December 2007

Two Million Dollar Fund Honors Bob Olderman,
Former All-ACC Offensive Guard

The memory of Bob Olderman ('84) will live on at U.Va. thanks in part to a recent $2 million donation to the Virginia Athletics Foundation by his uncle, Mike Walters.

Olderman, an All-Atlantic Coast Conference offensive guard in 1984, went on to play a season of professional football for the Kansas City Chiefs before succumbing in 1993 to Castleman’s disease, an extremely rare form of lymphoma, at age 31.

Despite his 6’5”, 244-pound frame, and stellar performance on the field, Bob lost his uphill battle against the disease that has only 243 known cases worldwide.

A retired vice president of The Coca-Cola Company, Walters said he wanted to make a major gift to the University for years but rather than give to a general fund, he was looking to make his gift more personal.

At U.Va. Bob played for coach George Welsh who said he will always remember Olderman for his leadership, particularly in 1984 when No. 79 helped the Cavaliers reach their first bowl game.

Family and friends will also remember Bob for the life he led off the field.

“He took his academics seriously, he was a good athlete, and had a great relationship with my sister and brother-in-law,” says Walters, whose donation will go toward athletic scholarships under the Bob Olderman Student Athlete Fund.

Welsh, who visited Olderman with several other U.Va. coaches at Atlanta’s St. Joseph’s Hospital in 1993 following the Georgia Tech game to help lift the former player’s spirit, said “he was an outstanding young man, a great leader and a terrific personality.” Welsh and the team gave Bob the game ball from their successful victory over the Yellow Jackets.

“He was everything you ever wanted in a student-athlete and a human being,” said Dick Bestwick, the Cavalier head coach who had recruited Bob from Marist High in Atlanta, Georgia.

Olderman’s wife, Jackie, and his son Justin, who is now 14, still live in Atlanta as do his parents Bruce and Judy, and Walters.

“He [Justin] has grown up with stories and anecdotes about his dad but unfortunately he will never really know him.” According to Walters, Justin strongly resembles his dad physically and also has a strong interest in following in his father’s footsteps collegiately.

Justin began playing football in youth league for seven and eight year olds and learned humility early with a winless (and nearly scoreless) season.

Like his Dad, he enrolled at Marist School, where he is now a freshman. While Justin seems intent on following much of his Dad’s choices, Justin’s coach rebuffed the young Olderman’s request to be considered for tight-end and instead had him contend for guard or tackle, the same positions played by Bob.

Justin comes from a long line of athletes including his grandfather, Bruce, who played football for the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams in the early 1960’s, and his uncle Walters. Walters was a punter for the Cavaliers during his first year but left the team to focus on improving his academic performance.

Walters, who attended the University from 1964 to 1968 says he has great respect for the University and both he and his nephew had a positive experience while attending the college. The Bob Olderman Student-Athlete Fund will provide scholarships for student-athletes in sports other than football and basketball. Walters hopes that this will enable those, who might not otherwise be able, to consider U.Va.

—Candace Schoner

An article from the Nov. 9, 1984 Richmond Times-Dispatch highlighted
the U.Va. offensive line that consisted
of Jim Dombrowki at left tackle, Bob Olderman at left guard, center Harold Garren, right guard Paul Szymanski and right tackle Paul Sierocinski.

Offensive line coach Tom O'Brien described Olderman as having great power. "When he hits you, he snaps
you. Some guys have it, some don't."

The story went on to recount a play that Olderman will always be remembered for in a win over #12 West Virginia
in 1984 when "he tackled a linebacker rather emphatically just beyond the
line of scrimmage to spring fullback Steve Morse on a 51-yard
touchdown run."

Olderman was quoted in the article as saying "To play the position, you have to be the kind of person who doesn't get caught up in a pat on the back, or publicity. Your satisfaction comes from other sources."