CURRENT RECIPIENTS

Andy Frederick
UNM Alumni Lettermen's Athletic Hall of Honor
2010 Inductee

Andy Frederick, there is no such thing as "too hard." Asked what the secret of his athletic success was, Andy replied, "I did what the coaches told me and I kept my mouth shut."

Anyone who knows Andy knows that he did not say this out of bitterness or resentment, but out of respect.

Following this motto, Andy became a member of two Super Bowl winning teams: the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XII in 1978 and the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX in 1986.

Even with all this success, Andy remained humble and simply did what needed to be done. For a total of 13 years, the National Football League (NFL) was graced with Andy's presence. Playing on three different teams and creating a name for himself, Andy never forgot and always took pride in being a Lobo.

Andy has done much more than play football. Commitment to his community and school always appears steadily on the wide scope of his interests.

He is active in the Salvation Army, serving on its advisory board in Garland, Texas. He is also a member of NFL Alumni Caring for Kids. Here one can see the humble and caring character of the man. When working with kids, or even just when someone asks to see his Super Bowl rings, Andy not only shows them the rings, but tells them to put them on and asks the kids to "pass them around" to make sure all can admire them on their own fingers.

This man of a big heart has worked continuously with the NFLPA Retired Players chapter in Dallas, contributing to the Annual Holiday House for the last nine years. He has also participated in the MS150 Bike Ride fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis research.

After retiring from football, Andy did not slow down. He returned to his alma mater and received a degree in civil engineering, a field in which he succeeded ably. His success was recognized in 1994, when Andy became an associate member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

There are few men in the world as successful, well-loved, and caring as Andy Frederick. Having coached him on two teams, Mike Ditka would know this to be true. Coach Ditka admired Andy for his being "dependable, reliable and accountable," and found that Andy "conducted himself the way a professional athlete should." When signing a copy of his book to Andy, Coach Ditka said, "Thanks for being such a good, steady player in times of need."

We feel the same and thank Andy for being a good and steady Lobo, and for all he does for his community, his family and his school.

Trevor Ketner