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Bud Focht (Rider University), Lifetime Achievement Award
by Larry Dougherty, Temple University Senior Associate AD/Communications
Bud Focht at Rider basketball game with wife Terry by his side.
The year 1981 was an historic year for Rider University. If you look at the program’s athletics history page on
GoBroncs.com, 1981 is listed as the year the first Rider athletic contest was televised. That is not the only historic event that happened that year.
It was also the year that a young man by the name of
Bud Focht took over as the school’s sports information director.
The native of Levittown, Pa. would become a fixture at Rider, serving the Lawrenceville, N.J. school for 35 years. During that time, he tirelessly promoted and publicized the efforts of Bronc administrators, teams, coaches and student-athletes.
A selfless man in a selfless profession, Bud took pride in making sure the successes of others garnered the proper attention.
“In my opinion, Bud is the epitome of what a sports information director should be,” said Hofstra Senior SID Jim Sheehan. “He put his University, his coaches, his student-athletes and his family above all else. Bud did his job quietly and professionally. Bud did his job with humility and with a great sense of humor that made you feel welcomed.”
Looking back, Bud fondly recalls promoting one of his wrestlers challenge against the No. 1 wrestler in the nation at the NWCA All-Star Classic held at the Palestra in Philadelphia. There he worked with 6ABC reporter and former Phillies reliever, the late Tug McGraw. He also lists securing fame for a Rider brother-sister combo in
Sports Illustrated’s Faces in the Crowd.
"Bud made everyone's experience playing at Rider a richer and more enjoyable one,” said TCNJ Interim Senior Associate AD for Communications Mark Gola, a Rider grad and former baseball player. “His work ethic was tremendous, but his presence and personality was what made him a genuine treasure to all of us. Bud was upbeat, comedic, but most of all, he cared. Rider baseball would not have been the tremendous experience it was without Bud. Everyone loved Bud."
The Rider icon ranks the Broncs’ baseball run as his best memory. One of the top programs in the East, Rider went to four straight NCAA regionals in the mid-80s, but it was 1987 team that is best recalled.
“That year we went to Atlanta and upset the top-ranked team in the region, Georgia Tech, in the first game,” he reminisced. “It was magical. We went all the way to the finals before the dream ended with a loss to Georgia. I was so proud of our team.”
On October 3, 2016, it was time to say goodbye to the profession and the work that had been Focht’s passion his entire life. He made this decision, not because he was ready to retire, but, he had something much more important to do.
“As much as I loved my job, my true love is my wife, Terry,” he explained. “She is my most important thing in my world and she needs my full-time care and attention now.”
Diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s’ disease, Terry’s state slowly started to deteriorate to the point where Bud was no longer able to work. So, true to his selfless nature, he has taken on his new job as her caregiver.
“My job now, is tougher and more important than ever. How am I a going to make Terry happy today and tomorrow? Nothing matters more.”
For people who know Bud, the answer to how he will take care of Terry, is an easy one. He will do it with even more passion that he demonstrated towards his second family – the Rider Broncs. Already he has created a blog,
A Demented Look at Dementia, which shares his caregiving experience to help others.
“I was greatly saddened to hear about his wife’s illness and Bud’s subsequent decision to retire to assist her,” says Sheehan. “While my sadness was based on her illness and my selfishness of not seeing and visiting with Bud in the field, his decision was far nobler and should stand as a shining example of how people should live. I have all the respect in the world for Bud and his selfless life and congratulate him on his truly deserved Lifetime Achievement honor.”
“I loved my time at Rider,” Bud extolled. “The school is my family. My three children, Heidi, A.J. and Amy, are proud Rider graduates. I felt at home there, especially when I was at alumni events as I was that special face that many knew due to my longevity there.
"It was tough to leave, but not a tough decision. Family is always first, and mine needed me more.”
Focht will definitely be back at Rider to watch the Broncs compete, and on June 10 as he will be inducted into the Rider Athletics Hall of Fame. He is just the third administrator – and first SID – to be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.
“This is such a well-deserved honor,” said Gola. “When I entered the field of sports information, my respect for Bud grew. I sometimes wondered how in the world he remained so light-hearted and accommodating when I gained a full understanding of the demands of the position. He was always supportive of my abilities and offered direction and advice. If you ever listen to me announce a baseball game, I try to deliver it with the same pace and diction that he did because in my mind, he was perfect."
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