Photo Credit: Merle VenableVenable came to Kansas from his native Oklahoma in the 1950s to attend Emporia State. After graduation he started his coaching career in 1960 with stops at Independence, Kan. Junior College and Carbondale and Chickasha High Schools in Okla.
In 1966 he took over the football and track program at Baldwin. During that time he won 75 percent of his games including a state championship in 1982 and a No. 1 state ranking in 1968 the year before the state playoff system began. Baldwin also finished as state runner-ups in 1971 and 1978 and was in the postseason numerous times during his tenure. After leaving Baldwin he moved to Turner from 1987-92.
He was named the Kansas Coach of the Year in 1982. Venable passed away in 2012.
