Barrett R. Oxenreider

Barrett R. Oxenreider, 74, of Temple, died August 4, 2007 in Reading Hospital where he had been since Wednesday.

He was the husband of Lillian T. (Czarnecki) Oxenreider.

Born on Tuckerton Road, he was the son of the late Elwood D. and Clara M. (Kline) Oxenreider.

He was a graduate of Muhlenberg High School in 1951, where he lettered in both football and track and field. He earned his BS degree in English and a minor in Math from Moravian College in 1957. At Moravian, he lettered in football for 3 years and was selected to a weekly All ECAC Team in 1956. Barrett also attended Temple University and Lehigh University.

In 1958, Barrett began his teaching career at Schuylkill Valley High School and in 1960 along with Elias Esposito started the track and field program.

Mr. Oxenreider returned to Muhlenberg School District in 1962, where he taught both Reading and English in the Jr. and Sr. High Schools. He coached track and field for a total of 25 years at Muhlenberg; 2 years as asst. coach, 4 years as Jr. High coach and 19 years as head coach at the high school. Mr. Oxenreider won 107 dual meets and had 3 straight undefeated seasons from 1971 to 1973; both the '72 and '73 teams won all 5 Berks County meets and both were county champions; the '73 team was the District III Class AAA Champion. Individually, Larry Dell was the state champion in the 100 and 220 in 1968 and in 1993, Chris Aikens won state gold in the 110 hurdles, long and triple jumps and was also the national champion in the 110 hurdles.

Barrett initiated the Berks winter track program and coached Muhlenberg's indoor track team for many years.

He also coached football for 7 years and was a wrestling assistant coach for one year at Muhlenberg. Barrett was the throwing coach at Kutztown University from 1985 to 1987 and served in the same capacity at Albright College in 1994 and 1995.

Barrett served as president of the Berks County Track and Field Coaches Association and was the president of the Reading-Berks Track Club, which he was instrumental in organizing.

In 1981 he was awarded the AAU Mid-Atlantic Presidential Award. In 1992, the Board of directors of the Muhlenberg School District honored Barrett by renaming the Muhlenberg Streamline Meet to include his name. In 1993, he was selected as the Berks County Track and Field Coach of the Year.

He was the active president of the Muhlenberg Athletic Booster's Club, a position he has held for a number of years.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he played football in Japan and earned All Army Honors in 1954.

Barrett was the first and only inductee into the Muhlenberg Hall of Fame in 1998. In March of 2000, he was inducted into the Berks County Chapter of the PA Sports Hall of Fame.

He was past president of the Muhlenberg Lions Club and served on the Muhlenberg Ambulance Board.

In addition to his wife he is survived by his son, Carl R., York; and his daughter Brenda M. wife of Todd Hardy, Carlton, GA; and his step-daughter, Patricia A. wife of Jay Trefsgar, Laureldale. There are also three brothers, Elwood J., Laureldale, George D. husband of Jeanne, Sinking Spring and Lynn F. husband of Josie, Mechanicsville, VA; and one sister, Peggy Ann wife of Lee R. Reiniger, Reading. Six grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, 17 nieces and nephews and 40 great nieces and nephews also survive him.

Services will be Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in Walter R. Christ Funeral Home, Inc., Laureldale. Burial will be Gethsemane Cemetery. Friends may call Tuesday from 5 to 9 p.m. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Barrett R. Oxenreider Scholarship Fund. Please mail to: Muhlenberg High School c/o Scott Schwenk or Kerry Ciatto Sharp and Frances Streets Reading, PA 19605. For online condolences, please visit www.christfuneralhome.com