Story Written By: Hannah Hill
“Sooner Family” is not just a saying in the Dalke household – it’s a truth.
A two-time All-American and 2017 national champion golfer, Brad Dalke is the latest in his lineage to don the Crimson and Cream as a student-athlete for Oklahoma.
A third-generation OU student-athlete, Dalke is the perfect personification of the final verse in the university’s fight song. As a “Sooner Born and a Sooner Bred,” Dalke was raised in a home where Crimson and Cream were the household’s favorite colors and “Boomer Sooner” were two of his first words.
The strand of his Sooner Family starts with his grandfather, Ken Pryor. A three-sport athlete competing in football, baseball and basketball, Pryor is most well-known on the hardwood, where he sunk the game-winner over Texas in the national semifinals to send the Sooners to the NCAA Championship in 1947.
“Sooner Family” is not just a saying in the Dalke household – it’s a truth.
A two-time All-American and 2017 national champion golfer, Brad Dalke is the latest in his lineage to don the Crimson and Cream as a student-athlete for Oklahoma.
A third-generation OU student-athlete, Dalke is the perfect personification of the final verse in the university’s fight song. As a “Sooner Born and a Sooner Bred,” Dalke was raised in a home where Crimson and Cream were the household’s favorite colors and “Boomer Sooner” were two of his first words.
The strand of his Sooner Family starts with his grandfather, Ken Pryor. A three-sport athlete competing in football, baseball and basketball, Pryor is most well-known on the hardwood, where he sunk the game-winner over Texas in the national semifinals to send the Sooners to the NCAA Championship in 1947.
Bill Dalke
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Pryor married Pauline, the captain of the OU cheer squad. Their daughter Kay would later became one of the first athletes in the OU women’s golf program during the Title IX movement.
It was at OU that Kay met two-time national champion football player Bill Dalke. The two would marry and start a family of seven children – including Brad. “We grew up in a home where we had a said loyalty to OU that started with my father,” said Kay Dalke. “My dad had a horn that played Boomer Sooner and we had an Oklahoma room. That is just the atmosphere that I grew up in.” |
Brad took lessons from each Sooner family member in his life but the strongest character trait he clung to was the loyalty instilled in him by his grandfather.
“I saw as Brad grew up, he had that same passion and love for OU (as Ken),” said Kay. “My dad was so excited when he heard about his commitment. He was so proud of Brad. To know he was going to go to OU and be an OU athlete just thrilled him.”
Brad committed to Ryan Hybl’s golf program at just 12 years old. His verbal commitment to Oklahoma was cherished by his bloodline and came two weeks before the passing of his grandfather. He will always carry the loyalty trait of his grandfather as he never steered from his commitment to the Sooners.
“I saw as Brad grew up, he had that same passion and love for OU (as Ken),” said Kay. “My dad was so excited when he heard about his commitment. He was so proud of Brad. To know he was going to go to OU and be an OU athlete just thrilled him.”
Brad committed to Ryan Hybl’s golf program at just 12 years old. His verbal commitment to Oklahoma was cherished by his bloodline and came two weeks before the passing of his grandfather. He will always carry the loyalty trait of his grandfather as he never steered from his commitment to the Sooners.
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Brad committed to us at a very young age, not just because he was an OU guy but because he and his family believed in what we were building for Oklahoma Golf,” said Hybl. “I will always appreciate him for staying the course with us through it all. His legacy will last forever within our golf program.” |
In addition to inheriting the loyalty from his Sooner family members, Brad also made the most of his championship genes – true OU DNA.
Having played for Barry Switzer on OU’s 1974 and 1975 national championship teams, Bill Dalke understood the hard work and dedication it took to win an NCAA title. He was there near the green as his son made the match-winning putt to secure Oklahoma’s 2017 national title.
“The national championships as the years go on mean more and more,” said Bill. “I know they will to Brad, too. When you are that age you are just doing what you are supposed to and you are excited about being a Sooner and winning a national championship. But the true meaning of all of that over the years as it sinks in is really special.”
Bill and Brad now have matching rings to remind themselves of the championship mark they left on the university and to remind themselves of each other.
Having played for Barry Switzer on OU’s 1974 and 1975 national championship teams, Bill Dalke understood the hard work and dedication it took to win an NCAA title. He was there near the green as his son made the match-winning putt to secure Oklahoma’s 2017 national title.
