Kenneth Wayne Casner

Kenneth Wayne Casner January 23, 1930 - August 19, 2009 Kenneth Wayne Ken Casner, 79, peacefully entered in to the Kingdom of Heaven on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. A Memorial Service will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, August 24, at Lake Shore Baptist Church, 5801 Bishop Drive, Waco, with Rev. Dorisann Cooper officiating. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, August 23 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Ken was born Jan. 23, 1930 in Fort Scott, Kansas to Lawrence and Pauline Casner. He became a faithful Wacoan at the age of six and considered Waco his home ever since. He loved playing and coaching football. Ken began his football career at West Junior High School and then played for the Waco High Tigers as a defensive tackle. He was voted All-District and All-State in 1947 and played in the High School All Star Game in Abilene in 1948. Casner continued his football career at Baylor University where he lettered in football from 1949-1951. He had great success with Baylor football and was selected All Southwest Conference in 1950 and 1951. He was elected as a Collier's All American in 1951 and played in the Senior Bowl in 1952. He was selected as Southwest Conference Lineman of the Week by the Associated Press his senior year. Casner helped lead the Bears to their first major bowl game, the Orange Bowl, in 1952. His talent was recognized by the Los Angeles Rams who drafted him in 1952. As a member of the Los Angeles Rams he was selected to play in the Chicago Tribune All-Star game. His degrees included a B.B.A. and a M.S. from Baylor. He earned 30 post graduate hours towards a doctorate in educational psychology while at Baylor. Casner proudly served America for two years in the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command. He returned to playing football after his service had ended with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Professional Football league. While a Roughrider, he once played three games in four days. Casner was as valued as a coach as he was a player. He taught and coached at various Waco high schools from 1957-1966. He was respected by all and eventually became the Assistant Principal at Richfield High. He suggested the high school mascot be named the Richfield Rams and that name was selected. He returned to his Baylor Bears in 1966 where he was an assistant football coach until 1972. It was then that Mr. Casner began his career with the Board of Pardons and Paroles as a District Parole Officer. He served as the Administrator of Internal Affairs in Austin in 1975. In 1976, he was appointed Executive Director of the Board of Pardons and Paroles until 1982, when he was appointed as a Parole Commissioner, subsequently he was appointed by Governor Bill Clements to the Board of Pardons and Paroles, a post that he filled until his retirement in 1991. He was a faithful member of Lake Shore Baptist Church for 48 years. He served as a Deacon and acted as a greeter for over forty years. He delighted in watching generations of children go from toddlers to adults as he greeted them each Sunday. Casner was inducted into the Baylor University Hall of Fame in 1981. He was on the Board of Directors of the Baylor University Letterman's Association for 1987-88 and served on the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame Board of Directors in 1993-94. In 2001 he was elected into the Waco Public School Department of Athletics Hall of Fame. Ken was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Betty Marshall; and by his son, Kenny Casner. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Ladye Ruth Casner; daughter, Kathy Casner Goodrich and husband, Mike of Arlington, Texas; and two wonderful granddaughters that he loved very much, Kate Goodrich and Laura Goodrich. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lake Shore Baptist Church or to the Baylor University Athletic Department. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.