Penix came from Rossford, Ohio, where he attended 17 different schools as his father's job as a construction foreman required the family to move frequently.
[1] He starred at Rossford High School, leading the team to the 1966 Ohio class A state final.
He then transferred to Bowling Green to complete his four-year career for new coach Bob Conibear.
[5] Following his college career, Penix was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1970 NBA draft and the Denver Rockets of the American Basketball Association (ABA).
He was selected into the Owens Community College inaugural athletics hall of fame class in 2016.