Max Marquardt

Max Marquardt, of Norman, passed away Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, at the age of 78. Max was born Sept. 8, 1935, in El Reno. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruby and Fred Marquardt; his sister, Gloria Holzen; his brother, Pete Marquardt; and second wife, Barbara Nation. He is survived by his daughter, Cindy Byram and her husband Gregg, with granddaughters Ashlee and Morgan Byram; his son, Brent Marquardt and his wife Angela, with grandchildren Madison, Mackenzie and Brandon Marquardt; and his son, Brad Marquardt, all of Norman. He is survived by his daughter, Cindy Byram and her husband Gregg, with granddaughters Ashlee and Morgan Byram; his son, Brent Marquardt and his wife Angela, with grandchildren Madison, Mackenzie and Brandon Marquardt; and his son, Brad Marquardt, all of Norman. Max grew up in Union City where, upon graduating from high school, he attended Central State University on a basketball scholarship and also participated in football, baseball and track and field. Max obtained all-conference honors in basketball for three years, where he was twice named Central State University’s Outstanding Athlete in both his freshman and senior years, and obtained his master’s degree. While attending Central State, Max met and married his first love and mother of his children, Jerry Marquardt. Upon graduation from college, and at the ripe old age of 21, Max became the youngest head coach in Oklahoma when he accepted the head basketball coaching position at Pauls Valley, where he coached for four years. He then accepted the head coaching position at Pawhuska High School, where he coached for the next three years. In 1964, Max became head basketball coach for the Norman High Tigers. Max considered this his dream job, as he turned down many college coaching opportunities. Norman was where he wanted to raise his family and leave his legacy. His name is forever etched on the Wall of Fame in the NHS gym, where he spent most of his time. As well as coaching, he touched many children’s lives by teaching driver’s education at NHS. Most of the students remember him for letting them make frequent stops at the local donut shop. Max Marquardt was a coaching icon at Norman for 20 years. Coaching basketball and baseball, Max made the Tigers a state tournament regular in the early to mid ’70s and won the 1970 State Basketball Championship. He retired in 1984. Marquardt was elected into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2001. After retiring from coaching, Max owned and operated the Kettle Restaurant on Lindsey Street in Norman. For the past few years, his love for life on the go led him to drive cars for Reynolds Ford of Norman to occupy some of his time. For those of you who knew him, you know he was an incredible man, “PaPa,” devoted father, coach, mentor, gifted story teller and comedian. He loved to watch his grandchildren play sports and proudly watched them grow up. Max’s true talents were off the court. Max was gifted with the ability to genuinely make everyone around him feel special and brought out the best in people. He was loved by thousands and has left a tremendous legacy behind.