Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award to Honor Former UA Athletes

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Two former University of Alabama athletes — baseball letterman Jerry Belk and football captain and basketball standout Jack V. Brown Sr. — will be honored with the 2009 Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award.

The Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award will be presented on Sept. 12 at halftime of the UA vs. Florida International football game in Tuscaloosa.

The prestigious award is presented by the UA National Alumni Association to former athletes whose accomplishments have been outstanding based on character, contributions to society, professional achievement and service.

The 2009 recipients are:

Jerry Belk of Tuscaloosa played third baseman for the Crimson Tide from 1952-1954. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1954 and his master’s degree in 1958, after which he went on to serve in the U.S. Army for two years. Upon completion of his service, he returned home to teach and coach at Holt High School.

Belk became the director of the Tuscaloosa County Parks and Recreation Authority in 1966, where he helped the organization to grow and develop until his retirement in the late 1990s. During his time as director, Belk also became a member of many city boards, committees and associations, including becoming a president of the “A” Club Alumni Association.

In 2006, Belk was inducted in to the Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame for his contributions to the community, and in 2007 the Community Foundation of West Alabama honored him as a Pillar of West Alabama for his commitment to improving the quality of life for the citizens of West Alabama.

Jack V. Brown Sr. came to UA from Selma as an MVP and state basketball champion, as well as an all-state football player. He played football from 1948-1951, becoming a team captain his senior year. He also played basketball in 1948-1949 and served as an ROTC brigadier commander.

After completing his bachelor’s degree in 1952, Brown returned to his hometown where he became the head football coach and athletic director at his alma mater, A.G. Parrish High School in Selma. In 1960, Brown left coaching to work at Liberty National Life Insurance Co. where he worked for 33 years, becoming president of the company until his retirement in 1993.

Brown has been an active alumnus as well, becoming president of the “A” Club Alumni Association and he has participated in many community service projects for charitable causes. Brown is also a life deacon emeritus at Mountain Brook Baptist Church in Birmingham.

Past recipients of the UA Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award include:

1988 – John Croyle

1989 – Young Boozer

1990 – Charlie Boswell

1991 – Fred Sington

1992 – Hoyt “Wu” Winslett

1993 – Holt Rast, Tom Rast

1994 – Bart Starr

1995 – Bud Moore

1996 – Ozzie Newsome

1997 – Jerry Duncan

1998 – Dwight Stephenson

1999 – Lee Roy Jordan

2000 – Joe Kelley, Wendell Hudson

2001 – Dr. Andrew Burch, Jack McKewen

2002 – Harry Lee, I.L. “Pat” O’Sullivan Jr.

2003 – Harry Gilmer, Don Salls

2004 – Jeremiah Castille, William E. Sexton

2005 – Bill Battle, Dr. Noah Langdale Jr.

2006 – Jim Loftin Sr., Bobby Luna, Mal Moore

2007-   Clem Gryska, Cecil “Hootie” Ingram

2008 –  Barbara Mack Harding, George A. McCain Jr., Ben W. McLeod Jr.