Sexton, Castille Named 2004 Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award Recipients

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Former Crimson Tide athletes William E. “Bill” Sexton and Jeremiah Castille will receive The University of Alabama National Alumni Association’s (NAA) Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award at the Alabama-Utah State football game in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, Sept. 4.

The criteria for selection of the award given to a former Alabama athlete include character, contribution to society, professional achievement or success and service to humanity. Presenting the award at the halftime ceremony will be UA President Robert E. Witt, Athletic Director Mal Moore, NAA President Andre Taylor, NAA President-elect Judson Wells, UA Director of Alumni Affairs Pat Whetstone and A-Club President Lamonde Russell.

Bill Sexton was a two-sport star for the Crimson Tide. He was a member of the UA basketball team from 1949-1954, serving as a captain during his final season. He was also a member of the tennis team. Upon graduating from the University, where he met his wife, Patricia, Sexton became a self-made businessman. Moving to Decatur and becoming involved immediately in civic activities, Sexton developed a reputation as a hard worker and a canny salesperson. In 1969, he helped create the Industrial Development Association, an arm of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, and also began selling the Decatur area to companies looking to relocate.

He and his wife have two children, Tricia and Britt, both of whom have graduated from UA. Never forgetting his alma mater, Sexton has been a generous supporter of the University athletics program as well as creating the William E. Sexton Endowed Scholarship in Education, along with his son, Britt. Russ Roberts of the Decatur Daily once wrote, “The parallels between [Sexton and Paul Bryant] are obvious… Both have the confidence that makes winners. Both have given of themselves for the benefit of others.”

Jeremiah Castille is no stranger to Tide football fans. He played in two Cotton Bowls, one Sugar Bowl and one Liberty Bowl, which was Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s last game, a game for which Jeremiah was voted Most Valuable Player. He lettered for four years in football while attending UA, playing on the 1979 National Championship team, earning All-SEC honors in 1981 and All-American honors in 1982. Castille is tied for Alabama’s all-time single-game interception record of 3, and the career interception record of 16. He was named to Alabama’s “All-Century” team as one of the best four defensive backs ever to play for the Crimson Tide. He went on to play for six years in the NFL, for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos, before returning to Alabama to serve as the assistant football coach at Briarwood High School, coaching on two Alabama State Class AAA championship teams.

In 2001, Jeremiah founded the Jeremiah Castille Ministries, an organization with a mission to reach inner city youth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through sports, mentoring and tutoring. Jeremiah and his wife Jean have six children: Tim, a sophomore fullback for the Tide, Simeon, a freshman defensive back, Leah, Rachel, Caleb and Danielle. He is currently the director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at UA.

Past recipients of the Bryant Award have included John Croyle, Harry Gilmer, Jerry Duncan, Charlie Boswell, Fred Sington, Lee Roy Jordan, Hoyt “Wu” Winslett, Bart Starr, Wendell Hudson and Ozzie Newsome.