Dr. Frank McCue to Be Honored for His Service to the University

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April 15, 2004

Charlottesville, Va. – Long-time University of Virginia team physician Dr. Frank C. McCue III will be honored Saturday evening (April 17) for his achievements in Sports Medicine and his tireless efforts on behalf of Cavalier athletes for more than four decades. The event will be held at 6:00 pm in Memorial Gymnasium.

Many former UVa athletes and coaches who have been influenced by Dr. McCue will be in attendance and speak on his contributions to the University. Among those attending are expected to be former UVa Director of Athletics and ACC Commissioner Gene Corrigan, UVa football coach Al Groh, UVa women’s basketball coach Debbie Ryan, UVa men’s lacrosse coach Dom Starsia, and recent College Football Hall of Fame inductee, George Welsh, and former Cavalier athletes Aaron Brooks, Patrick Jeffers, Shawn Moore, Joe Palumbo, Chris Slade and Buzzy Wilkinson.

McCue has impacted many members of the Department of Athletics, Health Systems, and the University community as a whole. In addition, McCue has also given generously of his time to high school athletics throughout his career. He officially retired last spring and has been named Professor Emeritus of Orthopedics at UVa.

Dubbed a “miracle man” by members of the Virginia High School Coaches Association, they created the Frank C. McCue III, M.D. Sports Medicine Award given annually in his honor. In 1988 the McCue Society was formed by his peers, students and friends. Since that time the members have provided 26 scholarships for undergraduates and graduate students in the field of Sports Medicine.

In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s funds were donated in honor of McCue to significantly improve athletics facilities at UVa. In September of 1991, The Dr. Frank C. McCue III Center was dedicated. Located next to University Hall, the McCue Center contains facilities that support Virginia Athletics. Along with Dr. McCue’s office, the McCue Center houses many of the Athletics Department’s administrators and staff offices, the Virginia football office, locker room and weight room, Olympic sport offices, and the athletic training room.

Dr. McCue will also be the first inductee to enter the Virginia Football Alumni Club’s Order of the Crossed Sabres. The highest award given by the Virginia Football Alumni Club, McCue will be presented with a plaque that reads “In grateful recognition of your exemplary service, selfless commitment and extraordinary impact on Cavalier Football.”

The Virginia Football Alumni Club created this award to be given annually to an individual for his/her “significant contribution to Virginia football.” Each year the club will choose a recipient or recipients from a list of nominees selected by the club’s leadership. In much the same way as sports Hall of Fames have a class of inductees each year, at least one person, but possibly as many as three, will enter the Order of the Crossed Sabres annually. Anyone is eligible who has had an impact on the Virginia football program. A permanent display will be created and installed in the Alumni Room in Bryant Hall.

The year’s award will be presented at a reception in the Alumni Room in Bryant Hall on Friday, April 16, during the Tenth Annual Virginia Football Alumni Reunion Weekend. The reception is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. and the presentation to Dr. McCue will be made at approximately 7:00 p.m.