Eric Boggs
A former member of Ohio State’s 1968 national championship team, who left the Buckeyes to serve in the United States Army, has been posthumously honored with the prestigious Gold Pants.
I first learned about Rick Hausman, and his incredible story on a recent Juck on Bucks episode. At the 1 hour 12 minute mark of the show, Juck tells a story about Hausman and how Woody Hayes was the first to pay tribute to this local legend and his heroic sacrifice.
Now Hausman will have new honors memorializing his sacrifice.
At the Woody Hayes Athletic Center earlier this week, Buckeyes gathered to pay tribute to the life of Pfc. Hausman. Hausman, once a walk-on for the legendary coach Woody Hayes, bravely answered the call to serve his nation during the Vietnam War in 1968, despite being part of the Ohio State team that triumphed over Michigan to secure a national title. Tragically, just two months into his deployment in Vietnam, Hausman made the ultimate sacrifice, displaying exceptional courage in combat and earning the posthumous Silver Star.
After more than fifty years since his selfless act, the Gold Pants Club proudly announced the induction of Hausman as an honorary member.
Jim Lachey, former Ohio State All-American and current president of the Gold Pants Club, expressed the club’s deep admiration, stating, “On behalf of the Gold Pants Club, we recognize Rick and the immense sacrifice he made for our beloved country. It’s a source of great pride for all of us. This induction of Gold Pants is long overdue.”
During the ceremony, Lachey and fellow club members presented the honorary award to Rick’s sisters, Bobbie Collins and Ann Lisk. In an interview with Stacia Naquin of ABC6, Collins and Lisk expressed their gratitude for the recognition of their brother’s bravery, ensuring that his memory lives on among past, present, and future Buckeyes.
Reflecting on her brother’s character, Lisk shared, “He was a very caring brother. While he displayed toughness on the football field, off the field, he was incredibly compassionate.”
According to ABC6, this ceremony at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center is part of a series of events honoring Hausman’s legacy. Just last week, he was posthumously inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame. Additionally, his family established the Rick Hausman Silver Bullet Award for Leadership, an annual recognition presented to the top Ohio State ROTC cadet.
Later this year, Ohio State will further commemorate Hausman’s contributions by awarding him a 1968 championship ring, ensuring his enduring place in Buckeye history.
