1950s Rice football standout Buddy Dial dies

1950s Rice football standout Buddy Dial dies

Buddy Dial, one of the stars of the last Rice team to make it to the Cotton Bowl and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, passed away Feb. 29 after a lengthy illness.

Buddy Dial, one of the stars of Rice team to make it to the Cotton Bowl and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, passed away Feb. 29

Dial, 71, earned All-American honors as a receiver for the Owls from 1956-58. He earned “Sophomore Lineman of the Year” honors from the Southwest Conference (SWC) as a sophomore after catching 21 passes, including five for touchdowns. He caught another 21 passes, averaging 24 yards per catch, while earning All-SWC honors as a junior and leading the Owls to a berth in the Cotton Bowl.

Dial was selected by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1959 NFL draft, but was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers before the start of the season. He played five seasons with the Steelers then three with the Dallas Cowboys, finishing his career in 1966.

A native of Ponca City, Okla., Dial returned to the Houston area after his retirement from the NFL in 1967. He made his home in Tomball and was an active speaker for civic, church and charity events in addition to his business interests.
 
Survivors include two sons, Darren and David; a daughter, Sherri; and five grandchildren.