JOHN MACKEY

The Roosevelt, NY native was only the second strictly tight end to be inducted into the National Football League Hall of Fame and is regarded as one of the all-time greats to ever have played that position. Mackey played in the National Football League for 10 years, was elected to the Pro Bowl five times, was a three-time All-NFL Player, was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team and to the league's 50th Anniversary squad. He also played in two NFL Championship games and two Super Bowls, including the victorious Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl V where he caught a pivotal 75 yd TD from Unitas..

During his playing days, the 6'2", 225-pound John "Mack Truck" Mackey was known for his tremendous speed and power. His courageous leadership on the field led him into power as President of the NFL Players Association and subsequent improvements in players free agency rights, pension benefits and injury protection programs now enjoyed by all NFL players. Prior to his remarkable NFL career and ground breaking work with the NFLPA, Mackey had attended the alma mater of boyhood idol and fellow Nassau County native Jim Brown at Syracuse University.

Throughout his career Mackey has vigorously supported many organizations and has served on the Board of Advisors to the Leukemia Society of America, the Syracuse University Business School and the Board of Directors for the Syracuse University Alumni Association. He has also been Chairman of the Board of Advisors of the Community for Education Foundation and its "Overcoming Obstacles" program, and continues to offer his time as a motivational speaker for the NFL's team building seminars, "Coaching the American Family."