It has been my privilege to have personally known Mad Dog (Kenneth Penn) and Coach (David Bales) for many years. Mad Dog was a Professional Kick Boxer and a sparring partner for Dale "Appollo" Cook. He actually travelled to several foreign countries for the Kick Boxing. He later was a bouncer at several Tulsa Clubs for a few years. He helped the people who owned the Phillips 66 station across 11th Street from the football stadium.
I knew his mother, Isabel Penn, many years ago. When I first met Kenneth (Mad Dog) he told me that he loved TU because his brother, Emerson Penn briefly played for TU. I don't remember Emerson but I agree with his love for TU sports.
He has not been to any basketball games this year. The last time I saw him I was at the Coney Islander on South Peoria last summer. I was there to get some hot dogs for my son. I asked Mad Dog if he wanted some Coneys and I added three for him to the tab.
Coach David passed away in December 2020. His name was David Bales and I knew him for over 30 years. I used to see him all over town wearing a suit and walking. He started attending my Catholic Parish, The Church of the Resurrection in Mid-Town Tulsa. When TU made the Elite 8 run in 2001 my wife and youngest son were at the games in Nashville. During the off day TU had a party. I talked to some of my friends and stated that if TU wins on Sunday we need the Coach at the games in Austin. TU won, my wife contacted our priest and asked about Coach. The priest, Father Mike Knipe, set up a dinner with us, David, his mother, and his two sisters. We told the family that we would like to take David to Austin with us. We did and when we arrived at the pregame BBQ party the TU fans erupted. From that trip we regularly took him on trips like the Liberty Bowl when TU chartered 20 buses, to the NCAA Tourney in St Louis, to several TU games at OU, to Dallas for Cowboys games.
David was a unique person. He was handicapped but he was in turn a gentle, kind soul. He was a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus. and when I became a Third Degree Knight he stood behind me and put his hand on my shoulder. He would always wear a tuxedo at dinners at the Knight's State Conventions. He was also active in the Special Olympics and won several awards for Special Olympics Golf.
At one time, the TU administration held David in high regard. When his mother died, Bubba Cunningham attended her funeral. The last several years of his life David had a rocky relationship with TU. Someone with the arena staff put restrictions on his pacing and standing. He finally quit going to the games. Several fans knew of my relationship with him and asked me to intercede. I had a personal breakfast meeting with the Golden Hurricane Director at the time and I was assured that the Coach was welcome.
I do not cry but when I received news of his death my eyes definitely misted. I often thought that my family adopted Coach but actually he adopted us.
I miss watching both of these guys at the games. Obviously, Coach David Bales can never return. I pray that Mad Dog (Kenneth Penn) can recover and return to the Reynolds Center.
