Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
A Celebration of WVU Legend Fred Wyant’s Life Planned This Sunday at Erickson Alumni Center
April 19, 2021 11:33 AM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The life and legacy of West Virginia University sports legend Fred Wyant will be celebrated at the Erickson Alumni Center on Sunday, April 25 at 3 p.m.
Friends and family will be received two hours prior to the general public memorial service from 1 to 3 p.m. All in attendance are asked to wear face coverings and practice safe social distancing.
Wyant, 86, died Saturday, March 20, 2021 following months of declining health.
He was an author, quarterback, professional football player and referee, West Virginia University and West Virginia Sportswriters hall of famer and inaugural member of the WVU Mountaineer Legends Society.
Wyant quarterbacked West Virginia during its second Golden Era of football in the early 1950s when he led the Mountaineers to 31 victories and a meeting against eighth-ranked Georgia Tech in the 1954 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
That was WVU's first-ever major bowl game and also its first-ever appearance on national television. Wyant was a three-time academic All-American and was chosen by the Washington Redskins in the 1956 NFL Draft.
He played one professional football season in the Canadian Football League in Toronto before embarking upon a successful business career in Morgantown. He got into officiating in 1958 and became an NFL official in 1966, working in that capacity until his retirement in 1992. Fred worked many memorable games, including the 1981 AFC Divisional Playoffs when the San Diego Chargers defeated the Miami Dolphins in overtime.
In 2001, Wyant collaborated with former WVU sports information director Rene A. Henry on a book titled "Offsides!" detailing his experiences as an NFL official. He also served as a football analyst on MSN television broadcasts that aired statewide during the mid-1980s.
Wyant was elected to the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 and the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.
For many years, he served on the WVU Sports Hall of Fame selection committee.
Fred is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Dolores Wyant, and his three adult children, Kim Wyant Rizzo and spouse John Rizzo, Fred Wyant II and E. Scott "Augie" Wyant and spouse Beth Wyant. Fred is also survived by three grandchildren, Adam Burrows, Eric Wyant II and Julian Wyant, one great-grandchild, Adriana Burrows, as well as his siblings Joseph Wyant and William Wyant.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Michael Wyant.
At Fred's request, his body was donated to West Virginia University for the advancement of science and medicine. Donations may be made in Fred's name to Amedisys Hospice, 5006 Mid-Atlantic Drive, Morgantown, WV, 26508.
Friends and family will be received two hours prior to the general public memorial service from 1 to 3 p.m. All in attendance are asked to wear face coverings and practice safe social distancing.
Wyant, 86, died Saturday, March 20, 2021 following months of declining health.
He was an author, quarterback, professional football player and referee, West Virginia University and West Virginia Sportswriters hall of famer and inaugural member of the WVU Mountaineer Legends Society.
Wyant quarterbacked West Virginia during its second Golden Era of football in the early 1950s when he led the Mountaineers to 31 victories and a meeting against eighth-ranked Georgia Tech in the 1954 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
That was WVU's first-ever major bowl game and also its first-ever appearance on national television. Wyant was a three-time academic All-American and was chosen by the Washington Redskins in the 1956 NFL Draft.
He played one professional football season in the Canadian Football League in Toronto before embarking upon a successful business career in Morgantown. He got into officiating in 1958 and became an NFL official in 1966, working in that capacity until his retirement in 1992. Fred worked many memorable games, including the 1981 AFC Divisional Playoffs when the San Diego Chargers defeated the Miami Dolphins in overtime.
In 2001, Wyant collaborated with former WVU sports information director Rene A. Henry on a book titled "Offsides!" detailing his experiences as an NFL official. He also served as a football analyst on MSN television broadcasts that aired statewide during the mid-1980s.
Wyant was elected to the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 and the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.
For many years, he served on the WVU Sports Hall of Fame selection committee.
Fred is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Dolores Wyant, and his three adult children, Kim Wyant Rizzo and spouse John Rizzo, Fred Wyant II and E. Scott "Augie" Wyant and spouse Beth Wyant. Fred is also survived by three grandchildren, Adam Burrows, Eric Wyant II and Julian Wyant, one great-grandchild, Adriana Burrows, as well as his siblings Joseph Wyant and William Wyant.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Michael Wyant.
At Fred's request, his body was donated to West Virginia University for the advancement of science and medicine. Donations may be made in Fred's name to Amedisys Hospice, 5006 Mid-Atlantic Drive, Morgantown, WV, 26508.
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