HOUSTON, Sept. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Virginia Tech
legend Frank Beamer, the winningest collegiate coach in his NCAA division when he retired in 2015,
will receive the 2019 Paul "Bear" Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Heart Association. Beamer will receive the
award presented by Marathon Oil Corporation at the 33rd annual awards dinner Jan. 9, 2019 in
Houston.
Marathon Oil's President and CEO Lee Tillman said Beamer's contributions across three decades
are profound. "Frank Beamer has always gone beyond winning, teaching players leadership skills for
life," said Tillman. "He won the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award in 1999, and his
contributions to building communities and supporting healthy living reflect the commitments of Marathon Oil and AHA. He is
deserving of this capstone lifetime achievement award."
Beamer, who traveled to Houston for the announcement, said he is honored. "I am honored and
humbled to receive the Bear Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award. I'd like to thank all the fine young men who I had an opportunity
to coach, as well as their parents who entrusted their sons to me. Without our coaches and support staff, we could not have built
the program and enjoyed the success we did. A big thank you to them and their families for their commitment and loyalty," Beamer
said.
Last year, in his first year of eligibility, Beamer entered the National Football Hall of Fame and he is one of just 13 who
serve on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. In 2017, he won the coveted Nyland Trophy for his contributions to the
game – an award that Bear Bryant himself received in 1983.
The National Conference for Community and Justice honored Beamer with its Humanitarian Award in 2004 for his contributions for
fostering justice, equity and community in Roanoke (Va.) Valley.
"I also owe a debt of gratitude to our fabulous fans, administrators and alumni at Virginia Tech
who allowed me to enjoy a 29-year coaching run at my alma mater," Beamer said. "Finally, and most importantly, I am especially
grateful for my wife, Cheryl, and our family. I will share this award with everyone who made it possible and look forward to
attending the ceremony. Go Hokies!"
Beamer, whose tenure as the Hokie's coach spanned 29 years, has a Virginia Tech 238-121-2 record
and an overall record of 280-144-4. He led the team to seven conference championships across his 29 seasons and made 23 straight
bowl appearances. In 2000, he was voted the Big East Conference Coach of the Decade.
Beamer's record includes four Atlantic Coast Championships, five ACC Coastal Division Crowns, three Big East Conference
titles, six BCS appearances, two "major bowl" victories and a trip to the national championship game in 2000. Before returning to
his alma mater, he served as head coach at Murray State from 1981 to 1986.
The Paul "Bear" Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award honors a coach for outstanding career accomplishments both on and off the
field. Beamer joins a roster of the best in college football coaching, including Steve Spurrier
(2018), Barry Alvarez (2017), Mack Brown (2016), Jimmy Johnson (2015), R.C. Slocum (2014) and LaVell Edwards (2013), and stands
alongside the legendary Coach Bryant himself.
Now in its 33rd year, the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards recognize the country's top college
football coaches for their contributions both on and off the field. The Coach of the Year Award – presented each January – is the
only college coaching honor selected after all bowl games are concluded and is voted on by the National Sports Media
Association.
Behind the scenes, both awards are much bigger than a season or career success. These are opportunities to shine a spotlight
on heart disease and stroke – the nation's No. 1 and No. 5 health threats. Since the adoption of the name, the Bryant Awards have
raised more than $9.8 million for the American Heart Association, funding research, education and
advocacy efforts and saving countless lives. "Bear" always talked about being bigger than something other than himself. The
Bryant Awards offer an opportunity to do just that — to join the American Heart Association in the fight against heart disease
and stroke.
Marathon Oil Corporation has served as the presenting sponsor of the Bryant Awards for the past 10 years, underscoring the
Company's commitment to health and wellness and supporting initiatives that promote the well-being of workers and their families
both on and off the job. The Company also values the communities in which its employees live and work and strives to partner with
local community leaders to recognize and advance important public health initiatives that promote the common good and protect the
public.
To purchase tickets to the Bryant Awards, contact 832-918-4009 or visit www.bryantawards.org.
About American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of
death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies,
and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting
heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on
Facebook and Twitter.
About Marathon Oil Corporation
Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO) is an independent exploration and production company based in Houston. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.marathonoil.com.
Media Contacts:
Sue Davis, Sr. Communications Director, AHA Greater Houston
M: 618-521-1288, Susan.Davis@heart.org
Esther Schinzler, Marketing Communications Director, AHA Greater Houston
O: 8l32-918-4046, Esther.Schinzler@heart.org
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SOURCE American Heart Association