BERKELEY – An All-American and All-Pro lineman who later embarked on a long coaching career and has led an education art foundation for the past 25 years, Ed White is the 2017 recipient of the Glenn T. Seaborg Award. The official presentation will take place during a ceremony when Cal hosts Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 21 at California Memorial Stadium.
 
The honor, named after the former University of California chancellor and 1951 Nobel Prize-winning chemist, is presented annually to a former Cal football player for his career accomplishments who represents the honored Cal principles and traditions of excellence in academics, athletics, leadership and attitude.
 
"Ed very clearly represents a lifetime of achievements," Seaborg Award committee chair Jack Hart said. "He was a great player and is a great person. Dr. Seaborg would be very supportive of Ed`s selection as our 2017 Seaborg Award winner."
 
White lettered for the Golden Bears as a defensive lineman under head coach Ray Willsey from 1966-68, earning consensus first-team All-America and first team All-Pac-8 recognition as a senior on Cal's "Bear Minimum" defense. Taken in the second round of the 1969 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, White changed sides of the ball at the pro level, where he became a dominant offensive lineman for 17 seasons.
 
White was a member of four Super Bowl teams with the Vikings, where he played from 1969-77 before moving to the San Diego Chargers from 1978-85. He earned Pro Bowl invitations four times and ended his career having played in 241 games, which was the 11th most in NFL history at the time.
 
Following retirement from playing, White entered the coaching ranks and remained at the NFL level as an assistant for seven seasons with stops with the Chargers and Rams. He later coached at both San Diego State and Cal collegiately.
 
Since retiring from coaching in 2002, White has devoted much of his time and efforts into art. He has been commissioned to create a number of bronze sculptures, including for John Madden's All-Pro team, the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame and the San Diego Entertainer of the Year. Since 1992, White has served as executive director of the Oak Lake Art Center, a non-profit, educational foundation that helps bring art to the local community, particularly working with at-risk youth. OLAC also works with the Kind Warriors project, which helps military veterans and retired football players who suffer from traumatic brain injuries.
 
"The Glenn Seaborg Award represents one of the greatest honors I have ever hoped to receive," White said. "Many years ago, my first Minnesota Viking quarterback, Cal Bear Joe Kapp, schooled me on the accomplishments of this incredible man. In turn, I felt the deep respect Joe had for Professor Seaborg. My brother is a Berkeley graduate in chemistry and there are also high school chemistry teachers in my family. These factors add to the significance of my receiving this award.
 
"I played with a special group of Golden Bear brothers and learned this game under the guidance of an outstanding coaching staff," White added. "My football career would not have been possible without them by my side. At this moment they stand by me as I accept this honor. I am very humbled to be included in this great group of Glenn Seaborg honorees. Thank you for this amazing moment in my life. Go Bears!"
 
White received his degree from Cal in landscape architecture, is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame, the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame and the Breitbard Hall of Fame in the San Diego Hall of Champions.
 
Established in 1995, the Seaborg Award has been presented to 22 times previously. Past winners are:
 
1995 – Rod Franz
1996 – John Najarian, M.D.
1997 – John Ralston
1998 – Les Richter
1999 – Vic Bottari
2000 – Pete Schabarum
2001 – Ed Bartlett
2002 – Ray Willsey
2003 – Jack Hart
2004 – Bob Karpe
2005 – Harry Agler
2006 – Chris Markey
2007 – George Stathakis
2008 – Nick Veliotes
2009 – John Garamendi
2010 – Pete Domoto
2011 – Dick Erickson
2012 – Thelton Henderson
2013 – Mike White
2014 – Jim Hanifan
2015 – Paul Larson
2016 – Jack Clark