The West Virginia University Alumni Association has announced Edgar O. Barrett, III of Huntington, W.Va., as the recipient of this years Paul Buck Martin Award.

Presented annually by the WVU Alumni Association, the Paul Buck Martin Award recognizes a member of the association who has worked to preserve, maintain and promote the traditions of West Virginia University.

Barrett, Class of 52 (BA), is a Fairmont, W.Va. native who resides in Huntington where he is a certified financial planner.

He is a noted authority on WVU athletics and University history, and has continually been a benefactor to WVU athletics.

Surrounded by WVU his entire life, his relationship with WVU has spanned generations. His father led the well-known Eddie Barretts Old Gold and Blue Orchestra, which played during the Big Band Era of the early 1920s. Featuring WVUs most famous cheerleader and future Hollywood actor, the late Fuzzy Knight, the orchestra performed on Broadway.

Barrett worked in the WVU Athletic Department during the 1950s and 60s where he served for 14 years as publicity director. For many fans, this time is noted as the”Golden Era”of Mountaineer athletics. Barrett also served as athletic director at Marshall University in 1967.

He is a leading producer of section 403 (b) retirement plan investments and qualifies annually for the Top of the Table, consisting of 2/10ths of 1 percent of all the life insurance agents in the world. For his work, Barrett has received several awards, including 8 national first place awards.

Past award winners include: 98, Dr. Leonard Davis and 97, Joseph C. Gluck.

The West Virginia University Alumni Association Awards will be presented during the Weekend of Honors Convocation Ceremony at 7:30 p.m. April 14th in the Mountainlair ballrooms.