Wife of Arkansas AD Frank Broyles dies

<p>Barbara Broyles, wife of University of Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles, who was once an assistant football coach at Georgia Tech, died Wednesday at her home. She was 79.</p><p>Mrs. Broyles was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 1999 and died of complications related to the disease, according to a statement from the university. She was surrounded by her husband, her children and grandchildren.</p><p>"Barbara was a devoted wife, a loving mother, a caring grandmother and a tireless servant for the people of Arkansas. We celebrate her positive impact on the countless number of people touched by her generosity and caring," the Broyles family said in the statement released by the school.</p><p>Mrs. Broyles was born May 20, 1925, in Houston. Her family lived in Texas, California and Illinois before moving to Georgia where she met Frank Broyles as a 10th-grader at Decatur High School. They were married May 6, 1945.</p><p>Frank Broyles, who played quarterback for Georgia Tech and later served as an assistant to coach Bobby Dodd, also held coaching jobs in Texas and Missouri before he was hired as head coach at Arkansas in 1957. Broyles became athletic director in 1973.</p><p>"In her time in Fayetteville, Mrs. Broyles devoted herself to raising a family and volunteering her time for a multitude of worthy causes," the university said.</p><p>In June, Mrs. Broyles was recognized by the Ozark Literacy Council for promoting literacy in the region. She was a founding board member of the Arkansas Literacy Councils Inc. and was appointed to the Gov.'s Commission on Adult Literacy in 1987.</p><p>Mrs. Broyles also volunteered for organizations including the Northwest Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute and the American Cancer Society. In 1988, she was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year by the city of Fayetteville.</p><p>The Broyleses had six children.</p><p>She will be interred at a private service; a public service will be held Friday at Central United Methodist Church.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/10/158963