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Odom was born in [[Shreveport]] to Troy S. Odom, Sr. (1912-1990), and Elvin C. Odom (1912-1995). In the fall of 1958, in his last season at Minden High School, Odom, an offensive tackle and defensive middle linebacker, was named "Most Valuable Player". He was also cited as an All-American center. Odom was honored by the Minden Jaycees as the "most outstanding athlete" in his city. This particular award was presented by Charles Allen "Corky" Marvin (1929-2003), later a district attorney and [[judge]] of the Louisiana Circuit Court of Appeal for the Second District.<ref>"Sammy Joe Odom Named a Recipient of 1958 Most Outstanding Award", ''Minden Herald,'' December 18, 1958, p. 10.</ref>​

Odom was born in [[Shreveport]] to Troy S. Odom, Sr. (1912-1990), and Elvin C. Odom (1912-1995). In the fall of 1958, in his last season at Minden High School, Odom, an offensive tackle and defensive middle linebacker, was named "Most Valuable Player". He was also cited as an All-American center. Odom was honored by the Minden Jaycees as the "most outstanding athlete" in his city. This particular award was presented by Charles Allen "Corky" Marvin (1929-2003), later a district attorney and [[judge]] of the Louisiana Circuit Court of Appeal for the Second District.<ref>"Sammy Joe Odom Named a Recipient of 1958 Most Outstanding Award", ''Minden Herald,'' December 18, 1958, p. 10.</ref>​

 

Odom played football at Northwestern State, where he was designated permanent co-captain of the 1963 team. He was named (1) the best offensive lineman, (2) the co-winner of the "Most Valuable Player" trophy, and (3) the best lineman in the annual competition between Northwestern and its regional rival, the [[Louisiana Tech University]] Bulldogs. Odom was also named to (4) the All-Gulf State Conference team and (5) the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American team. He was the (6) "Most Valuable Lineman," according to Gulf State Conference coaches in 1962.​

Odom played football at Northwestern State, where he was designated permanent co-captain of the 1963 team. He was named (1) the best offensive lineman, (2) the co-winner of the "Most Valuable Player" trophy, and (3) the best lineman in the annual competition between Northwestern and its regional rival, the [[Louisiana Tech University]] Bulldogs. Odom was also named to (4) the All-Gulf State Conference team and (5) the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American team. He was the (6) "Most Valuable Lineman," according to Gulf State Conference coaches in 1962.

 

Odom played only a year - in 1964 - in the American Football League for the Oilers.​

Odom played only a year - in 1964 - in the American Football League for the Oilers.​

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After his sports career ended, Odom lived in Shreveport, where he founded the flag football program at the Agnew Town and Country School. In 1971,he relocated to Mansfield in DeSoto Parish, south of Shreveport. There, he operated the Dunn-Odom Insurance Agency for fourteen years. At the time of his death, Odom was the administrator for the DeSoto Parish Police Jury, the governing agency of the parish, akin to the county judge in other states. He was a member too for fifteen years of the DeSoto Regional Hospital Board. Odom's brother, Charles D. Odom (born 1951) of Minden, served on the Webster Parish Police Jury; Odom's nephew, "Chad" Odom (born 1975), ran unsuccessfully for [[mayor]] of Minden in 2014 but was defeated by [[Tommy Davis]]. ​

After his sports career ended, Odom lived in Shreveport, where he founded the flag football program at the Agnew Town and Country School. In 1971,he relocated to Mansfield in DeSoto Parish, south of Shreveport. There, he operated the Dunn-Odom Insurance Agency for fourteen years. At the time of his death, Odom was the administrator for the DeSoto Parish Police Jury, the governing agency of the parish, akin to the county judge in other states. He was a member too for fifteen years of the DeSoto Regional Hospital Board. Odom's brother, Charles D. Odom (born 1951) of Minden, served on the Webster Parish Police Jury; Odom's nephew, "Chad" Odom (born 1975), ran unsuccessfully for [[mayor]] of Minden in 2014 but was defeated by [[Tommy Davis]].

 

Odom died of a sudden illness two months after his fiftieth birthday. In addition to his younger brother, Charles Odom, he was survived by his wife, the former Cheryl Yarborough; a son, Samuel Joseph "Bo" Odom, Jr. of Mansfield; two daughters, Joel Caral Odom Salley and husband, Thomas Addison Salley,

Odom died of a sudden illness two months after his fiftieth birthday. In addition to his younger brother, Charles Odom, he was survived by his wife, the former Cheryl Yarborough; a son, Samuel Joseph "Bo" Odom, Jr. of Mansfield; two daughters, Joel Caral Odom Salley and husband, Thomas Addison Salley,

of Shreveport, and Rachel Odom Delafield and husband, Wil Delafield, of Mansfield; four grandchildren; sister-in-law, the former Pattie Lou Cook of Minden, wife of Charles Odom; a second brother, Troy S. Odom, Jr. (born 1948), and wife, the former Donna Suzanne Haygood (also born 1948), formerly of Lewisville, [[Arkansas]], but retired in Webster Parish and his mother-in-law, Carajo Yarborough of Mansfield. Services were held in the First [[United Methodist]] Church, of which Odom was chairman of the board of trustees. Interment was at Highland Cemetery in Mansfield.​

of Shreveport, and Rachel Odom Delafield and husband, Wil Delafield, of Mansfield; four grandchildren; sister-in-law, the former Pattie Lou Cook of Minden, wife of Charles Odom; a second brother, Troy S. Odom, Jr. (born 1948), and wife, the former Donna Suzanne Haygood (also born 1948), formerly of Lewisville, [[Arkansas]], but retired in Webster Parish and his mother-in-law, Carajo Yarborough of Mansfield. Services were held in the First [[United Methodist]] Church, of which Odom was chairman of the board of trustees. Interment was at Highland Cemetery in Mansfield.​

 

On July 4, 2007, Odom was posthumously honored among the "Top 100 Players" in the NSU centennial celebration.​

On July 4, 2007, Odom was posthumously honored among the "Top 100 Players" in the history of Northwestern State University.​

==References==​

==References==​