IRVING, Texas (Feb. 24, 2014) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter announced today that former University of Texas Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds will receive the 2014 Distinguished Texan Award. Dodds will accept the award at the chapter’s sixth annual banquet April 14 at the Marriott Quorum in Addison, Texas.

“Over a long career at the University of Texas, DeLoss Dodds established himself as one of the most successful athletics directors in the country, including national recognition in 2006 as the recipient of the NFF John L. Toner Award,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “He has always been a great supporter of the game of football and a friend of the National Football Foundation. We are extremely proud to be honoring him.”

The Distinguished Texan Award, the chapter's most prestigious award, pays tribute to an outstanding person who has maintained a lifetime of interest in the game of football and has been a significant contributor to the betterment of the game. Past recipients include College Football Hall of Famer John Wooten (2013), Dallas Cowboys Personnel Director Gil Brandt (2012), TCU head coach Gary Patterson (2011), Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager and NFF Board Member Jerry Jones (2010) and College Football Hall of Fame coach, NFF Board Member and AFCA Executive Director Grant Teaff (2009).

"We are thrilled to be honoring DeLoss Dodds this year," said Gerald Brence, the president of the NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas and the athletics director for the Plano Independent School District. “The event promises to be a highly memorable and entertaining night as we recognize his contributions to the game of football and the state of Texas. We have received unmatched support for the event the past five years with more than 500 people in attendance, and we anticipate a great turnout this year with DeLoss Dodds headlining the event."

Dodds officially retired as Texas’ Athletics Director on Nov. 25. During his tenure as the school's sixth athletics director, the University of Texas Men's Athletics program enjoyed some of its most dynamic times. Since his arrival in the fall of 1981, the Longhorns have claimed 14 National Championships and 108 conference (Southwest and Big 12) titles in nine different sports, and with Dodds' direction, Texas exponentially expanded its brand as one the most powerful marketing forces in the country.

Dodds' calm leadership helped guide Texas during conference realignment in 2010, and the Longhorns emerged as the leading member of a reorganized Big 12. His keen business acumen and national media relationship played an instrumental role in the creation of the Longhorn Network, the first sports network devoted to a single school, which launched on Aug. 26, 2011.

Dodds hired head football coach Mack Brown in 1998, ushering in one of the most successful periods in Texas Athletics history, which included a BCS National Championship at the conclusion of the 2005 season. The Longhorns' fourth national title underscored a decade of excellence under Coach Brown that featured at least 10 victories in nine consecutive seasons, five straight bowl victories and appearances in the national title game in 2006 and 2010.

Dodds' goal from the beginning centered on providing Texas with the best, state-of-the-art amenities, and over the past two decades, Dodds and the Longhorns have invested nearly $400 million to renovate or build facilities.

The most recent renovations include a project to upgrade Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, increasing stadium capacity to more than 100,000 and adding a 20,000 square foot academic center, 47 suites, 1,988 club seats and 2,200 chair back seats, plus a food court and executive meeting space. The project also included south end zone construction that added bleachers and expanded training and medical facilities.

Dodds guided the creation of The Longhorn Foundation, the department's official fundraising leg, which raised more than $1 million in just its first year. In the history of the Foundation, which now boasts 13,000-plus donors, more than $370 million has been raised for student-athlete scholarships, academic services, sports medicine, facilities and all other facets of Texas Athletics.

Dodds was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 and was honored as the 2011 and 2005 Athletic Director of the Year at the Sports Business Awards, presented by SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily. The NFF recognized him in 2006 with the NFF John L. Toner Award for demonstrating excellence as an athletics administrator and he received the Distinguished American Award from the NFF Greater Austin Chapter in 2008.

Prior to coming to Texas in 1981, Dodds spent three years as Kansas State Athletics Director, turning around a struggling athletics department. He also served as assistant commissioner of the Big Eight Conference for two years.

Born in Riley, Kan., Dodds was a prep football, basketball and track standout, earning the nickname the “Riley Flash.” He graduated from Kansas State in 1959 with a degree in physical education and a minor in psychology. After spending time in graduate school and the Army, Dodds returned to his alma mater as an assistant track coach in 1961. He became head coach in 1963, and he served in that position for 14 years, guiding Kansas State to six Big Eight titles.

Dodds and his wife, Mary Ann, have three children – Doug, Deidre and Debra – and eight grandchildren. He currently serves as special assistant to Texas President Bill Powers.

The April 14 event, starting at 6 p.m. CT, will also recognize the best high school and college student-athletes in North Texas while paying tribute to several outstanding individuals for their contributions to football and the community. Sportscaster Scott Murray will serve as the evening's emcee for the sixth consecutive year. The club will also present the Steve Storie Official of the Year award, the Athletics Director of the Year award and the Legends Award for local contributions to the game while also recognizing the high school coaches of the year.

The club's awards committee will announce the additional honorees in the near future. For more information on tickets and/or banquet sponsorship opportunities, please contact club president Gerald Brence at 469-878-5370 or via email at Gerald.Brence@pisd.edu.

About The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame, the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame, the NFF Scholar-Athlete Awards presented by Fidelity Investments, the NFF Showcases, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF Faculty Salute Initiative presented by Fidelity Investments, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association, and scholarships of more than $1.3 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. The NFF also presents the William V. Campbell Trophy endowed by HealthSouth and hosted at the New York Athletic Club as well as bestowing several other major awards at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner in New York City. NFF corporate partners include the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Fidelity Investments, Herff Jones, Liberty Mutual Insurance, the Sports Business Journal, and Under Armour. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org.