Sept. 30, 2014

DeKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois University will honor the memory of the late Dr. Robert J. Brigham, Sr., whose 50 years of service to the university included 19 as the Huskies' director of athletics and dated back to his time as an NIU student-athlete, on Friday, October 10, 2014 at the Barsema Alumni & Visitors Center on the NIU campus.

The Brigham Legacy Celebration will begin at 6 p.m. in the Pollock Ballroom. Members of the NIU and DeKalb community are invited to attend the celebration of Dr. Brigham's accomplishments, his life, and his dedication to Northern Illinois University. Hor d'oeuvres and beverages will be served.

As space in the ballroom is limited to 300 people, those who wish to attend must RSVP to Amy Schmidt in the Huskie Athletic Fund at 815-753-1923 on or before Monday, Oct. 6, 2014. Attendance is by advance reservation only.

Brigham, a World War II veteran whose association with NIU began in 1946 as a football player and wrestler and continued for more than 50 years, including 19 as the Huskies' director of athletics, passed away on May 25, 2014 in DeKalb.

He made a lasting impact on the lives of thousands of NIU student-athletes that continues to this day. As the Huskies' athletic director from 1968-87, he took NIU from NCAA College Division to University Division (or major college) status, oversaw the Huskies' admission to the Mid-American Conference in 1973, enhanced NIU's athletics facilities and saw multiple teams qualify for NCAA championships competition. After leaving the AD's chair, Brigham became the special assistant to the president. In that role, he managed the university's compliance obligations until his retirement in 2001.

In 2003, the playing surface at Huskie Stadium was named "Brigham Field" in his honor and the North End Zone is officially known as the Brigham Family Plaza in honor of him and his family. Brigham entered the NIU Physical Education Hall of Fame in 1987 and was inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989. In 1991, he received the F. R. "Bud" Geigle Outstanding Service Award from the NIU Foundation.

Prior to becoming athletic director, Brigham spent 11 seasons as NIU's head wrestling coach while also serving as an assistant football coach. He posted a record of 82-45-6 in wrestling dual meets and coached five individual national champions and 11 All-America selections. As a member of Hall of Fame football coach Howard Fletcher's staff, he helped the 1963 Huskies to a 10-0-0 season and the College Division National Championship.

Brigham's affiliation with NIU began as a football student-athlete following a distinguished Navy career in World War II. Despite being cut by Coach George "Chick" Evans in his freshman season, he returned a year later and eventually earned distinction as a member of the "Pony Backfield" at NIU. He finished his playing career as a three-year letterwinner in football and also lettered one season in wrestling before graduating with a bachelor's degree in education in 1949. .

-- NIU --

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