also an avid amateur radio operator and was licensed as K4LTA in 1956. O'Kain was a member of the First Class CW Operators Club, the Oak Ridge Amateur Radio Club, the East Tennessee DX Association and the American Radio Relay League.Â
O'Kain was a faithful member of Robertsville Baptist Church since 1948, where he served in numerous capacities. He was a secondary school teacher, an ordained deacon and an Evangelism Explosion ministry team leader, among other roles.
O'Kain and his wife, the former Ruby McGinnis, enjoyed attending Tennessee football, basketball and baseball games. They also enjoyed travelling with their family, which includes two daughters, Ginger O'Kain and Linda O'Kain Clark, two grandchildren, Landon Clark and Kelsie Clark Suggs, and numerous great grandchildren.
O'Kain is survived by his aforementioned wife of 68 years, his daughters, his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a private graveside and burial will be held with family at Anderson Memorial Gardens. Keeping in mind the 10-person limit for public gatherings, friends may call at Weatherford Mortuary on Saturday, May 2 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Any memorial gifts may be made to Robertsville Baptist Church (251 Robertsville Road, Oak Ridge, TN). An online guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Billy Joe O'Kain please visit the Tribute Store. Additional obituary information can be found by clicking HERE.Â
A full feature story on O'Kain can also be seen on KnoxTNToday.com by clicking HERE.
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