Outstanding Alumni Award - Alden Glenn Bass
The following is the presentation speech given Alumni Day by Senator Robert B. Morgan.This and other articles may be found in the University Archives.
Citation for this article is: Morgan, Robert B. "Outstanding Alumni Award," ECU Report Volume 1, No. 1, 1967.
Each year the Alumni Association of East Carolina selects an individual to receive the Outstanding Alumni Award. In the past, this award has been given to persons who have distinguished themselves in academic, professional, civicand community life, or in the military. Always the individual selected to receive this award has, through his public achievements, his own exemplary conduct, and his devotion to this institution, brought credit to himself and to his alma mater.
The alumnus chosen to receive the award this year represents an importantdepartment and activity at East Carolina. This is the first time this award has been made to an alumnus who has achieved national prominence in the field of athletics. And, as I have heard Dr. Jenkins say on so many occasions, we believe that athletics should be an integral part of every institution and that we should strive for excellence in all sports.
The recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award for the year 1967 is Alden Glenn Bass of Wilson, North Carolina. Glenn graduated from Fike High School in Wilson in 1957 and enrolled at East Carolina College that same year. He chose Health and Physical Education as his major, which was not suprising having been an outstanding high school football player. His coach at East Carolina was Jack Boone who recognized the great potential in this 148-pound speedster. While he had been primarily a defensive player in high school, Coach Boone switched him to offense, and his record as an offensive player as a Pirate was most impressive.
Those who played football with Glenn Bass and those who coached him recall that one of his greatest assets was his determination and dedication to improve his ability in playing the game. Jersey number 15 soon became a well-known emblem through-out North Carolina as Bass began rolling up the "stat" sheets in the field of football. In 1959, he set records by copping all of the honors in the rushing, pass reception, and scoring departments.
Football was not the only sport that Glenn played and liked. He was a fine baseball player while at East Carolina and was voted Little All American in this sport as well as Little All American in football. Academically, he was a good student in theclassroom and applied the same determination to his books that he applied on the athletic fields. Among other honors bestowed upon Glenn while he was a student at East Carolina was being named to Who's Who in American College's and Universities. He is also a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
It was during the 1960 All-Star Game in Arizona that Glenn Bass first attracted the attention or the professional scouts. Upon his graduation from East Carolina in 1961, Glenn went with the San Diego Chargers. Later that year he was traded to the Buffalo Bills and was voted most Valuable Offensive Player and Rookie of the Year awards. He was listed in the 1965 edition of Outstanding Young Men of America . He has thrilled millions of Americans, in the grandstands and on coast-to-coast television, with his skill as a professional footabll player.
Glenn is a former Marine. During the off-season he has worked as an American Motors representative, as an executive trainee with Sears Roebuck, and as an industry hunter for North carolina. Glenn is the host/owner of the Goal Post Restaurant, one of Buffalo's finest steak houses. He currently resides in Williamsville, New York, with his wife, the formere Jean Carolyn Lasater.
We regret very much that it was not possible for Glenn to be with us today to receive the Outstanding Alumni Award. I want to read the following telegram from him:
I humbly accept the honor bestowed upon me today by my beloved alma mater. If I have furthered the name of East Carolina College, it has always been with pride and with gratitude for the privilege to represent so great an institution wherever I might be. I regret that I cannot say in person what I feel. I am exceedingly grateful. Thank you.
