Allen to be honored in hometown

Hall of Famers Published on : 2/29/2012
Legendary runner and Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2003 enshrinee Marcus Allen will be recognized by the Hall of Fame and Allstate Insurance Company in San Diego on Tuesday, Mar. 6, as part of “Hometown Hall of Famers™,” a national program honoring the hometown roots of the sport’s greatest players with special ceremonies and plaque dedication events in local communities.

“As we enter the second year of our program, we have found that ‘Hometown Hall of Famers™’ has been warmly embraced by communities and Hall of Famers alike,” said George Veras, Pro Football Hall of Fame Enterprises president and CEO.  “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Allstate to bring the Pro Football Hall of Fame to communities across the country and congratulate Marcus Allen and Lincoln High School on being the first recipients of 2012.”

Allen, a six-time Pro Bowl selection as running back for the Los Angeles Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs and former Lincoln High School standout, will be presented with his “Hometown Hall of Famer™” plaque during a special ceremony at 1:45 p.m. PT on Mar. 6, at the Lincoln High School auditorium. The plaque will live permanently inside the auditorium to serve as an inspiration for the school’s students and athletes. The presentation will be made by his brother Damon Allen, a former Canadian Football League quarterback.

“To be part of a program that brings the prestige and tradition of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to communities like San Diego is an honor for Allstate, our agents and employees,” said Lisa Cochrane, Allstate’s senior vice president of marketing.

The ceremony will be attended by Lincoln High School students, faculty, staff, alumni and Allen’s former teammates. Don Robinson, Lincoln High School athletic director, will be serving as the Master of Ceremonies.

"Marcus Allen's career is an inspiration to all current and future Lincoln students,” said Esther Omogbehin, senior principal of Lincoln High School. “This plaque will forever be a reminder of what Lincoln students can do."

In addition to the plaque, a commemorative Marcus Allen “Hometown Hall of Famer™” road sign will be on display in San Diego.

After playing quarterback and safety at Lincoln, Allen transitioned to running back when he enrolled at the University of Southern California. He made NCAA history with the Trojans when he rushed for more than 2,000 yards in a season and was named the 1981 winner of the Heisman Trophy. He remains one of just eight members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to have won the Heisman Trophy as the best college player in the nation.

Allen’s NFL career began in 1982 when he was selected 10th overall by the Los Angeles Raiders. He starred for the Raiders from 1982-1992 and finished his career by playing five seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (1993-97). He is the first player ever to rush for 10,000 yards and have 5,000 yards receiving in a career.

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