A Look At Herb Odom
10/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | General
Oct. 25, 2005
NOTE: In honor of the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony this Saturday, Oct. 29, msuspartans.com will take an in-depth look at each of the five honorees throughout this week. Today is a look at Herb Odom.
HERB ODOM (BOXING: 1952-55)
By Ashley Johnson, MSU Sports Information
Herb Odom, a member of the boxing team at MSU from 1951-55, was a determined individual who spent his collegiate years working toward athletic as well as academic success. He was also a four-year member of ROTC from 1951-55.
A native of Flint, Michigan, Odom came to MSC from a boxing family that included his father, Young S. Odom, a boxer for Akron University, and brother, Harold, who held two Navy titles and won the Pacific Fleet championships and Great Lakes middleweight championships. Brother Ken was also a boxer.
During his career at Michigan State, Odom earned a record 32 wins, four losses and three draws.
In 1953, Coach George Makris praised Odom in an interview with the Spartan Mittman, saying Odom can "think on his feet." He added, "Odom is a superb boxer with a sharp, stinging punch. He's the Ray Robinson type, with different blow combinations. He varies his attack to keep his opponent guessing."
In 1954 Odom was Big Ten Lightweight Champion, earned his first NCAA title and was named All-American.
In 1955, his final season of competition, Odom went on to become Big Ten Conference Champion and was again NCAA Champion. His NCAA title led the way for MSC in winning the team NCAA boxing title in 1955.
His 1955 success earned him another All-American award, as well as naming him to the MSU All-Time Greats.
Following graduation Odom went on to earn his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Meharry Medical College. He was named vice-president of the American Academy of Dentistry from 1968-72, and became involved in a number of other community service activities.
But despite his earlier intention to not turning professional, at the age of 45 Odom did just that, making him the oldest fighter to be given an Illinois license.
"The ambition to fight was as consuming as my ambition to get all the education possible," Odom said July 19, 1979 in the Chicago Tribune. "This is something I've always wanted to do, and now that I'm licensed, I'll do it until I'm tired of it."
With his determination to succeed just as great as it had been as a young fighter at MSC, Odom compiled a professional record of six wins, no losses and three knockouts.
Players Mentioned
