Dr. C. Lloyd Nix ’59

Dec. 7, 1938—Nov. 22, 2024

Lloyd Nix, the two-way star of Auburn’s 1957 national championship football team, passed away on Nov. 22, 2024.

A two-sport standout, Nix was the first baseman on Auburn Baseball’s SEC Championship team in 1958, but his legacy was cemented by bringing Auburn to football glory. Playing both quarterback and defensive end, Nix led the then-A.P.I. Tigers in 1957 to a perfect 10-0 record, including significant wins over No. 8 Tennessee, No. 17 Mississippi State and No. 19 Florida. Following a 40-0 victory over Alabama at Legion Field, Auburn was recognized as consensus national champion by a majority of national sports writers.

“It was announced on Tuesday, after the Alabama game, that we had won the national championship,” said Nix in a 2017 interview with Auburn Magazine commemorating the 60th anniversary. “I found out about it from some of the students as I was going to class—some of ’em hollered at me saying ‘Hey Lloyd, y’all know you won a national championship?’”

Nix finished his Auburn career with a 19-0-1 record as starting quarterback, with the lone tie coming to Georgia Tech in 1958—precluding the Tigers from potential back-to-back national championships. They finished fourth in the country that year.

Following his graduation from Auburn, Nix chose to enter dental school in Birmingham rather than enter the NFL draft. He operated his own dental practice in Decatur, Ala. from 1965 until his retirement in 1999, famed as much for his professional services as his football career. Nix served on the Honors College Development Council, Auburn’s Research Advisory Council and as president of the Auburn Alumni Association’s Board of Directors from 1975 to 1977. In 2008 he received the Auburn Alumni Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nix was married to his wife, Sandy Nix ’60, and is survived by two daughters, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

By Derek Herscovici ’14