Galen Fiss Award Added to Kansas Football Awards Ceremony

Sept. 28, 2006

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The University of Kansas football team has added the Galen Fiss Award to its Annual postseason awards ceremony, Head Coach Mark Mangino announced Thursday. The award will recognize an outstanding KU football player that demonstrates exemplary service to the campus and community.

“Galen’s achievements as a Jayhawk player and professional athlete are admired by our players and coaches,” said Mangino. “However, Galen believed in service to others and reached out to many people during his lifetime. He was known as a great athlete, but he was an even better human being. We are proud to present an award in his honor.”

Fiss, who played at Kansas between 1950-53, was an All-Big Seven fullback and linebacker. Following his time in Lawrence, he played 11 seasons at linebacker for the Cleveland Browns, participating in the 1963 and 1964 Pro Bowls. He played on the celebrated Cleveland teams of the 1950s and 1960s, alongside players such as Jim Brown, Frank Ryan, Lou Groza and KU alum Mike McCormack. Fiss was captain on Cleveland’s NFL championship team in 1964 and played in the 1957 championship game alongside McCormack.

Fiss actually played professional baseball before starring on the gridiron, despite being drafted by the NFL’s Browns in 1953. He inked with baseball’s Cleveland Indians and played the 1953 season in the minor leagues before joining the Air Force for two years. He finally joined the Browns as a 25-year old in 1956.

Fiss’ two sons, Bob and Scott, were offensive linemen for the Jayhawks in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Fiss, a Johnson City, Kan., native, passed away in July 2006.