Dean Weber hailed from Virginia and began his distinguished professional career in North Carolina, but Arkansas was the place he called home. For more than a half century, Weber provided dedicated service to the University of Arkansas, providing care for thousands of Razorback student-athletes as a Hall of Fame athletics trainer before continuing to serve the athletics department and former Arkansas student-athletes in his role with the Razorback Foundation.
His deep love and commitment for his family and the welfare of his student-athletes, coaches, administrators, fellow athletic trainers and friends extended well beyond his home or the playing field. For those who knew and loved Dean, his generous spirit could often be masked by his directness, sharp wit and his seemingly endless sarcastic quips. Yet beneath his often rugged exterior, Dean Weber had an unequivocal heart for others and believed his role was to quietly provide a helping hand in whatever way was needed. He embodied the ideal that one’s legacy is defined not by accomplishments in life, rather by the lives you’ve touched along the way. By that and any definition, Dean Weber’s legacy will carry on for generations to come.
Weber was born September 4, 1945, in Washington, D.C., to Raymond and Louise Weber. His career as an athletic trainer began during his high school years in Fairfax, Va., and continued into his college days at Bridgewater (Va.) College, where he graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.
His first full-time job came as an assistant athletics trainer at the University of North Carolina. Weber spent five years with the Tar Heels, working alongside legendary UNC men’s basketball coach Dean Smith. In 1973 when the University of Arkansas had an opening for an athletics trainer, Smith asked Weber if he was interested in the job. One phone call later, Weber had landed the job that would help define the course of the rest of his life.
Weber spent more than 35 years as the Head Athletics Trainer after arriving at the University of Arkansas in 1973, following in the legendary footsteps of Bill “Groundhog” Ferrell. In his time at Arkansas, Weber worked with numerous legendary coaches, including Frank Broyles, Eddie Sutton, Lou Holtz, Nolan Richardson, Ken Hatfield, Norm DeBriyn, John McDonnell, Danny Ford and Houston Nutt.
In addition to his athletic training duties, he oversaw the operations of the training room, administration, coordination of the travel schedule and details associated with Arkansas’ football team, including organizing the team travel party’s travel and nutritional needs while away from campus. In his tenure, Weber worked more than 420 consecutive Razorback football games, including 26 bowl games from the 1976 Cotton Bowl to the 2008 Cotton Bowl. Additionally, Weber was twice on the athletic training staff at the Japan Bowl and worked with teams that advanced to the NCAA Final Four twice while he was at North Carolina.
In 1984, Weber was selected to the United States Olympic Team as athletic trainer after previously serving on the athletic training staff at the National Sports Festival three times.
During his 35-year tenure in that position, he won numerous awards and honors. Weber was a 1998 inductee into the Arkansas Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame. In the same year, he and former assistant Kevin Pitts, were recognized by the same organization as the Arkansas Athletic Trainers of the Year. He also gained national recognition for his work with athletic shoes as they apply to playing surfaces and for his research on turf toe injuries.
Weber was inducted into the UA Sports Hall of Honor in 2000 and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. Weber is also a member of the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame (1993). In 2006, Weber was awarded the Tim Kerin Award for Excellence in Athletic Training by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.
Weber was a driving force behind the University of Arkansas Athletic Training Educational Program, the first in Arkansas to offer a Master’s degree in Athletic Training. A Most Distinguished Graduate Athletic Training Award and Scholarship was endowed in Weber’s honor within the UA College of Education and Health Professions by the 1979 Razorback football senior class.
In 2008, Weber took on a new role as the Director of Equipment Operations. In that role, Weber oversaw equipment operations for all 19 Razorback programs. In 2014, Weber joined the Razorback Foundation as an assistant director. He worked directly in the engagement of former Razorback student-athletes including their involvement in the A Club (for Razorback letterwinners) and the Razorback Foundation Century Circle program. He also assisted in coordinating some of the Razorback Foundation’s signature events including the UA Sports Hall of Honor, the A Club Spring Reunion Weekend and Razorback Clubs. Weber also helped organize and host the A Club room and A Club tailgate at home football games.
On April 9, 2022, the football athletics training rooms at both Razorback Stadium and the Fred W. Smith Football Center were named in honor of Weber and Ferrell. Weber was also active with the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation, promoting proper hydration and prevention of heat illnesses in sports through education and supporting activities.
Weber is preceded in death by his parents, and son, David. He is survived by his twin brother: Dale of Fredericksburg, Va.; sons: Matt Weber and his wife Amanda of Orange, Va., and Ben Weber and his girlfriend Shan of Springdale Ark.; stepdaughter Kellie Upton and her husband Rick of Fayetteville, Ark.; and 12 grandchildren, Emily Weber, Eli David Weber, Caleb Weber, Tylor McClanahan, Spencer Upton, Mason Upton, Tyler Upton, Abby Jackson, Taylor Green, Andrew Green, Conner Green and Kendall Green.
The family requests memorial tributes be made to the Dean Weber Endowed Athletic Training Scholarship Fund within the UA College of Education and Health Professions. For more information you may contact Tory Gaddy (gaddy@uark.edu).
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 4 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena on the campus of the University of Arkansas. The celebration will be held on the Arkansas Razorbacks A Club Spring Reunion Weekend, an event Dean dearly loved.
Cremation arrangements by Beard’s Funeral Chapel.
While I didn’t know Dean Weber, personally, his name was always associated with the Razorbacks. To me, Mr. Razorback was his entitled name.
We lost a very, very good man! Regrets to the family
You want find a smarter and good hearted person who was directed. He loved helping our student athletes. I worked with Dean-no as we called, him. I learned a lot of knowledge from him. He will be certainly missed. We shared a lot in common about life that we often talked together about.
God Bless the family members of Dean. Dean was the best! I really enjoyed working with him my 10 years at The U of A! Rest in peace my friend! You will be missed!!
My prayers to all the family. I was a high school classmate of Dale and Dean in Virginia. Though I had not been in touch over the years it made my heart so proud to have read all the many accolades and accomplishments of Dean. Both Dean and Dale were always willing to help in any way that they could when we were in high school. May Dean’s memory be eternal.
A Lasting Light…
A lasting light is what gives us hope; It helps us carry on, move forward, even though we may feel we cannot cope. It picks us up, dusts us off even when we fall down; It encourages us and gives us strength to go another round. A lasting light is that little voice inside each and every ear; It speaks sense and truth to us when we pretend we cannot hear. It gives us direction and guide’s us along with each passing day; It shows us to lead by example, do what we mean… and mean what we say. A lasting light helps us see clearly and it’s something we should always keep near; It gives us measure and helps us drive to overcome those things we most fear. A lasting light remains with us through our adolecence, teens, our entire adult life; Its a symbol of perseverence, love, and determination, never to be confused with what we would call pain and strife. Its that calming glimmer in the dead of night. It provides us with the understanding, that no matter what, “everything will be alright!” Miss you Dean. Thank you for being a light in the lives of soo many… My thoughts are with your family at this time.
My sincere condolences to Dean’s family and friends. I first worked with Dean and the U of A Athletic Department as an athletic trainer in 1979 and then again in the early 1980’s. During that time Dean taught me so much about professionalism, excellence, commitment, empathy, loyalty, attention to detail and giving people a second chance. I am so grateful to Dean for all he has done for me professionally and personally. Thanks Dean.
My personal condolences to Dean’s family and friends. I first worked with Dean and the U of A Athletic Department as a student athletic trainer in 1979 on a student athletic scholarship and then again in the early 1980’s. Dean was a class act and always sharing his Witt and humor.
Thank you Dean for mentoring my athletic trainer career and later becoming a physician. RIP