OLE MISS — Ole Miss lost another football legend who earned All-America status with the passing of James Eugene “Jim” Urbanek, 64, here Monday at his home.

A funeral service will be held Friday, August 28, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Oxford with Dr. Robert Allen and Dr. Eric Hankins officiating. Burial will follow in Oxford Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Waller Funeral Home and prior to the service from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church.

 While playing for Coach John Vaught’s Rebels, Urbanek earned first team All-America honors in 1966 and 1967 from the Football News and was also named first team All-America in 1966 by Pop Warner and the Hunt Poll, while being selected second team All-America by United Press International.  A three-time Associated Press and UPI All-Southeastern Conference selection (1965-66-67) as a defensive tackle, he was named to the Sophomore All-Southeastern team as a defensive tackle in 1965.

A three-year letterman, Urbanek helped lead the Rebels to a 21-11-1 record and appearances in the Liberty, Bluebonnet and Sun Bowls, and then played in the 1968 Hula Bowl all-star game.

He was selected to receive the AP Southeastern Lineman of the Week honors for his 1966 performance against Houston as the Rebels won 27-6 in Memphis. One of his best games was in 1965 when he was credited with 21 tackles (17 solo) against Florida. As a sophomore, he had 114 tackles, including 80 solo stops, both Reb records as was his 21-tackle effort against Florida. As a junior, he was credited with 96 tackles, including 69 solo hits. During his sophomore campaign, Urbanek had 12 tackles and returned a pass interception 15 yards for a TD in 24-0 victory over Mississippi State and as a junior was a standout on the 1966 Rebel squad which led the SEC in rushing defense, allowing only 74.1 yards per game.

Urbanek was selected in the third round of the 1968 American Football League draft by the Miami Dolphins and played the 1968 season with the Dolphins as a defensive tackle.

Born on April 8, 1945 in Oxford, Jim was the first child of Leo Felix Urbanek and Lillian Waurine Moore Urbanek. He graduated from University High School and received bachelor’s degrees in business administration and science and health-related professions from the University of Mississippi.