Former University of Minnesota running back Marion Barber III passed away on June 1 in Texas.
The Barber family has announced that a public celebration of life service will take place on Wednesday, June 22 at the University of Minnesota’s Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Gate E (southwest side of the stadium) will open to attendees at 11:15 a.m. and the service will start at 12 p.m. It is expected to last 90 minutes.
Media interested in attending the service should contact Paul Rovnak at psrovnak@umn.edu in advance of Wednesday.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Marion S. Barber III Scholarship at the University of Minnesota, College of Education and Human Development. The fund will provide scholarships for CEHD undergraduates with financial need. Preference will be given to students who support the University’s mission of creating a diverse and inclusive student body, including those with underrepresented identities or who have overcome obstacles and challenges to achieve their educational goals.
To support the Marion S. Barber III Scholarship (#24657), please send a check to the UM Foundation, P.O. Box 860266, Minneapolis, MN 55486-0266, or give online at https://z.umn.edu/barber
Barber competed for Minnesota from 2001-04 and ranks fifth all-time in rushing yards with 3,276. His 35 rushing touchdowns rank second in school history and his 575 career carries ranks seventh.
Barber rushed for 1,196 yards and 17 scores in 2003 as the Gophers went 10-3. It was the first time that Minnesota had won 10 or more games in a season since 1905.
Barber was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft with the 109th overall pick. He would play seven seasons in the NFL – six with Dallas and one with Chicago – before retiring in 2012. He played in 99 career games and rushed for 4,780 yards and 53 touchdowns. He added 1,330 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions. Barber was selected to the 2007 Pro Bowl in 2007 after rushing for 975 yards and 10 touchdowns for Dallas.
Barber’s father, Marion Jr., and two brothers, Dom and Thomas, all played for Minnesota in college. Marion Jr., played running back from 1977-80 and ranks seventh all-time in program history with 3,094 rushing yards. Dom was a defensive back from 2004-07 and notched 187 career tackles. Thomas, who is currently a Defensive Graduate Assistant for the Gophers, played linebacker from 2016-19. He ended his career with 274 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
(info courtesy of Gopher Sports)