When I was eight years old, I got one of the greatest Christmas gifts I have ever gotten—a genuine Auburn football helmet… the real thing. It was from a friend of my dad’s, Ronnie Ross, who had played tight end for Auburn under Shug Jordan. It was amazing to me that this actual Auburn football player had given me a real helmet. Mr. Ross was my first Auburn hero—the first of many.

During my time in school at Auburn, I interacted with different men and women who were role models—“heroes,” if you will—to me. I remember serving on a campus committee with David Housel and being in awe of him and the way that he exemplified all that was, and is, Auburn.

We all can probably come up with our own Auburn heroes if we start thinking about men and women who personify the Auburn creed in their daily lives and represent Auburn with integrity and honor. I am sure many of us interact daily with individuals—Auburn men and women—who inspire us to be better people. On March 3, 2018, the Auburn Alumni Association will recognize five individuals who do just that. These men and women will be the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. They represent Auburn honorably in their professional and personal lives, and they remind us of what it means to live by the Auburn Creed.

This year’s Lifetime Achievement honorees (and Auburn heroes) are as follows:

Charles Barkley ’86, is a highly acclaimed college and NBA basketball player with many awards and recognitions, as well as an Emmy-winning television sports personality, a generous philanthropist, and a champion of all that is Auburn.

Melanie Barstad ’75, a highly successful executive in the medical industry, is a strong supporter and advocate for Auburn’s College of Liberal Arts.

and as he moves forward and charts a path for growth, I believe he will embody elements of the Auburn creed. I know he believes in “work, hard work”, and he will work tirelessly to push Auburn to new heights. As a proven and successful leader, Dr. Leath brings “honesty and truthfulness” to the task at hand and should thereby “win the respect and confidence of [his] fellow men.” I am confident that he will lead us in a direction of growth with “a spirit that is not afraid.” Most importantly, I believe that Dr. Leath will make decisions that are in the best interests of Auburn University, Auburn students, and the Auburn family. I encourage everyone to get to know Dr. Leath; to watch how he leads and changes the university; and to support him as he leads our university into the future. It will be exciting to witness the change and growth that are coming.

Auburn will always be Auburn, but Auburn will also change and evolve as we move forward. As we Auburn men and women watch this evolution, I hope that we continue to hold fast to the beliefs and standards upon which we are built — as well as to the advances and changes we are making for the future…because, at the very heart of it, we all “believe in Auburn and love it” — the Auburn of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

War Eagle, Happy Holidays, and God Bless-

Beau Byrd ʼ89
President, Auburn Alumni Association
bbyrd@bradley.com

Mission

The Auburn Alumni Association is dedicated to enhancing the engagement and connection of all Auburn University alumni and friends.

Vision

To advance Auburn University by engaging our global community and cultivating their passion for and loyalty to the university.

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