The NCAA News - News and Features

January 13, 1997

Silver Anniversary Awards

Six former collegiate stars who have enjoyed prominent professional careers in journalism, business, politics and medicine are this year's NCAA Silver Anniversary Award recipients.

The Silver Anniversary Award recognizes former student-athletes who have distinguished themselves since completing their college athletics careers 25 years ago.

The six individuals will be recognized January 12 at the honors dinner during the NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

Following are biographical sketches of the six award winners:

Tommy CASANOVA

His football achievements continued after his collegiate career as he played for the NFL Cincinnati Bengals while pursuing a degree in medicine, which he earned from the University of Cincinnati in 1979.

He returned to Louisiana for a residency in New Orleans, then in 1984 he completed a fellowship in oculoplastic surgery at the University of Utah.

Currently an ophthalmologist in his hometown of Crowley, Louisiana, and a Louisiana state senator, Casanova also serves as an associate clinical professor at the LSU training program and as an oculoplastic consultant at the Hansen's Disease Research Center.

A 1995 inductee into the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, Casanova also serves on the Louisiana State Board of Trustees for Colleges and Universities.

Jack FORD

Ford earned a law degree at Fordham University before becoming an assistant prosecutor in Monmouth County in New Jersey. He then became a trial attorney and an adjunct professor of law at Fordham's School of Law.

He began his broadcast journalism career as a legal commentator for WCBS-TV in New York. He became NBC News' chief legal correspondent in 1984 and has maintained that position since.

Ford has coanchored the "Today, Weekend Edition" show and was host of the public television series, "Inside the Law." He also has won an Emmy Award.

A member of Fordham's Board of Trustees, Ford also serves on the Board of Directors for the Women's Resource Center of New Jersey.

David JOYNER

In wrestling, Joyner was a three-time Eastern Intercollegiate champion and the NCAA heavyweight runner-up in 1971.

Winner of an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, Joyner also was a National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame scholar-athlete and is a GTE Academic All-America Hall of Fame selection.

Currently an orthopedic surgeon and chief executive officer of the Joyner Sports Medicine Institute, Joyner has served as head physician for U.S. teams during several international competitions, including the 1987 Pan American Games, the 1989 Olympic Festival, the 1991 University World Games and the 1992 Olympics.

Edward B. RUST

He earned postgraduate degrees in business administration and law at Southern Methodist University before beginning his insurance career.

He held several positions at State Farm Insurance Company, including corporate law department attorney, assistant vice-president, executive vice-president and chief operating officer before assuming his current position as president and chairman of the board in 1985.

An Illinois Wesleyan trustee, Rust also is a member of the Campaign Cabinet and President's Advisory Council for the American Red Cross.

James TEDISCO

His career as a New York State Assemblyman began in 1982. Tedisco since has been a ranking member of the Committee on Children and Families and a member of several additional groups, including the Joint Legislative Task Force on Academics and Athletics.

He has been involved with key legislation that requires kindergarten through eighth-grade students to receive instruction designed to prevent the abduction of children, establishes as a class B felony the sale of a controlled substance in or near school grounds, and requires schools to notify parents of children who are not in attendance within three hours of the beginning of the school day in order to assist law enforcement authorities in their response to reports of missing children.

Herb WASHINGTON

Washington, winner of the Big Ten Medal of Honor for proficiency in academics and athletics, is best remembered in professional sports as a pinch runner in baseball for the Oakland Athletics. He stole 29 bases during his first season and helped the A's advance to the World Series.

He joined Michigan Bell as an assistant director of personnel, then became the company's sales manager. Currently, Washington owns six McDonald's restaurants in upstate New York.

A member of the board of directors for the United Negro College Fund, Washington also serves on the board of directors for the United States Federal Reserve Bank of New York.