SWOSU Press Release
Weatherford, OK – Shylan and Carl Birdsong of Amarillo, Texas have made a generous gift to the Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Football Legacy Fund.
The SWOSU Football Legacy Fund exists to provide financial support to the SWOSU Football program by raising and stewarding funds for scholarships, departmental needs, and facility improvements.
“Carl is a great supporter of SWOSU Football and our university as a whole,” said SWOSU Athletic Director Todd Helton. “We are grateful for his generosity. This gift will make a powerful, positive impact on our SWOSU Football team, coaches, and facilities.”
An Amarillo High School graduate and a 1983 SWOSU alumnus, Birdsong went on to a lengthy career in the National Football League as a punter after starring at SWOSU in the late 1970s. Birdsong was a two-time NAIA All-American who averaged more than 45.6 yards a punt. Many of his punting marks still stand today as both school and NAIA marks. Birdsong spent five years playing for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1981-1986 and was an all-pro punter in 1984. He was the NFC All-Rookie punter in 1981 and led the NFC in punting average in 1983. He made the Pro Bowl in 1983, joining stars like Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Joe Theismann, Lawrence Taylor and Walter Payton.
Despite his on-field success, Carl continued pursuing his pharmaceutical degree during his first two years in the NFL and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the SWOSU School of Pharmacy. He then worked in the off seasons as a pharmacist. Following a coaching change in 1986, Carl retired from the NFL and continued his pharmacy career until retirement as the President and Chief Compliance Officer for Maxor National Pharmacy Services Corporation.
Birdsong was inducted into the SWOSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2017, he was named SWOSU’s Outstanding Pharmacy Alumnus.
Carl and Shylan are blessed with a son, Dr. Orry Birdsong, a 2008 SWOSU alumnus, his wife Tayrsa, and grandsons Taven and Slade; and a daughter, Shylana, her husband Dr. Tyler Enos, and grandsons Levi and Luke.
The SWOSU Football Legacy Fund Steering Committee is a group of volunteers who give of their time, energy, and resources to benefit SWOSU Football in partnership with the SWOSU Athletic Association. The Fund was established in 2015 by Dustin Wall, ’05, and Michael Hart, ’06. In addition to Wall and Hart, the Steering Committee is comprised of leading SWOSU Football alumni and boosters including: Brian Busey, ’05; Matt Brown, ’08; Mike Brown, ’78; Brandon Guptill, ’06; Jimmy Jenkins, ’04; Rick Koch; Pat Lewis; Vance Nye, ’90; and Steve Price, ’83.
The SWOSU Football Legacy Fund is stewarded by the SWOSU Foundation, Inc. The Foundation was established in 1977 to promote philanthropy, award scholarships, and support the activities and programs of SWOSU. For more information or to contribute to the SWOSU Football Legacy Fund, please visit www.GivetoSWOSUFootball.com or call 580-774-3267.
