Dr. Edmund Covington Dyas IV

Edmund Covington Dyas IV died peacefully at home on January 23rd, 2011 with his family at his side. The number of lives he touched—whether as physician, legendary Auburn University football player, or loving family man and friend—is as great as the professional and personal accomplishments he achieved throughout his 71 years. He is remembered as a man of great mind, body, and spirit who devoted his life to the care of others. He is survived by his wife of 45 years Diane; his four children, Laurie Dyas Chunn (Brian), Edmund Covington Dyas V (Heather), Katherine Dyas Watts (David), and David Dyas; his sister, June Dyas Shelley; and seven grandchildren: Reilly, Collin, and Trevor Chunn; Edmund and Faith Dyas; and Lauren and Layne Watts. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edmund Covington III and Virginia Dyas, his sister Anne Fleming Barnett, brother Stephen Dyas, and his infant granddaughter, Sarah Grace Dyas.

A lifelong resident of Mobile, Dr. Dyas first came to prominence for his outstanding athletic ability. As a student at McGill Institute, he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. Football was to become his true calling as an athlete. He began his illustrious college career at Auburn in 1958, and for the next three years was an essential part of Coach Shug Jordan’s offensive lineup, playing as fullback, linebacker, and kicker. In 1960 he set the NCAA record for most field goals kicked in a season. In the same year Dr. Dyas was voted SEC All-American and placed fourth in the Heisman Trophy running. He has been inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame (1993) and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (1999). His highest honor came in 2009 when he was inducted into the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame.

Dr. Dyas’ athletic prowess was equally matched by his academic success. Among his many accomplishments as a student are: membership in Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre Med National Honor Society; voted “Who’s Who” among Students in American Colleges and Universities; in 1960, chosen as Captain for the Scholastic All-American Team and as a National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete; recipient of the Bill Streit Award for highest senior GPA and the Cliff Hare Award, the highest honor an Auburn athlete can receive for academic, athletic and leadership achievement. He was also one of only eight football players in the country selected for the Earl (Red) Blake Fellowship for post-graduate study.

Dr. Dyas turned down offers to play professional football in order to follow his dream of becoming a doctor. He attended Tulane Medical School where he was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Academic Honor Society. After receiving his M.D. degree he interned at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and then went on to complete his four-year residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at Duke University. He then fulfilled his military service commitment for the Navy as a Lt. J.G. at Camp LeJeune Marine Base in North Carolina.

Following his medical training and military service, Dr. Dyas came back to his hometown of Mobile and, with his medical school classmate, Dr. Andin McLeod, founded Mobile Bone and Joint (since merged with Orthopaedic Associates to form The Orthopaedic Group). He served on numerous boards and committees in the medical community, as well as many civic and academic organizations.

Ed Dyas’ family and friends knew him as a truly humble and grateful man, rarely given to boasting about himself, despite having a lifetime of boast-worthy achievements. Over and above everything he accomplished in his life, his love for his family was paramount. In 2006, he was a recipient of the Auburn Alumni Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. As he began his acceptance speech, he gestured toward his wife and children and said to the audience, “See my lifetime achievement?”

Mass will be held at 9:30 am on Thursday, January 27th, at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Following the burial, a memorial service will be held at 12:30 pm at St. Pius. Additional parking will be available at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2921 Airport Blvd.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Edmund C. Dyas IV Endowed Scholarship (checks made payable to the AU Foundation and mailed to the COSAM Office of Development, 315 Roosevelt Concourse, Auburn, AL 36849); St. Pius X Catholic Church, 217 S. Sage Ave., Mobile, AL 36606; Little Sisters of the Poor, 1655 McGill Ave., Mobile, AL 36604; Salvation Army of Mobile, P.O. Box 1025, Mobile, AL 36633.