Pro Football Hall of Famers Kenny Houston and Aeneas Williams have partnered with Texas Southern University to bring Gridiron Glory: The Best of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to Houston. The exhibit opens on January 30 and runs through April 30, 2017.
Houston, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986, and Williams, a member of the 2014 Hall of Fame class, will appear alongside TSU alumnus and fellow Hall of Famer Michael Strahan in commercials, invitations, flyers, posters, social media and on a billboard promoting the exhibit. The display will appear on the I-45 North exchange at the Telephone Road exit near Hobby Airport.
Houston starred in the Oilers’ defensive backfield for six seasons (1967-72) racking up 25 interceptions and an NFL record of nine touchdowns on interception returns. Houston’s stats put him in a fourth-place tie for the most in both franchise and league history. He closed his career with the Washington Redskins (1973-80), snagging an additional 24 interceptions. Williams played 14 seasons with Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams. He earned eight Pro Bowl nods with 55 career interceptions and nine touchdowns.
“Even as an inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I am still amazed when I view all of the football memorabilia that in this exhibit,” Houston said. “I always wanted all of my family, fans and friends to see this…and now that the Canton exhibit is traveling to Houston, they will be able to see it.”
“I am thrilled to be associated with Gridiron Glory, said Williams. “This exhibit highlights all of the key moments in the history of the game and is a must visit for all football fans.”
Gridiron Glory will be housed in TSU’s University Museum beginning January 30. The 6,000 square-foot exhibit features hundreds of artifacts from the Hall of Fame collection and captures the essence of the Hall’s experience.
This interactive multimedia experience includes original artifacts, rare documents, immersive fan experiences, educational programming and remarkable footage from NFL Films showcasing the American legacy of the game of football and its historical significance. Many of the items on display in Houston will be available for the first time. The exhibit includes the Vince Lombardi Trophy, an authentic interactive instant-replay booth, Knute Rockne’s 1919 Massillon Tigers helmet, Jim Brown’s jersey worn in an actual game, and Emmitt Smith’s rushing-record game mementos, among other highlights.
Media, businesses and organizations are invited to partner with TSU in this amazing experience. Funding through exhibition ticket sales and sponsorships support college scholarships and student programs.
Unique underwriting opportunities include evening venue rental for companies or organizations to host private viewing receptions and funding group tours for youth centers, schools, and young athletes. For details, including sponsorships, group tours, daily packages and options for retail ticket outlets, contact Kendrick Callis at 713-313-7933 or calliskd@tsu.edu, Rodney Bush at 713-313-7603 or bushrr@tsu.edu, Linda L. Ragland at 832-443-6272 or llr@mybrandsite.com.
For individual ticket purchases and hours of exhibition, visit
http://sites.tsu.edu/gridiron/ # # #
About Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Professional Football Hall Of Fame (PFHOF) has served as a one-of-a-kind attraction for more than 50 years, honoring professional football, its legends, history and core set of values. The Pro Football Hall Of Fame’s mission is to honor the heroes of the game, preserve its history, promote its value and celebrate excellence everywhere. (www.profootballhof.com/exhibits/gridiron-glory.aspx)
About The University Museum
The University Museum at Texas Southern University was founded in 2000. Its mission is to exhibit both past and present art and artifacts, the collections of Texas Southern University, and to provide programming and events to support the arts in Houston and surrounding areas. The museum has hosted a variety of programming that serves the community, the nation and the world. The University Museum has established itself as an authority on art from African-American legacies such as Dr. John Biggers and others of the African Diaspora. The Museum has housed exhibits by renowned artists including Dr. Biggers, Kermit Oliver, James Van der Zee, Robert Pruitt, Bert Samples, and a number of talented student artists. The Museum is located in the south wing of the T.M. Fairchild Building, the oldest building on TSU’s campus that was erected in 1946.
About Texas Southern University
Texas Southern University (TSU) is a comprehensive, metropolitan institution providing academic and research programs that address critical urban issues, and prepares its increasingly diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. TSU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations – bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees – organized into 10 colleges and schools on a 150-acre campus nestled in the heart of Houston’s historic Third Ward. The University’s enrollment has a population of 9,000 undergraduate and graduate-school academic candidates. Texas Southern has been a distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, and the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. TSU has positioned itself as a proactive leader in educating underserved students and many who are the first in their family to attend college. (www.tsu.edu)
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Wednesday, January 4th 2017 at 1:38PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
