TheTD Club assists area high schools through two community service projects. The Club has awarded more than $140,000 in scholarships to more than 175 high schoolers in Greater Houston in the past nine years, and have given out about $120,000 in weights and weight equipment to 24 Greater Houston high schools in the past six years. The high schools receiving weights are Booker T. Washington, Forest Brook, Reagan, Smiley and Houston Sterling in 2002; Kashmere, Madison, Scarborough, Wheatley and Worthing in 2003; Milby, Northbrook and Westbury in 2004; Furr, Sharpstown and Houston Austin in 2005; Willowridge, Jones, Sam Houston, Aldine and Yates in 2006; and Eisenhower, Houston Lamar, Pasadena and Scarborough in 2007.
If you become a member of the TD Club, part of your dues will go to the National Football Foundation's Play It Smart Program (www.playitsmart.org). Play It Smart puts academic counselors on high school campuses that are considered at-risk. Nationally, the program has allowed schools that had below a 30 percent graduation rate jump to a 90 percent graduation rate. And of those 90 percent who graduated high school, 80 percent enrolled in college.
NEXT TD CLUB EVENTS
IW Marks Touchdowner of the Year, honoring
Bruce Matthews, 7 p.m., Wed., Aug. 13,
JW Marriott, 5150 Westheimer.
Come and see the TD Club honor Bruce Matthews as the Touchdowner of the Year, an awarded given annually since 1966 for extraordinary contributions and outstanding achievements over a lengthy period of time. Former winners include Doak Walker, Kyle Rote, John David Crow, Bobby Layne, Forrest Gregg, Bill Yeoman, Tom Landry, Bud Adams, Frank Broyles, Charlie McClendon, Dave Campbell, Emory Bellard, Earl Campbell, R.C. Slocum, Grant Teaff, Spike Dykes, Ken Hatfield, DeLoss Dodds, Jack Pardee, Elvin Bethea, Hayden Fry, Mack Brown and Jerry LeVias. The Club also will honor Joe Prince, who has sung at area events for almost 60 years. Prince, 89, said this event will mark his retirement from public singing. The All-Greater Houston Preseason High School Football Team also will be presented. Honorees are:
OFFENSE:
Quarterbacks -- Kolby Gray, Cy-Falls; A.J. Highsmith, Hightower; Jacob Karam, Freindswood; Running backs -- Kasey Carrier, Pearland; Knile David, Marshall; Kalvin Guyton, Houston Lamar; Dominic WIlkins, Klein Forest; Offensive linemen -- Clint Naron, Klein Oak; Ralph Oragwu, Marshall; Tight ends -- Barrett Matthews, North Shore; Wes Williams, Strake Jesuit; Wide receivers -- Barry Ford, Westfield; Josh Gordon, Houston Lamar; Greg Timmons, Eisenhower; Athletes -- Russell Shepherd, Cy-Ridge; Ja-Mes Logan, Westfield.
DEFENSE:
Defensive linemen -- Stephen Berrera, Clear Lake; Michael Brockers, Chavez; Darryl Jackson, Yates; Terance Lloyd, Stratford; Thaddeus Randle, North Hore; Linebackers -- Trey Biggs, Jersey Village; Malcolm Johnson, Klein Collins; Jordan Norfleet, Clear Brook; Defensive backs -- Thomas Bates, Baytown Lee; Steven Campbell, Jersey Village; Marcus Davis, Clear Creek; Craig Loston, Eisenhower; Colton Valencia, Hightower; Kicker/punter: Dustin Hopkins, Clear Lake.
Tickets are $45 each. Tables are $450 (regular table), $500 (bronze table sponsorship), $1,000 (silver table sponsorship), $1,500 (gold table sponsorship) and $5,000 (platinum table sponsorship). For more information or to order tickets, e-mail houtdclub@comcast.net, or call Neal Farmer at 713-849-9860 at his home office.
Texas Southern-PVAMU Luncheon, presented by Frenchy's Chicken, A-Rocket Moving, and Dixie Hardware and Electrical, noon, Wed., Aug. 27, The Power Center, 12401 South Post Oak at South Main.
Cost is $25 per ticket. Tables are $250 (regular table), or $500 (front or second row table). A paper program sponsorship is available for $1,500.
For tickets or more information, call TD Club executive director Neal Farmer at 713-849-9860, or e-mail houtdclub@comcast.net.
Speaking at the annual luncheon to promote the grudge match between the rival schools will be new TSU football coach Johnnie Cole and new TSU athletic director Charles McClelland. Also speaking will be PVAMU football coach Henry Frazier and acting PVAMU athletic director Fred Washington. Former Oilers, Titans and Ravans quarterback Steve McNair is scheduled to speak.
