freshchris05
7/20/2010, 02:29 PM
http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/071910aaa.html
Baseball Announces Endowed Scholarships
The $850,000 is the largest single endowment given to any Oklahoma sport
NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma baseball team recently added another program first under the watch of head coach Sunny Golloway as it announced the addition of endowed scholarships that will be available for the 2011 season.
The start of the endowment program is being made possible by an $850,000 donation by Dan Burrell, a former Sooner pitcher who passed away in April of 2009.
The endowment is the single largest given to any Oklahoma sport and it will be used for current and future members of the Sooners' pitching staff. The OU Athletics Department has over 50 endowed scholarships currently on campus.
"Dan Burrell has truly left a legacy in the Oklahoma baseball program," said OU Athletics Director/Vice President Joe Castiglione. "His extremely generous gift will make it possible for dozens of young men to follow in his footsteps, and we hope each of those young men can live as successfully as Mr. Burrell. He succeeded in business, but also was a war hero obviously a loyal man. I wish we could thank him personally, but we will use his gift in such a way as to bring tribute to him."
Born in Henryetta, Okla, in 1918, Burrell lettered at OU in 1947, 1948 and 1949 after fighting in World War II in the United States Army, including the Battle of the Bulge. He received a Bronze Star, an honor presented to soldiers who demonstrated heroism or meritorious service, while serving in the artillery division and finished his military career with the rank of captain.
He passed away at his home in San Francisco where he worked in the insurance industry after graduating from the University of Oklahoma.
"We are extremely humbled and honored by this very generous gift to our program," said Golloway. "The support of Mr. Burrell, along with all of our outstanding alumni, is what helps OU baseball continue its tradition of excellence in recruiting the nation's top student-athletes."
The baseball program was one of three beneficiaries, as Burrell also left part of his estate to two separate charities.
Nicknamed "Boom-Boom" as a tall right-handed pitcher, Burrell helped OU make its first appearance in the NCAA tournament in 1947. That season marked the first officially sanctioned NCAA postseason that determined a national champion. The Sooners were conference champions that season with a 15-13 overall record and 7-5 conference mark under head coach Jack Baer.
Throughout his collegiate career, Burrell posted four victories and helped OU accumulate 32 wins as a team during a time that featured a third of the amount of games played today. In the 1940's and up until 1971, college baseball programs played anywhere from 20-30 contests each year.
Burrell remained an avid Sooner fan when moving to California and wanted to give back to the program that helped him over 60 years ago.
"As we look at some of our outstanding pitchers, like Jeremy Erben and Bobby Shore who played at a high level this season and helped us return to the College World Series, this gift will benefit current and future Sooners and assist our program in maintaining that high standard," added Golloway.
"This gift will enhance their lives as they grow as student-athletes. It helps them develop in the classroom, as well as on the competitive field, and beyond their time spent at the University of Oklahoma."
http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/okla/graphics/auto/DanBurrellmug.gif Dan Burrell
Baseball Announces Endowed Scholarships
The $850,000 is the largest single endowment given to any Oklahoma sport
NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma baseball team recently added another program first under the watch of head coach Sunny Golloway as it announced the addition of endowed scholarships that will be available for the 2011 season.
The start of the endowment program is being made possible by an $850,000 donation by Dan Burrell, a former Sooner pitcher who passed away in April of 2009.
The endowment is the single largest given to any Oklahoma sport and it will be used for current and future members of the Sooners' pitching staff. The OU Athletics Department has over 50 endowed scholarships currently on campus.
"Dan Burrell has truly left a legacy in the Oklahoma baseball program," said OU Athletics Director/Vice President Joe Castiglione. "His extremely generous gift will make it possible for dozens of young men to follow in his footsteps, and we hope each of those young men can live as successfully as Mr. Burrell. He succeeded in business, but also was a war hero obviously a loyal man. I wish we could thank him personally, but we will use his gift in such a way as to bring tribute to him."
Born in Henryetta, Okla, in 1918, Burrell lettered at OU in 1947, 1948 and 1949 after fighting in World War II in the United States Army, including the Battle of the Bulge. He received a Bronze Star, an honor presented to soldiers who demonstrated heroism or meritorious service, while serving in the artillery division and finished his military career with the rank of captain.
He passed away at his home in San Francisco where he worked in the insurance industry after graduating from the University of Oklahoma.
"We are extremely humbled and honored by this very generous gift to our program," said Golloway. "The support of Mr. Burrell, along with all of our outstanding alumni, is what helps OU baseball continue its tradition of excellence in recruiting the nation's top student-athletes."
The baseball program was one of three beneficiaries, as Burrell also left part of his estate to two separate charities.
Nicknamed "Boom-Boom" as a tall right-handed pitcher, Burrell helped OU make its first appearance in the NCAA tournament in 1947. That season marked the first officially sanctioned NCAA postseason that determined a national champion. The Sooners were conference champions that season with a 15-13 overall record and 7-5 conference mark under head coach Jack Baer.
Throughout his collegiate career, Burrell posted four victories and helped OU accumulate 32 wins as a team during a time that featured a third of the amount of games played today. In the 1940's and up until 1971, college baseball programs played anywhere from 20-30 contests each year.
Burrell remained an avid Sooner fan when moving to California and wanted to give back to the program that helped him over 60 years ago.
"As we look at some of our outstanding pitchers, like Jeremy Erben and Bobby Shore who played at a high level this season and helped us return to the College World Series, this gift will benefit current and future Sooners and assist our program in maintaining that high standard," added Golloway.
"This gift will enhance their lives as they grow as student-athletes. It helps them develop in the classroom, as well as on the competitive field, and beyond their time spent at the University of Oklahoma."
http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/okla/graphics/auto/DanBurrellmug.gif Dan Burrell