Powell grew up in Portland, Oregon and was one of the first 12 students to graduate from Franklin High School.
[2] He played fullback for Oregon State from 1918 to 1921 and became the university's first college football All-American in 1921.
[3] In the January 1922 issue of "Football World," Powell was named as the first-team All-American at the fullback position.
[4] Powell was also a member of Oregon State's track team and won the Pacific Coast Conference shot put championship in 1920.
He remained in the business that he called "the oil and gas game" for his entire career.