Dick Beyer Honored with Zunic Award
10/13/2014 4:24:00 PM | Football
Former Orange lineman and Professional Wrestling Hall of Famer is the 2014 Zunic Award recipient
Known as a Dick Beyer to those who watched Syracuse football in the early 1950s, or "The Destroyer" to professional wrestling fans, the former right tackle and Professional Wrestling Hall of Famer was presented with the Zunic Award at the Florida State game this past weekend.
The Zunic Award was created in 2001 to honor Mike and Judy Zunic, who died tragically on July 18, 1989 when a United Airlines plane crashed in Siouz City, Iowa. The pilot, anticipating landing difficulties, requested if some strong passengers would volunteer to give up their seats and sit at the exit doors to assist passengers in the event of an emergency. Mike and Judy volunteered to give up their seats in first class and sit at one of the exit doors. Mike and Judy both died in the crash and those in the Zunic's seats survived.
Mike was a four-year starter at linebacker and earned a B.A. ('81) and Master's ('82) in speech communication.
A three-time letterwinner (1950-52) on the Syracuse offensive line where he earned a Master's in education, Beyer went onto wrestle under his own name for eight years before transforming into The Destroyer in 1962 and touring the world with the World Wrestling Association.
His wrestling career would take him on a six-year trip to Japan from 1973-79 before continuing his career in the United States for five years after his stint in Japan.
In 1984, Beyer returned to his home in Akron, N.Y. where he served as a physical education teacher and coached high school football, swimming and wrestling.
Past Award Recipients:
2001: Mr. and Mrs. Zunic, Frank Maloney, former coach and Gene Grabosky '60, posthumous
2002: Pat '88 and Kari Kelly and Roberta DeLeone
2003: Jim DaRin '77
2004: Joshua Frase
2005: Jim Rooney
2006: Rockette Pirro Brunetti and Horace Landry
2007: Sylvia Mackey, wife of SU All-American John Mackey '63 and Chris Ingram '89 posthumous
2008: Robin Griffin '72, Carlmon Jones, Former SU Coach and Ron Page '74
2009: Bill Coghill '72 and Norm Mordue '66
2010: Jim Jerome '76
2011: John Lally '82
2012: Tim Byrne '87, posthumous
2013: Pat Killorin '66
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The Zunic Award was created in 2001 to honor Mike and Judy Zunic, who died tragically on July 18, 1989 when a United Airlines plane crashed in Siouz City, Iowa. The pilot, anticipating landing difficulties, requested if some strong passengers would volunteer to give up their seats and sit at the exit doors to assist passengers in the event of an emergency. Mike and Judy volunteered to give up their seats in first class and sit at one of the exit doors. Mike and Judy both died in the crash and those in the Zunic's seats survived.
Mike was a four-year starter at linebacker and earned a B.A. ('81) and Master's ('82) in speech communication.
A three-time letterwinner (1950-52) on the Syracuse offensive line where he earned a Master's in education, Beyer went onto wrestle under his own name for eight years before transforming into The Destroyer in 1962 and touring the world with the World Wrestling Association.
His wrestling career would take him on a six-year trip to Japan from 1973-79 before continuing his career in the United States for five years after his stint in Japan.
In 1984, Beyer returned to his home in Akron, N.Y. where he served as a physical education teacher and coached high school football, swimming and wrestling.
Past Award Recipients:
2001: Mr. and Mrs. Zunic, Frank Maloney, former coach and Gene Grabosky '60, posthumous
2002: Pat '88 and Kari Kelly and Roberta DeLeone
2003: Jim DaRin '77
2004: Joshua Frase
2005: Jim Rooney
2006: Rockette Pirro Brunetti and Horace Landry
2007: Sylvia Mackey, wife of SU All-American John Mackey '63 and Chris Ingram '89 posthumous
2008: Robin Griffin '72, Carlmon Jones, Former SU Coach and Ron Page '74
2009: Bill Coghill '72 and Norm Mordue '66
2010: Jim Jerome '76
2011: John Lally '82
2012: Tim Byrne '87, posthumous
2013: Pat Killorin '66
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