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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss NFF Chapter to Honor Lotterhos, Craddock Brothers at Auburn Game
10/17/2018 | Football
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame will honor George Lotterhos of Germantown, Tennessee, with its Contribution to Amateur Football Award and brothers Ben and David Craddock of Jackson, Mississippi, with the Distinguished American Award Saturday, Oct. 20, when the Rebels host the Auburn Tigers.
Kickoff for the ESPN telecast is set for 11 a.m. at Vaught‑Hemingway Stadium.
The Contribution to Amateur Football Award is given by the Ole Miss Chapter in honor of those who have made numerous contributions to the college athletics world through service to their fellow man, while the Distinguished American Award is presented to individuals who have set the standards for excellence in a life of service to the community.
"We are pleased to honor George Lotterhos, Ben Craddock and David Craddock for their contributions to Ole Miss athletics," said Richard Noble of Indianola, Mississippi, president of the Ole Miss Chapter. "They are most deserving of this recognition, and having an on-campus salute provides an excellent opportunity to express our sincere appreciation for all they have done for Ole Miss."
Lotterhos earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Mississippi in 1971. While attending Ole Miss, he played football as a defensive end for legendary coach John Vaught, earning three letters as the Rebels participated in the Liberty Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Gator Bowl. He was a member of Phi Kappa Alpha fraternity and the student-athlete M-Club.
Upon graduation, he entered the financial world and is managing director for Raymond James Financial. In 2008, Lotterhos received the M-Club Alumni Chapter Service Award. Based on leadership, service and commitment to the M-Club, the award was also then renamed in his honor that same year.
Lotterhos is a past president of the M-Club Alumni Chapter and a past president of the Rebel Club of Memphis. He served as one of the founders of the Grove Bowl in 1989 and was also instrumental in the establishment of the M-Club Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2012, he was honored by the Ole Miss Alumni Association with its Alumni Service Award to recognize his service to the University of Mississippi and the Alumni Association over an extended period.
Both Ben and David Craddock are graduates of the University of Mississippi. Ben earned his B.A. degree in Criminal Justice in 2002, while David earned his B.B.A. degree in 1994 and his M.B.A. in 1996.
While attending Ole Miss, Ben Craddock was a three-year letterman on the Rebel football team and holds the distinction of having been the last player to touch a football during a college game in the 20th Century. Serving as the holder, Ben caught and then perfectly placed the football for Les Binkley's 39-yard field goal as time expired for Ole Miss to beat Oklahoma, 27-25, in the December 31, 1999 Independence Bowl, which was the final college game played New Year's eve.
Through their family business, Craddock Oil Company, which was founded in 1979 by Ron and Nancy Craddock in their hometown of McComb, Mississippi, Ben and David took the lessons learned from their parents to now give back and support many worthwhile causes. Those causes continue to touch so many young lives.
Craddock Oil is an annual sponsor of Ole Miss' Fellowship of Christian Athletes breakfast, and they participate in the Heart of David ministry that provides opportunities for children in inner cities. Ben works and sponsors faith-based youth sports camps, along with several friends he has made through sports and business, and David has helped raise more than $500,000 for public schools in Mississippi through grants and a program funded by Exxon.
Because of the generosity of Ben and David, the basketball floor at The Pavilion at Ole Miss is named "Craddock Court" in honor of the Craddock family.
