Don Bryant

Don "Fox" Bryant retired as associate director of athletics on July 31, 1997, after more than 34 years on the Cornhusker staff, but continues to work on special projects for the athletic department.

In 1995, Bryant was inducted into the Nebraska Journalism Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Nebraska Press Association and the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. Bryant followed a 14-year journalism career as a sportswriter and sports editor at the Lincoln Star with a career in sports administration at NU. Before 1993, he served as assistant athletic director for 18 years, sports information director for 31 years and director of the Bob Devaney Sports Center for eight years. Bryant then served as an associate athletic director for communications for five years before retiring in 1997.

Bryant was presented the Football Writers Association of America Bert McGrane Award in 1998 at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.

Bryant continues his ties with NU in retirement, assisting the athletic department in the development of a hall of fame, historical timeline and a sports museum. He is a member of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications adjunct faculty with the rank of associate professor and teaches during the fall.

A graduate of UNL, he twice served on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps. He also worked on the staff of the Lincoln Star as the sports editor from 1954 to 1963. Bryant serves as secretary of the Nebraska Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. He is a past president of the College Sports Information Directors of America, and in 1981, he received the Arch Ward Memorial Award for outstanding service to the profession.

Bryant was a member of the 1980, 1984 and 1988 U.S. Winter Olympic Teams, serving as media liaison at Lake Placid, Sarajevo and Calgary. He also served in that capacity for the USOC at the 1987 Pan American Games. He is a past member of the USOC Public Relations Committee and served for 20 years as a member of the NCAA Media Services Staff at the Final Four basketball tournaments. In 1979, he was the chief U.S. press officer to the World Cup Games at Montreal.

Bryant was the recipient of the 1997 Clarence Swanson Memorial Award from the Nebraska Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. Other 1997 honors included the NU Journalism Alumni Award of Excellence for Outstanding News-Editorial Service, the Lifetime Award from the Nebraska Sports Writers and Sportscasters Association and the Charles J. Mancuso Sports Service Award from the Omaha Sportscasters Association.

In the spring of 1993, "Fox" was honored by the Nebraskaland Foundation which presented him its Wagonmaster Award, and the University of Nebraska Alumni Association, which presented him its Distinguished Achievement Award. He is a member of the Husker Track and Field Officials Hall of Fame and has received special merit awards from the Nebraska Football and Basketball Halls of Fame.

A CoSIDA Hall of Fame member, Bryant is a past president of the organization as well as a past president of the Nebraska Sportswriters and Sportcasters Association. "Fox" is married to the former Joan (Pedie) Peden and they have two sons, Bill and Jeff, and four grandchildren.