“The national championships as the years go on mean more and more,” said Bill. “I know they will to Brad, too. When you are that age you are just doing what you are supposed to and you are excited about being a Sooner and winning a national championship. But the true meaning of all of that over the years as it sinks in is really special.”
Bill and Brad now have matching rings to remind themselves of the championship mark they left on the university and to remind themselves of each other.
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“It means so much to have a national championship ring like my dad,” said Brad Dalke. “He wears it all the time so I have memories from since I was a little guy of him wearing the ring and showing it off to people who asked to see it. He has always been so proud of it and I want to have that same feeling about my ring.”
Brad’s mother might not hold a championship ring, but instead holds an important role in the history of OU Athletics. As a part of the inaugural women’s golf team, Kay played a vital part in blazing a trail for women in sports.
“From what I’ve heard, my mom had an amazing impact on both the university and women’s sports at OU,” said Brad Dalke. “She was the first female to be offered a scholarship at OU and she was on the first ever women’s golf team. That’s honestly such a cool accomplishment considering how far women’s sports have come in the world. To think that my mom was one of the first at a college like OU is such an awesome feat.”
Brad’s mother might not hold a championship ring, but instead holds an important role in the history of OU Athletics. As a part of the inaugural women’s golf team, Kay played a vital part in blazing a trail for women in sports.
“From what I’ve heard, my mom had an amazing impact on both the university and women’s sports at OU,” said Brad Dalke. “She was the first female to be offered a scholarship at OU and she was on the first ever women’s golf team. That’s honestly such a cool accomplishment considering how far women’s sports have come in the world. To think that my mom was one of the first at a college like OU is such an awesome feat.”
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Kay will always hold her memories from her time at OU close to her heart. Those memories continued when she was able to watch her son compete as a Sooner.
“I have a lot of memories from Brad’s time at OU,” she recollected. “One of my favorite memories is the impact he had at nationals. Being there and being a part of it was something I will always remember. But I will also remember him walking down the fairway his freshman year and seeing him with the OU bag and OU clothes on, everything OU and realizing his dream had come true.” |
The Dalkes are the definition of “Sooner Family” through and through. Whether it is in his genes, or in his relationships formed during his time at the OU, Brad cherishes the ability to be a part of that Sooner tradition.
“The ‘Sooner Family’ is something that I believe is extremely unique to the University of Oklahoma,” said Brad Dalke. “I can’t imagine there being another university that is this close knit and supportive of absolutely everyone involved with OU. As a professional golfer for almost a year now, I have already received so much help from Sooner alumni and I hope to help others in the future as well. I know that anytime I come back to Norman for an event, or for anything really, I will be welcomed back with open arms which is an awesome feeling.”
Dalke received his degree in communications in December and holds the value of that degree with the highest respect.
“I am so proud to be a graduate from the University of Oklahoma,” he said. “First of all, the schooling itself is first class and it also took a lot of hard work. There were many papers, homework assignments and studying happening at golf tournaments and on planes. The fact that I got my degree with a solid GPA is something that I will always be proud of.”
As Brad’s moments on campus have come to a close, the “Sooner Family” that was established in the Dalke household long before Brad will continue forever.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a requirement to have at least one child go to OU,” said he said. “However, I am going to do my best to brainwash my future kids as much as I can. I just really don’t want to see them go to Austin or Stillwater, that’s for sure.”
“The ‘Sooner Family’ is something that I believe is extremely unique to the University of Oklahoma,” said Brad Dalke. “I can’t imagine there being another university that is this close knit and supportive of absolutely everyone involved with OU. As a professional golfer for almost a year now, I have already received so much help from Sooner alumni and I hope to help others in the future as well. I know that anytime I come back to Norman for an event, or for anything really, I will be welcomed back with open arms which is an awesome feeling.”
Dalke received his degree in communications in December and holds the value of that degree with the highest respect.
“I am so proud to be a graduate from the University of Oklahoma,” he said. “First of all, the schooling itself is first class and it also took a lot of hard work. There were many papers, homework assignments and studying happening at golf tournaments and on planes. The fact that I got my degree with a solid GPA is something that I will always be proud of.”
As Brad’s moments on campus have come to a close, the “Sooner Family” that was established in the Dalke household long before Brad will continue forever.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a requirement to have at least one child go to OU,” said he said. “However, I am going to do my best to brainwash my future kids as much as I can. I just really don’t want to see them go to Austin or Stillwater, that’s for sure.”
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