June 5, 2004
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The annual John Purdue Weekend came to a close Saturday with the John Purdue Open, the Boilermaker Celebrity Scramble and the recognition of brothers Robert and John Durham, who received the highest honor bestowed on Boilermaker Backers, the Diamond P.
The Durham Brothers were selected because of their longtime and dedicated support to Boilermaker Athletics. In addition to endowing two athletic scholarships at Purdue, Robert and John are responsible for establishing the prestigious Durham Brothers Leadership Award in 1996. This annual award, which is voted on by Purdue's head coaches, recognizes a select group of student-athletes who possess strong leadership qualities.
Natives of West Frankfort, Ill., Robert Durham graduated from Purdue's School of Science in 1951, while John graduated in 1952. Robert resides in Creve Coeur, Mo., with his wife, Kathy, and are the proud parents of five children. John and his wife Nancy currently reside in Chesterfield, Mo., and have three children.
Saturday's Celebrity Scramble was highlighted by the appearances of legendary Boilermaker football stars, quarterback Len Dawson and fullback Mike Alstott. Overall, more than 40 former student-athletes returned to West Lafayette for this year's Celebrity Scramble.
Alstott's team won the Celebrity Scramble with a -15 on the par-72 Kampen/Ackerman course.
Dawson was a three-year letterwinner for the Boilermakers from 1954 to 1956. During a hall-of-fame career that spanned 18 seasons, Dawson appeared in two Super Bowls (I and IV) as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. He was named MVP of Super Bowl IV, following a 23-7 win over the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings.
Alstott also earned a Super Bowl ring in 2003 as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which dismantled the Oakland Raiders, 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII. Alstott, an All-America selection in 1995, finished his Boilermaker career as the program's all-time leading rusher with 3,635 yards. A three-time team Most Valuable Player, Alstott scored 39 rushing touchdown and caught 93 passes for 1,075 yards with three scores.
John Purdue Club Director and Asst. Athletics Director of Development, Greg Christopher, said Saturday's John Purdue Club Open and Boilermaker Celebrity Scramble attracted almost 400 golfers and more than 500 guests for dinner. Over the last two days, John Purdue Weekend brought over 800 John Purdue Club members back to campus.