Sandra Gautt, second from left, looks up at a framed photo of her late husband, Prentice Gautt, shortly after a classroom was dedicated in his memory Thursday at East Heights Early Childhood Family Center. With Gautt at far left is Nancy Peterson, a friend and colleague.

While most people will remember him as the first black man to play football for the Oklahoma Sooners, those who knew Prentice Gautt best say his contribution to life went far beyond athletics.

In a ceremony Thursday at East Heights Early Childhood Family Center, the man behind the football jersey was honored for his contributions to the Lawrence community.

A classroom was dedicated in his name and in memory of the life he lived. Gautt died in March 2005.

“He’s had many honors, particularly in the athletic realm, but truly this is the most meaningful because I think it reflects really what Prentice was about,” said his widow, Sandra Gautt.

Gautt received All-American, Academic All-American and All-Conference honors while playing football at OU. He was named Most Valuable Player in the 1959 Orange Bowl. Gautt played in the NFL for eight years with the Cleveland Browns and St. Louis Cardinals, retiring in 1967. Gautt also worked as an assistant commissioner for the Big Eight and Big 12 conferences and served as secretary and treasurer of the NCAA.

He moved to Lawrence 15 years ago and was active in the First Presbyterian Church and as a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“I see this as a continuation of that spirit,” Sandra Gautt said. “I think it’s really important because he did leave a wonderful legacy, and it was just because of that humbleness that he just really let his life speak and he touched many, many people.”

A $50,000 donation by Lawrence resident William Dann paid for the classroom dedication; Dann asked that the room be named after Gautt. Dann has donated more than $400,000 to Lawrence’s early childhood education program.