The Haggar Gold Jacket Report - Issue 23

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 Famers Birthdays

June 26 – Shannon Sharpe (1968) June 28 – John Elway (1960)

Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver PAUL WARFIELD will return to his hometown of Warren, Ohio on July 12, 2012 to take part in a lecture series called "It All Started Here" at Warren's Packard Music Hall.

The Class of 1983 enshrinee, who now resides in California, will speak about his experiences growing up in northeast Ohio and what it takes to be successful. Warfield, a graduate of Warren G. Harding High School, is a huge advocate for the support of public school systems around the country to make sure strong foundations are being laid for the future.

"I'm not going to attempt to delve into politics, but I get a little deterred when I hear about those that want to run government at whatever levels and want to make major cuts in education when I think about how teachers have impacted me and encouraged me," he said. "That's a great reason this nation of ours has developed great people because of our educational system. I'm a proud product of different levels of the public school system."

"There were so many foundations of going through a school system and being part of athletic teams,” Warfield continued. “Athletic teams taught me competitiveness. It taught me about working with other people from different backgrounds, and it taught me unity and believing that I'm part of athletic teams that are committed to our goals and objectives. If we are working together as part of that initiative, we can achieve great things."

The series is being sponsored by the Tribune Chronicle as part of the newspaper's year-long bicentennial celebration of publishing in Warren. Tickets for the event are still on sale.

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Last week Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle ART SHELL hosted his 20th annual Art Shell Celebrity Golf Classic. The event, which was created 20 years ago, was held at the Great Hope Golf Course in Maryland and its goal is to raise funds for athletic and PGA-accredited professional golf management programs at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Celebrities such as Doug Williams, the first African American quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl as well as being named the game’s Most Valuable Player and former UMES alumni and New York Jets running back Emerson Boozer enjoyed a beautiful day on the golf course while helping the cause.

"It means a lot to the community as well as for the cause it's for (the students)," Boozer said. "It gets people a chance to get to see some of the players that went here and played professionally. I enjoy seeing it every year."

Shell explained that the many former UMES/Maryland State Alumni enjoy coming back to the event to get a chance to see the ever expanding campus.

“We remember what it was like when we were here and there was no Henson Center or Hytche Center back then,” Shell said. “The campus has grown and is beautiful and we enjoy coming back.”

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Hall of Fame quarterbacks and former teammates JOE MONTANA and STEVE YOUNG joined two current All-Pro quarterbacks Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers in a program entitled "Salute to the Titans." The event helped former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Harris Barton raise approximately $750,000 for First Tee of San Francisco, Monterey County and Silicon Valley, as well as Champion Charities, a non-profit organization that Barton and Hall of Famer RONNIE LOTT founded.

NBC's Bob Costas moderated the fast-paced hour program that entertained around 300 guests. And the platform was every bit as enjoyable for those on stage, too.

"It's an honor," said Rodgers, who grew up as a 49ers fan in Chico before attending Cal. "I don't know how I fit into that group. I mean, that's a prestigious group of guys who have had great careers. I'm just happy to be here with the guys I look up to and respect."

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Another Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback, JIM KELLY, was in the news this week. Kelly was recognized as a recipient of the Jefferson Award, one of the nation's top honors for community service and volunteerism.

Kelly joined 16 other recipients from around the country in Washington, D.C., for a gala event on Tuesday, June 19 to receive the 40th Annual Jefferson Awards, known as the "Nobel Prize for Public Service.” The Class of 2002 enshrinee was honored in the category Outstanding Athlete in Service and Philanthropy.

"I feel privileged to be able to do the work I am doing," Kelly said. "I would never have been able to do it without a team effort, whether it was football, family or charity. I am very blessed."

"Not only did I feel that I had a responsibility to give back to a community that I was fortunate enough to be a part of; but I also knew that I had an incredible opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others," Kelly shared. "Although my playing days are over; my platform has greatly expanded and my commitment to community is stronger than ever."
 

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Links Related to this story:

HOF Bios: Jim Kelly | Ronnie Lott | Joe Montana | Art Shell | Paul Warfield | Steve Young
More: Behind the Bronze: Paul Warfield | Art Shell speaks at the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame Black History Month seminar | Hall of Famers by high school | Hall of Famers by college

Archived:

Issue 22 (June 15) | Issue 21 (June 8) | Issue 20 (June 1) | Issue 19 (May 25) | Issue 18 (May 18) | Issue 17 (May 11) | Issue 16 (May 4) | Issue 15 (April 27) | Issue 14 (April 20) | Issue 13 (April 13) | Issue 12 (April, 6) | Issue 11 (Mar. 30) | Issue 10 (Mar. 23) | Issue 9 (Mar.16) | 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)