ARLINGTON, Texas – A.R. "Buddy" Dike, who played in the 1957 Cotton Bowl Classic and was a longtime member of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association's Board of Directors serving as CBAA Chair from 1976-78, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 8, in Fort Worth at the age of 89.
 
A member of the CBAA Board since 1971, Dike was one of the longest serving Board members supporting the Classic.
 
Dike first came to Texas to attend Texas Christian University and play fullback and linebacker for the Horned Frogs. One of his most notable moments was shattering his facemask while tackling Syracuse running back and future Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown. His TCU squad earned a hard-fought 28-27 win over Brown's Orangemen in the 21st Cotton Bowl Classic played on New Year's Day 1957. For his senior season in 1957, he served as team captain.
 
The Evansville, Ind., native made Forth Worth his home and was well known as a loyal supporter of TCU. He was inducted into the TCU Lettermen's Hall of Fame and was honored as a TCU Valuable Alumnus in 1978.
 
Away from the gridiron, Dike was a successful and well-respected businessman in the insurance industry. He launched The Dike Co. Inc. in 1966 and he later formed The Insurance Alliance. In 1991, The Insurance Alliance was acquired by Willis Group Limited. In 2017, Dike and his colleagues at The Dike Co. Inc. joined the Fort Worth-based insurance firm Higginbotham. He served as Executive Vice President at Higginbotham until retirement.
 
Dike was very active in the industry, serving in several leadership positions and receiving numerous honors and recognitions. His impact extended well beyond business. He was a generous supporter and served on the boards of the TCU Board of Trustees, Board of TCU Athletics and Davey O'Brien Foundation in addition to the CBAA. He was the founder of the Breakfast Tip Club of Fort Worth, serving as its President in 1961 and a member of the Exchange Club of Fort Worth since 1983. He created the Scott Dike Memorial Scholarship at TCU, established in honor of his son to support student-athletes and carry forward the values that defined their lives.
 
"Buddy was an institution in our community," Rick Baker, CBAA President/Chief Executive Officer said. "He is one of just a few of our Board members who played in the Cotton Bowl Classic and the first to go on to become Chair of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association. His leadership was instrumental during a period in our game's history. Buddy will certainly be missed by all of us who were lucky enough to know him."