Oct. 30, 2011

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AUBURN --Former Auburn track and field standout Read Montague was presented the 2011 Walter Gilbert Award at halftime of the Tigers' game against Ole Miss at Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday.

The Walter Gilbert Award is given annually to former Auburn athletes who have distinguished themselves through achievements after graduation from Auburn.

The award is given in memory of the Tigers' three-time All-America center Walter Gilbert, who later became vice president of Texaco's European Oil Operations.

"The accomplishments of previous winners are very impressive, so it was a bit difficult to realize how exactly I fit into that group," Montague said. "I was surprised and feel honored."

Montague, a three-time letterman from 1981-83 and two-time team captain, won the decathlon in the 1981 SEC Championship with a score of 7160. He helped Auburn to an 11-4 dual meet record in 1981 as the Tigers placed second at the SEC Indoor Championship and fourth in the SEC Outdoor Championship.

"I'm still proud of winning the SEC decathlon, but some of my best memories of Auburn are my relationships with the fellow athletes and students," Montague said. "College years are the first time one is really independent and so the early relationships can last a lifetime.

"The track team was a very talented lot when I was there. They were a driven group of people and a number went on to excel in track beyond college and in the Olympics. They were a fun bunch of guys."

Graduating from Auburn with a degree in Mathematics, Montague received a Ph.D. in Biophysics from UAB and is currently the director of the Human Neuroimaging Lab and Computational Psychiatry Unit for the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute. He also directs the Roanoke Brain Study, a project aimed at understanding decision-making through the lifespan and its relationship to brain development, function and disease. He has also held positions at Brown University as Professor of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, and at the Baylor College of Medicine as the Director of the Human Neuroimaging Lab and the Director of the Computational Psychiatry Unit.

"Dr. Read Montague has distinguished himself as a leading brain researcher during his outstanding career as a scientist in the years since he competed at Auburn University," said Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs. "A former SEC champion in track and field, Dr. Montague has made monumental contributions to his field. He has also taught, inspired and encouraged countless students as a professor of physics. He is a worthy recipient of this distinguished award, and it is an honor to be able to present Dr. Montague as the 2011 Walter Gilbert Award winner."

Montague is the 31st recipient of the Walter Gilbert Award.

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