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Hall of Famer Floyd Little Named Distinguished American
This isn’t the first time Little has been recognized by the Walter Camp Foundation. In 1966, he was named to the All-American team as a running back. In 1978, he was honored as the organization’s “Man of the Year.”
NEW HAVEN, CT – Floyd Little (Syracuse University), a College and Professional Football Hall of Famer and native of New Haven, is the 2011 recipient of the Walter Camp Football Foundation “Distinguished American” Award.
The Walter Camp “Distinguished American” award is presented each year to an individual who has utilized his or her talents to attain great success in business, private life or public service and who may have accomplished that which no other has done. He or she may have a record of dedication to mankind that should not pass unrecognized and a life that has been dedicated to the preservation of the American ideal. The recipient need not have participated in football but must be one who understands its lesson of self-denial, cooperation and teamwork, and one who is a person of honesty, integrity and dedication. He or she must be a leader, an innovator, even a pioneer, who has reached a degree of excellence that distinguishes him or her from contemporaries, as well as someone who lives within the principles of Walter Camp.
Past recipients of the Walter Camp Distinguished American honor include nationally-respected sportscasters Pat Summerall (2004) and Keith Jackson (1995), all-purpose television personality Regis Philbin (2003), NBC Sports Executive Dick Ebersol (1996), former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue (1994), world-renowned entertainer Bob Hope (1985), former college coach Eddie Robinson (1982) and last year’s recipient, legendary football Hall-of-Famer Chuck Bednarik.
This isn’t the first time Little has been recognized by the Walter Camp Foundation. In 1978, he was honored as the organization’s “Man of the Year.”
“Floyd Little is a favorite son of New Haven who has been an accomplished football star and businessman,” Foundation president John Marks said. “Floyd’s values and commitment to helping others are what makes him a Hall-of-Fame person.”
A native of New Haven, Little played football for James Hillhouse High School before attending Bordentown (N.J.) Military Institute. Following graduation, he attended Syracuse University and was a Walter Camp All-America selection in 1966.
Little was the sixth player drafted in the 1967 AFL-NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. He proceeded to play nine seasons for the Broncos and was a two-time All-AFL and three-time Pro Bowl choice. Simply known as “The Franchise,” Little was the first Bronco to eclipse 1,000 yards in a season – leading the NFL with 1,133 in 1970. He retired following the 1975 season and finished his professional career with 6,323 rushing yards and 54 touchdowns.
His college uniform number 44 was retired by both Syracuse University and the Broncos. Little was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and in 2010 he was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On September 15, 2011, the New Haven Athletic Center, the largest scholastic athletics facility in New England and home to several events during the annual Walter Camp Weekend, was renamed the Floyd Little Athletic Center.
Today, Little is a sought-after public speaker for Touchdown Presentations, LLC. He currently resides in Syracuse, NY with his wife DeBorah. He has three children and four grandchildren.
Little, as well as other major award winners Harry Carson (Man of the Year) and Chris Spielman (Alumni Award), and members of the 2011 Walter Camp All-America team, will be honored at the organization’s 45th annual national awards banquet on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven. The Foundation is offering a "Holiday Ticket Promotion" for the National Awards Dinner. Buy two tickets for $400 (you save $150) before December 31. Please call (203) 288-CAMP (288-2267) for more information.
Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team and honoring deserving individuals.
Walter Camp, "The Father of American football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp — a former Yale University athlete and football coach — is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation — a New Haven based all volunteer group — was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All America team.
About the Foundation
"Walter Camp was one of the giants of football in the United States. He stands with Stagg, Rockne, Thorpe, Warner, Heffelfinger in the imprint they made upon the game. He stands first among them, for it was he who sired the game as it is played in the United States, the game that evolved from the rugby football of England. He played in the first Yale-Harvard game of rugby in 1876. From then on, his was the fertile, inventive mind and guiding leadership that brought about the evolution of the American style of football."
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