Cumby to Receive Butkus Silver Anniversary Award

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc. (DACO) has announced that former Oklahoma All-American George Cumby has been named this year's Butkus Silver Anniversary Award winner.

The Butkus Silver Anniversary Awarded is presented annually to the best linebacker in college football from twenty-five years ago. Cumby will be honored December 10th along with the 2004 Butkus Award finalists.

Cumby is considered one of the top defensive players of all time at Oklahoma. The two-time All-America selection was also named Defensive Newcomer of the Year and Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year twice. Cumby was described by then-head coach Barry Switzer as "the only person I know who could go one-on-one with Earl Campbell and knock him backwards."

George Cumby Bio

He finished his career at Oklahoma with 405 career tackles, placing him fifth on the all-time list. He was taken in the first round by the Green Bay Packers in 1980. He was an All-Pro linebacker with the Packers and finished his NFL career in 1986 with the Buffalo Bills.

Cumby has been serving his community as an ordained minister since 1992. He currently serves as Pastor and Founder of the Family of Faith Worship Center of Katy, Texas. He has been heavily involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Sports World Ministry. Cumby is founder of the Generation X-Plosion Ministries in 1996, where the organization serves and benefits youth in crisis. He lives in Katy with his wife Rose.

On Friday, December 10th, the DACO celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Butkus Award with a black tie Gala at the Renaissance Orlando Resort at Sea World. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception and Silent Auction at 6:30 PM followed by a three-course gourmet dinner.

The Butkus Award presentation, emceed by former Butkus winner and ESPN analyst Trev Alberts, will honor each of this year's finalists, as well as past winners. The culmination of the evening is the announcement of the 2004 Butkus Award recipient. Reservations for the Butkus award Gala evening may be made by contacting the DACO office at 407-774-7813.

The Butkus Award is regarded as one of the most elite individual honors in college football.

Past recipients include such outstanding linebackers as: Teddy Lehman (2003-Oklahoma); E.J. Henderson (2002-Maryland); Rocky Calmus (2001-Oklahoma); Dan Morgan (2000-U. of Miami); LaVar Arrington (1999-Penn State); Chris Claiborne (1998-Southern California); Andy Katzenmoyer (1997-Ohio State); Matt Russell (1996 Colorado); Kevin Hardy (1995-Illinois); Dana Howard (1994-Illinois); Trev Alberts (1993-Nebraska); Marvin Jones (1992-Florida State); Erick Anderson (1991-Michigan); Alfred Williams (1990-Colorado); Percy Snow (1989-Michigan State); Derrick Thomas (1988-Alabama); Paul McGowan (1997-Florida State); and Brian Bosworth (1985 and 1986-Oklahoma).

Created in 1985 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando Inc., the Butkus Award carries the name and support of one of the greatest middle linebackers in football history, Dick Butkus.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Cumby to Receive Butkus Silver Anniversary Award

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