HOUSTON, Sept. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Virginia Tech
legend Frank Beamer, the winningest
collegiate coach in his NCAA division when he retired in 2015, will
receive the 2019 Paul "Bear" Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award from
the American Heart Association. Beamer will receive the award
presented by Marathon Oil Corporation at the 33rd annual awards
dinner Jan. 9, 2019 in Houston.
Marathon Oil's President and CEO Lee
Tillman said Beamer's contributions across three decades are
profound. "Frank Beamer has always
gone beyond winning, teaching players leadership skills for life,"
said Tillman. "He won the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award in 1999, and his
contributions to building communities and supporting healthy living
reflect the commitments of Marathon Oil and AHA. He is deserving of
this capstone lifetime achievement award."
Beamer, who traveled to Houston
for the announcement, said he is honored. "I am honored and humbled
to receive the Bear Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award. I'd like to
thank all the fine young men who I had an opportunity to coach, as
well as their parents who entrusted their sons to me. Without our
coaches and support staff, we could not have built the program and
enjoyed the success we did. A big thank you to them and their
families for their commitment and loyalty," Beamer said.
Last year, in his first year of eligibility, Beamer entered the
National Football Hall of Fame and he is one of just 13 who serve
on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. In 2017, he
won the coveted Nyland Trophy for his contributions to the game –
an award that Bear Bryant himself received in 1983.
The National Conference for Community and Justice honored Beamer
with its Humanitarian Award in 2004 for his contributions for
fostering justice, equity and community in Roanoke (Va.) Valley.
"I also owe a debt of gratitude to our fabulous fans,
administrators and alumni at Virginia
Tech who allowed me to enjoy a 29-year coaching run at my
alma mater," Beamer said. "Finally, and most importantly, I am
especially grateful for my wife, Cheryl, and our family. I will
share this award with everyone who made it possible and look
forward to attending the ceremony. Go Hokies!"
Beamer, whose tenure as the Hokie's coach spanned 29 years, has
a Virginia Tech 238-121-2 record and an
overall record of 280-144-4. He led the team to seven conference
championships across his 29 seasons and made 23 straight bowl
appearances. In 2000, he was voted the Big East Conference Coach of
the Decade.
Beamer's record includes four Atlantic Coast Championships, five
ACC Coastal Division Crowns, three Big East Conference titles, six
BCS appearances, two "major bowl" victories and a trip to the
national championship game in 2000. Before returning to his alma
mater, he served as head coach at Murray
State from 1981 to 1986.
The Paul "Bear" Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award honors a coach
for outstanding career accomplishments both on and off the field.
Beamer joins a roster of the best in college football coaching,
including Steve Spurrier (2018),
Barry Alvarez (2017), Mack Brown (2016), Jimmy
Johnson (2015), R.C. Slocum (2014) and LaVell Edwards (2013), and stands alongside the
legendary Coach Bryant himself.
Now in its 33rd year, the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards recognize the country's top
college football coaches for their contributions both on and off
the field. The Coach of the Year Award – presented each January –
is the only college coaching honor selected after all bowl games
are concluded and is voted on by the National Sports Media
Association.
Behind the scenes, both awards are much bigger than a season or
career success. These are opportunities to shine a spotlight on
heart disease and stroke – the nation's No. 1 and No. 5 health
threats. Since the adoption of the name, the Bryant Awards have
raised more than $9.8 million for the
American Heart Association, funding research, education and
advocacy efforts and saving countless lives. "Bear" always talked
about being bigger than something other than himself. The Bryant
Awards offer an opportunity to do just that — to join the American
Heart Association in the fight against heart disease and
stroke.
Marathon Oil Corporation has served as the presenting sponsor of
the Bryant Awards for the past 10 years, underscoring the Company's
commitment to health and wellness and supporting initiatives that
promote the well-being of workers and their families both on and
off the job. The Company also values the communities in which its
employees live and work and strives to partner with local community
leaders to recognize and advance important public health
initiatives that promote the common good and protect the
public.
To purchase tickets to the Bryant Awards, contact 832-918-4009
or visit www.bryantawards.org.
About American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from
heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of
death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund
innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and
provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these
diseases. The Dallas-based
association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary
organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To
learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org
or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on
Facebook and Twitter.
About Marathon Oil Corporation
Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO) is an independent
exploration and production company based in Houston. For more information, please visit
the Company's website at www.marathonoil.com.
Media Contacts:
Sue Davis,
Sr. Communications Director, AHA Greater Houston
M: 618-521-1288, Susan.Davis@heart.org
Esther Schinzler, Marketing
Communications Director, AHA Greater Houston
O: 8l32-918-4046, Esther.Schinzler@heart.org
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SOURCE American Heart Association