HoopScoop
03-18-2005, 11:06 AM
College Athletics Pioneer Dr. Prentice Gautt Passes Away (http://big12sports.collegesports.com/genrel/031705aaa.html)
- a little off-topic, but this is someone special to the University of Oklahoma -
March 17, 2005
DALLAS - Dr. Prentice Gautt, Big 12 Conference Special Assistant to the Commissioner, passed away at approximately 8:30 a.m. this morning in a Lawrence, Kansas, hospital after being admitted on Monday with flu-like symptoms. The cause of death has not been determined.
"We are all shocked and saddened by this news," said Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg. "We have lost a wonderful friend, mentor and colleague. Prentice contributed so much to our Conference and to college athletics as a whole. He was a true pioneer in college sports. His compassion and genuine caring spirit will always be remembered. I feel very fortunate to have worked with him these past seven years and he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sandra and the family in this difficult time."
One of the legends in college football history and a trendsetter for many years, Gautt was an original member of the Big 12 staff, working with member institutions in assessing and encouraging services to assist current and former student-athletes in adjusting to the transitions of life after sports.
Gautt was also the Big 12's main liaison with regional and national Special Olympics and the Conference's Student-Athletes Advisory Committee. In 1996 the Big 12 began the Dr. Prentice Gautt Scholarship program, which annually awards financial aid to qualifying student-athletes pursuing post-graduate education. Since its inception the program has awarded nearly $500,000 in aid to 105 Big 12 student-athletes.
Prior to the formation of the Big 12, Gautt was senior associate commissioner of the Big Eight Conference from 1994-96 after serving as associate commissioner from May, 1983-June, 1994. The Oklahoma City, Okla., native joined the Big Eight as assistant commissioner on May 1, 1979. At the Big Eight his primary duties were in the areas of education, life skills, eligibility, rules interpretations, compliance, administration of the conference's drug testing program, and enforcement. He also sat on the NCAA's Academic Requirements Committee and was the NCAA Secretary/Treasurer in 1994. In addition, he was chair of the NCAA Men's Committee on Committees.
In 1999, the Dr. Prentice Gautt Academic Center was dedicated at the University of Oklahoma in honor of his contribution to college athletics. In 2003, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Oklahoma for his many years of service to college athletics and student-athletes.
A 1960 Oklahoma graduate and later Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Missouri, Gautt broke new ground as the first African-American football student-athlete at OU in 1956 under Hall of Fame head coach Bud Wilkinson. An All-America selection in addition to being a two-time All-Big Eight Conference and CoSIDA Academic All-America, Gautt played professionally for the Cleveland Browns in 1960 and the St. Louis Cardinals from 1961-67. He led the Sooners in rushing in 1958 and '59.
Gautt is survived by his wife Sandra of Lawrence, Kansas, son, Roger, of Houston, Texas, and sister, Loretta Davis, and was preceded in death by son, Rory, and two brothers.
Funeral arrangements are not known at this time.
- a little off-topic, but this is someone special to the University of Oklahoma -
March 17, 2005
DALLAS - Dr. Prentice Gautt, Big 12 Conference Special Assistant to the Commissioner, passed away at approximately 8:30 a.m. this morning in a Lawrence, Kansas, hospital after being admitted on Monday with flu-like symptoms. The cause of death has not been determined.
"We are all shocked and saddened by this news," said Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg. "We have lost a wonderful friend, mentor and colleague. Prentice contributed so much to our Conference and to college athletics as a whole. He was a true pioneer in college sports. His compassion and genuine caring spirit will always be remembered. I feel very fortunate to have worked with him these past seven years and he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sandra and the family in this difficult time."
One of the legends in college football history and a trendsetter for many years, Gautt was an original member of the Big 12 staff, working with member institutions in assessing and encouraging services to assist current and former student-athletes in adjusting to the transitions of life after sports.
Gautt was also the Big 12's main liaison with regional and national Special Olympics and the Conference's Student-Athletes Advisory Committee. In 1996 the Big 12 began the Dr. Prentice Gautt Scholarship program, which annually awards financial aid to qualifying student-athletes pursuing post-graduate education. Since its inception the program has awarded nearly $500,000 in aid to 105 Big 12 student-athletes.
Prior to the formation of the Big 12, Gautt was senior associate commissioner of the Big Eight Conference from 1994-96 after serving as associate commissioner from May, 1983-June, 1994. The Oklahoma City, Okla., native joined the Big Eight as assistant commissioner on May 1, 1979. At the Big Eight his primary duties were in the areas of education, life skills, eligibility, rules interpretations, compliance, administration of the conference's drug testing program, and enforcement. He also sat on the NCAA's Academic Requirements Committee and was the NCAA Secretary/Treasurer in 1994. In addition, he was chair of the NCAA Men's Committee on Committees.
In 1999, the Dr. Prentice Gautt Academic Center was dedicated at the University of Oklahoma in honor of his contribution to college athletics. In 2003, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Oklahoma for his many years of service to college athletics and student-athletes.
A 1960 Oklahoma graduate and later Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Missouri, Gautt broke new ground as the first African-American football student-athlete at OU in 1956 under Hall of Fame head coach Bud Wilkinson. An All-America selection in addition to being a two-time All-Big Eight Conference and CoSIDA Academic All-America, Gautt played professionally for the Cleveland Browns in 1960 and the St. Louis Cardinals from 1961-67. He led the Sooners in rushing in 1958 and '59.
Gautt is survived by his wife Sandra of Lawrence, Kansas, son, Roger, of Houston, Texas, and sister, Loretta Davis, and was preceded in death by son, Rory, and two brothers.
Funeral arrangements are not known at this time.