The Haggar Gold Jacket Report - Issue 9

The Haggar Gold Jacket Report is a weekly update on recent news surrounding the very select group of men who’ve earned a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Hall of Fame running back and former Buffalo Bills great THURMAN THOMAS was always full of energy during his days on the football field. He carried the Bills to an unprecedented four straight Super Bowls in the early 1990s. Now the Class of 2007 Enshrinee has joined the BidURenergy’s team of energy consultants.

"I’ve always had a keen interest in energy," said Thomas in a statement earlier this week "That’s why I’ve chosen to partner with industry-leader BidURenergy, to work hard to help your business find the energy solutions you need. BidURenergy is focused on saving your organization money through efficiencies and reductions on your business’ energy bills," commented Thomas.

BidURenergy is an electricity and natural gas consulting firm that specializes in energy procurement auction administration. The firm’s sole objective is to bring the absolute lowest electricity and/or natural gas rates to its industrial, commercial and retail clients.

"We are pleased that Thurman sees the potential in our service and is enthusiastic about partnering with our staff here at BidURenergy. Thurman’s hard work on the gridiron mirrors BUE’s philosophy and ethics towards our customers, and create a truly unique partnership. We look forward to working with Thurman and expanding our client base with his help," explained Mark Bookhagen, CEP and BidURenergy’s Director of Sales.

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Last month rumors were swirling that Hall of Fame linebacker HARRY CARSON was going to run for the U.S. Congress in New Jersey. Carson put that speculation to bed stating, "I did not have the passion to jump in with both feet and change my life and take this on with the same intensity that I played football.”

One thing that Harry does have is a passion for is giving back to his community. The Class of 2006 Enshrinee dropped by Suffern Middle School in Suffern, New York last Friday to talk to Jennie Narcisco’s sixth grade and Russell Rice’s eighth grade classes.

During the two sessions, which were part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Heart of a Hall of Famer series, Carson also connected via two multipoint videoconference sessions with eight schools nationwide. He stressed the importance of living life according to the 6 Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.

“Be a Hall of Famer in life. You have your life ahead of you. Strive to be the best you can.” Carson stated, “There’s not a lot that separates us in life. At the end of the day we all seek the same thing: we want to be loved, we want to be respected, we want to live life to best of our abilities. Doing the right thing is simple.”

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Class of 2011 Hall of Fame cornerback DEION SANDERS is also giving back to his community in the form of education. Sanders has created the Prime Prep Academy and open enrollment began on March 1st. The Academy will have two campuses and is for both boys and girls from kindergarten through the 12th grade.

The Fort Worth, Texas campus will accommodate students from kindergarten through fifth grade. It will add another grade each year to serve the children as they get older. Prime Prep will offer Gifted and Talented Programs, General Education Services and is equipped to accommodate students with special needs.

The Dallas campus will be attended by students from sixth grade through twelfth grade. This is the Junior High and High School Campus and it will offer Gifted and Talented Programs, General Studies, and programs for students with special needs. In addition, the Dallas campus will offer electives and extra-curricular activities that include but are not limited to: football, basketball, track and field and baseball.

"Education is everything,” Sanders said. “It`s not only a way up, it`s the way out'."

He continued, "We plan on marrying the best of teachers academically, some of the best students academically, some of the best athletes together -- the best attitudes, the best passion and desire all intertwined to educate these guys to raise company CEOs, and not employees."

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Hall of Famer and Philadelphia Eagles legend CHUCK BEDNARIK was one of three Bethlehem, Pa. natives to be inducted into the inaugural class of the Lehigh County Hall of Fame last Saturday, March 10, 2012. The ceremony took place at the Allentown Fairgrounds as the county celebrated its bicentennial.

Though Bednarik was raised in South Bethlehem in Northampton County, he currently lives in Coopersburg, allowing Lehigh County to also claim him.

"We didn't just want to have a party, we wanted to leave something behind to improve awareness about the history of Lehigh County," Lehigh County Executive and Bicentennial Committee Chair Don Cunningham said.

Links Related to this story:

HOF Bios: Chuck Bednarik, Harry Carson, Deion Sanders, Thurman Thomas
More: Heart of a Hall of Famer Program | The Hall’s Educational Program

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Issue 8 (Mar. 9) | Issue 7 (Mar. 2) | Issue 6 (Feb. 24) | Issue 5 (Feb. 17) | Issue 4 (Feb. 10) | Issue 3 (Feb. 3) |  Issue 2 (Jan. 27) | Issue 1 (Jan. 20)