NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients

2007 Barton Dear

  • Chapter TD Club of Houston Chapter
  • High School Klein Oak HS (TX)
  • Year 2007

Biography

Barton Dear symbolizes everything right about high school athletics. His reputation for sportsmanship, competitive energy, drive for academic excellence and a deep desire to give back to his school and his local community, created a record that simply defined him as the best in the South Region. 

A leader in the classroom, Dear's 5.39 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, ranked him fifth in a strong class of 501 students. He placed first in the State of Texas Math Team competition and he personally finished second in the District Science Competition and fourth in the District Calculator Competition. A National Merit Award Winner, Dear placed third in the Woodmen of the World Life Award for Outstanding Proficiency in American History. He was a finalist in the District Academic Octathalon. 

As a 5-foot-11 and 215-pound linebacker for the Klein Oak football team, Dear established himself as a leader in every way possible. A team captain and three-year varsity starter, Dear earned Player of the Week honors on several occasions. He was named to the First Team All-District squad as a senior as well as a Semifinalist for the Kiwanis Sports Hero Award. Dear's prowess on the gridiron extended to other sports, earning him All-District honors in Lacrosse and landing him accolades as the Interscholastic Hockey League Defensive Player of the Month on one occasion. 

"Bart has always gone above and beyond our requirements and has displayed an excellent attitude," stated Klein Oak head football coach David Smith. "He is truly dedicated to every challenge he takes on." 

Barton Dear's accomplishments are not limited to athletics and academics. He also devotes a great deal of time to his community. He volunteered at The Tomball Abandoned Animal Rescue, the Habitat for Humanity, and helped handicapped children play baseball. 

Dear chose to attend the University of Notre Dame and earned degrees in chemical engineering and economics. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the department of chemical engineering at the University of Texas.