Press Release
Contact: Blair Moon
713.551.8100

Sunday, October 16, 2011, legendary college football coach, Bobby Bowden, will be honored at the second annual Charlie Ward Tribute to Excellence.   The event, set to take place in Houston, TX, will be emceed by former Houston Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy.

The Charlie Ward Tribute to Excellence, named after Heisman trophy winner and head coach of the Westbury Christian School varsity football team, Charlie Ward, recognizes individuals of distinction, commitment and faith.  All proceeds from the event will be used to secure new Westbury Christian School athletic facilities to match the excellent athletic programs that already exist, but are conducted on other leased fields.

Robert “Bobby” Bowden began his coaching career in 1954 at Howard College, in his hometown of Birmingham, AL.  He is perhaps most celebrated for the 33 years he spent as head coach of the Florida State Seminole football team where, under Coach Bowden’s direction, the Seminoles won 12 ACC Championship titles, and 2 National Championships, the first of them in 1993 with Charlie Ward at quarterback.   Among his several, record-breaking accomplishments, Coach Bowden is the only coach to finish 14 consecutive seasons ranked among the top 5 (AP) in the NCAA Division 1-A standings, and he currently ranks second in all-time wins by a head coach of a major football team, with 389.  Both Bowden and Ward were inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

A proud father of 6, Coach Bowden has been married to his high school sweetheart, Ann, for 61 years.  He is a devoted Christian and often credits his faith for the success achieved throughout his 44 years coaching college football.  Coach Bowden retired from coaching at the close of the 2009-10 season, just a few weeks after his 80th birthday.

Retired NFL Coach Tony Dungy was the first honoree to receive the Tribute to Excellence award, and, according to Coach Ward, “Coach Bowden’s willingness to help kids grow into the men that God has called them to be makes him an equally deserving candidate, and a true representative of ‘excellence.’ As I lead the young men of the Westbury Christian School football team, I am dedicated to demonstrating the same Christian example Coach Bowden constantly displayed in the five years I was privileged to play under his direction at Florida State.  I am honored for the opportunity to recognize his efforts though this event.”

For more information about the event, or to learn more about Westbury Christian School, please visit www.westburychristian.org, or call 713.551.8100.

Westbury Christian School is a private, college preparatory, fully accredited, culturally diverse school, offering unique, educational opportunities for pre-k, elementary, middle and high school students. The school is located in Houston, TX, at 10420 Hillcroft, at Willowbend.