FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Friends and admirers of the late University of Arkansas All-American football player Brandon Burlsworth are honoring his memory by establishing an endowed scholarship fund that they hope eventually will support 19 deserving UA students every year.

The fundraising begins Aug. 23 with a series of Brandon Burlsworth memorial golf tournaments being played simultaneously on eight Arkansas golf courses and one tournament on Aug. 30.

Burlsworth, a football All-American at the University, was tragically killed on April 28 in an automobile accident while returning to his home in Harrison from the Fayetteville campus. Razorback fans will remember him for anchoring the offensive line that produced a 9-3 winning record and a trip to the Citrus bowl for first-year coach Houston Nutt.

Only 11 days before the accident, Burlsworth became a third round draft pick for the Indianapolis Colts. He earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in business administration. The master’s degree was awarded posthumously.

In Fayetteville, the Brandon Burlsworth Memorial Classic will be held, Monday, Aug. 23, at Paradise Valley Athletic Club, 3728 Old Missouri Road. The four-man scramble begins at 8 a.m. or 1 p.m. Team sponsorships are available for $1,000 for group recognition on tee and entry for one team; $5,000 for group recognition for the front or back nine holes and entry for two teams; $10,000 for course title sponsorship and entry for two teams. Contact Al Sexton or Andy Lambel at 501-521-5841 for more information.

In Rogers, the tournament will be held at the Lost Springs Golf & Athletic Club, 3024 North 22^nd. Contact Win Bullington at 501-631-9988 for more information.

Brandon Burlsworth Memorial Classics will also be held on Monday, Aug. 23 at Eagle Crest Golf Club, Alma; Eagle Hill Golf & Athletic Club, Little Rock; Marion Golf & Athletic Club, Marion; Centennial Valley Golf & Athletic Club, Conway; Harbor Oaks Golf Club, Pine Bluff; The Course at River Oaks, Searcy; and on Monday, Aug. 30, at Harrison Country Club, Harrison.

Anyone unable to play in one of these tournaments, but wanting to contribute to the scholarship fund can send any level of contribution to University of Arkansas Foundation - Brandon Burlsworth Scholarship Fund — P. O. Box 1068, Fayetteville, AR 72702.

Jim Lindsey, University Board of Trustees member and chairman of Lindsey Management Company, Fayetteville, Ark., and Stanley E. Reed, University Board of Trustees member and agricultural businessman, are leading the effort to establish a fund for the Brandon Burlsworth Memorial Scholarships.

The initial goal is $500,000. Of this amount, $100,000 will enable a walk-on football athlete to receive $10,000 and 18 other students to receive $5,000 academic scholarships in the 1999-2000 academic year. The remaining $400,000 will go into the endowment. The ultimate goal is to build an endowment of $2 million to support the scholarships in perpetuity.

The first scholarship, the $10,000 Brandon Burlsworth Athletic Scholarship, will be given to the Razorback Foundation, Inc., to be awarded by Coach Houston Nutt, at his discretion, to a deserving walk-on football player.

The other scholarships, the $5,000 ($2,500 each semester) Brandon Burlsworth Memorial Scholarships, will be awarded to any student who, on an academic basis, exemplifies the outstanding attributes that Brandon possessed. Requirements for these other scholarships include being a resident of Arkansas or a son or daughter of a U of A alumnus; being a full-time student at the University of Arkansas; completing 30 hours of study prior to the awarding of the scholarship; and having a minimum grade point average of 3.4.

"Brandon’s life was characterized by high moral standards and unimpeacheable integrity on and off the football field. We have created this scholarship fund to commemorate the fact that he was not only an accomplished athlete but also excelled in the classroom," said Lindsey.

Reed said, " We want to remember the life of this remarkable young man and to accentuate his Christian values, athletic accomplishments and academic achievements. With this scholarship, we want to reward students who, like Brandon, come to Fayetteville with little scholarship assistance, but prove themselves exemplary in their academic achievement and moral conduct."

Chancellor John A. White added, "The University is honored to be a part of this effort to create the Brandon Burlsworth Memorial Scholarship Fund. These scholarships will give the gift of opportunity to the students, who like Brandon, are highly effective student leaders with a passion for excellence."

Burlsworth was the son of Barbara Burlsworth of Harrison, Ark. His father, Leo, is deceased. His brother, Marty Burlsworth of Harrison, said, "Our family is greatly honored that this fine group of people wants to establish this scholarship in Brandon’s name. He worked hard in school and believed in the value of academic achievement. It is fitting that his memory can help give other students opportunities to excel through this scholarship program." His other brother, Grady, resides in Ohio.

Burlsworth came to the University in 1994 as a walk-on. As a 6 foot-3 inch, 308 pound right guard, he started every game for the last three seasons. Last fall The Football News named him first-team All-American, the first such honor for a Razorback since 1989. He also was named to the Associated Press’ All-SEC team and as the Northwest Arkansas Times’ Male Collegiate Athlete of the Year.

Burlsworth was a disciplined player on and off the field, one who did not drink, smoke or use foul language. His trademark on the field, black horn-rimmed glasses, gave him a look of an intellectual, and he became the first Arkansas player to have earned a master’s degree before playing his last game. On April 17, 1999, he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the NFL draft, the 63^rd selection overall.

Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt said, "There wasn’t a better person than Brandon Burlsworth. He left something behind that nobody will forget. He always stood for the right thing; always made the right decision. That’s why we try to tell the team, 'Do it the Burls way.’ This scholarship commemorates an outstanding role model for all our students."

For more information on the Brandon Burlsworth Memorial Scholarship, contact the University of Arkansas’s Scholarship office at 800-377-UOFA.

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