Danton Barto's family, friends celebrate Memphis football retiring No. 59 jersey

Will Barto’s first look at the on-field decal honoring his father made him emotional. Then it made him proud walking in Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Friday.

It’s been three decades since Danton Barto last played for Memphis football. On Saturday, the former linebacker joined a select club by having his No. 59 retired at halftime of the Tigers' 59-0 win against North Alabama.

“I thought I’d never see it happen. It’s been so long since he played and I know we tried so hard for a while,” Will Barto said. “It’s just an honor, man. Once it happened, I was just shocked.”

Barto’s family gathered at midfield and his wife Shelley received a framed jersey as a highlight video played on the jumbotron. Dozens of Barto's teammates surrounded them as his No. 59 was painted on the 50-yard line. His number was also added to the retired numbers painted outside the north end of my stadium.

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Barto, the Tigers’ all-time leading in career and solo tackles, became the seventh Tiger to have to his number retired. He died in August 2021 due to complications from COVID-19.

Several of Barto’s teammates gathered at a pregame tailgate and shared stories over drinks and several breakfast casseroles. A few posed for a picture while a teammate held a shirt with Barto’s No. 59 on the back.

Mark Howington, one of Barto’s teammates who played on special teams, drove from Alabama for his first Tigers game in 26 years. As a former high school linebacker, he admired how Barto was a tenacious player and a friend well after football.

“Watching him, it was like living my dream to play linebacker,” Howington said. “Barto was Barto. He was the same to everyone and just a nice guy.”

This past summer, teammates and Memphis fans signed a petition asking for Barto’s number to be retired. However, it still had to go through a formal process before it reached athletic director Laird Veatch, who announced Barto's jersey retirement in September.

Per a Memphis spokesperson, a candidate for jersey retirement must be previously voted into the M Club Hall of Fame, which Barto was in 2007. The person must have been awarded "All-American recognition, All-conference first team recognition in multiple years and/or national individual awards as a collegiate or professional athlete."

Nominations for jersey retirement are also discussed by the M Club Board who then vote to push it before a group of seven Memphis officials, including four M Club representatives. After they make a decision, the final decision comes to the Memphis athletic director.

For Andy McWilliams, Barto’s former college roommate, it made him proud knowing how much Barto loved football and the university.

“It’s surreal because there’s Isaac Bruce up there and now you see Danton. We played with these guys and it means a lot to have both jerseys retired,” McWilliams said. “Barto deserved it and I wish he could be here to see it. It makes me sad.”

Will Barto’s mind flashed back to going to Memphis games with his parents. He briefly joined the Tigers as a preferred walk-on with hopes of carrying his father’s name on the field one more time.

Now, surrounded by his family and his father’s , he was glad the Barto name won’t be forgotten by future fans.

“There’s so many greats that come through this school and just to be up there with a retired jersey. I know if he was here, it’d be special to him too,” Barto said. “He’s a legend in Tiger history now and you can’t take that away from him.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Danton Barto's family friends celebrate Memphis football retiring jersey