Owen Hauck

Owen Hauck

Owen Kenton “Coach” Hauck, 88, of Ft. Thomas, KY passed away on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 surrounded by his family at Rosedale Green in Covington, KY.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 55 years, Shirley Rigney Hauck (2007) and his son, Glenn Steven Hauck (2005).

He is survived by his devoted son, Douglas Owen Hauck of Ft. Thomas, KY; Doug’s sweetheart, Julie Jones and her children, Joshua & Emilie;  sister, Betty Katsikas of Ft. Mitchell, KY and cousin, Beverly Adams of Ludlow, KY.

Owen was born September 8, 1927 in Ludlow, KY where he often reminisced fondly of his childhood.  He graduated from Ludlow High School in 1945 where he was captain of the football team and president of his senior class.  He joined the U.S. Army in 1946 and was in field artillery at Ft. Still in Oklahoma.  Shortly after returning he met his wife Shirley at the Old Elm in Ludlow, KY.  Owen’s father built over 500 homes in Ludlow in the 1920’s, but due to the depression he was forced to find other means to support his family.  He rented a parking lot from Mr. Kroger next to the Queen City Club in downtown Cincinnati where Owen worked parking cars for a few years before deciding to attend college because he knew his ambition was to be a coach. His ambitions stemmed from his high school head coach Judge Waddell who he called “one of the finest men I’ve ever known”.

Owen graduated in 1953 from Eastern Kentucky University with teaching degrees in history, political science, physical education and health.  He later received his MBA and Rank I from Xavier University.  He began his teaching and coaching career in 1953 at Burlington High School teaching history and the only coach for their 6 man football team.  In 1954 he became the assistant coach to Homer Rice at Highlands High School for eight wonderful years.   In 1962 Owen was named the athletic director and head football coach.  Owen then followed Mr. Rice in 1967 for one year as the defensive line coach for the University of Cincinnati football program.  From 1968 – 1972 he was head coach at Mt. Healthy High School and in 1973 he accepted the position as head football coach at Boone County High School, where he also served as school teacher and athletic director.  He retired after 25 glorious years in 1997.  He was very proud and honored to have had the Boone County football stadium named after him in 2003, which he spoke of often.

When Owen and Shirley learned that their son Glenn was of special needs they became pioneers for people with intellectual-developmental disabilities. In the early 1960’s Owen served as president of an organization called the Good Counsel Board.  In 1965 Good Counsel merged with Riverside Counsel to be called Riverside Good Counsel where Owen served as president.  After extensive fundraising efforts they were able to develop Riverside Good Counsel School in Ft. Wright for children with MR.  In 1968 Owen and Shirley met Judi Gerding at a parent support group for special needs children called HARC. In 1972 the parent groups merged to be called NKAR (currently The Point Arc of N. KY).  In 1976 a great hurdle had been achieved when it was mandated for public education to take all children with intellectual-developmental disabilities from ages 6 – 21.  Owen and Shirley remained active supporters and volunteers at The Point Arc of N. KY until their passing. He was also a 54 year member of the Colonel Clay Masonic Lodge #159.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the United Church of Christ, 15 South Ft. Thomas Avenue, Ft. Thomas, KY with a second visitation Wednesday, February 24, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to the hour of service at 11:00 a.m. in the church.

Interment in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Erlanger, KY.

Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers to The Point Arc of N. KY, 104 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 or United Church of Christ, 15 South Ft. Thomas Avenue, Ft. Thomas, KY 41075