often co-hosted the Children's Miracle Network telethons, a humanitarian organization founded in 1983 by Marie Osmond and John Schneider. Awards He was named the Walter Camp Man of the Year in 1982 and Athlete of the Century for the state of Utah. During halftime of a basketball game between Utah State, Olsen's alma mater, and Saint Mary's on December 5, 2009, Utah State University announced that the playing surface inside Romney Stadium, home stadium for the university's football program, would be named Merlin Olsen Field in Olsen's honor. Because of Olsen's illness, Utah State decided not to wait until the 2010 football season to hold the ceremony; he was able to attend the game, but did not speak. A sculpture of Olsen was unveiled in a plaza south of the stadium during an official dedication ceremony in Fall 2010. In 1979, Olsen was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame. In 1980, Olsen was inducted into the National College Football Hall of Fame. In 1998, Olsen was inducted into the Utah Tourism Hall of Fame. Olsen was voted to the California Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2010, along with Bill Walton, Dwight Stones, and Jim Otto, among others. In 1983, Olsen served as Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade. Personal life On March 30, 1962, Olsen married Susan Wakley, a fellow USU student. They had three children: Kelly, Jill, and Nathan. Olsen was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a resident of San Marino, California. Olsen was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 2009, and underwent three courses of chemotherapy. In December 2009, he filed a lawsuit against 25 defendants including NBC Studios, NBC Universal, 20th Century Fox, Georgia Pacific, Sherwin-Williams, and Lennox Corp. for allegedly exposing him to the asbestos which he claimed had caused his cancer. Olsen died on March 11, 2010, at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California, at the age of 69. Olsen is buried at San Gabriel Cemetery in San Gabriel, California. Filmography Film Television References External links 1940 births 2010 deaths 20th-century American male actors American football defensive tackles American male television actors American people of Danish descent College football announcers Canadian Football League announcers Los Angeles Rams players National Football League announcers Utah State Aggies football players All-American college football players College Football Hall of Fame inductees National Conference Pro Bowl players Pro