All-American Football Legend Jamshid Jim Bakhtiar Honored

December 3, 20009, Washington, D.C. – Dr. Jamshid “Jim” Bakhtiar whose performance as part of the University of Virginia football team earned him All-America honors in 1957 had his jersey retired during halftime at the UVA vs Virginia Tech football game on Saturday, November 28, 2009.  Bakhtiar will also be honored as a 2009 Legend at the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Championship Game on December 5th, during pre-game ceremonies at Raymond James Stadium (University of South Florida) for the 5th Annual Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship.

Dr. Bakhtiar came to the United States from Iran in 1946 when he was 12 years old. In 1957, he became an All American Football Player at the University of Virginia, where some referred to him as “The Persian Prince” and where he set an ACC career rushing record that stood for more than a decade. Dr. Bakhtiar is the only ACC player to have ranked in the top 10 nationally in rushing yards for three seasons.

Dr. Bakhtiar played one season in the Canadian Football League before returning to UVA for medical school. He served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, eventually choosing psychiatry as his specialty. He now lives and practices in West Virginia. His advice to today’s players? “There’s a whole life after football. If you get locked in and think its only football, I think you’re shortchanging yourself.”

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