NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE
1515 Pioneer Drive
Harrison, Arkansas 72601
Former All-Pro tight end and
Razorback analyst
Keith Jackson to
speak Nov. 27 at Northark in JPH Lecture
Football great Keith Jackson will speak Monday, Nov. 27, at North Arkansas College in the John Paul Hammerschmidt Lecture Series. During his gridiron career, Jackson played on a Super Bowl winning team for the Green Bay Packers and led the University of Oklahoma to the 1985 NCAA national championship. He is currently the color commentator for Arkansas Razorbacks football radio broadcasts, and his son, Keith Jackson, Jr., is one of the defensive stars of the 2006 team. Jackson’s lecture will be open to the public free of charge at 6:30 p.m. in the John Paul Hammerschmidt Business and Conference Center on the college’s South Campus.
Funded by gifts to the North Arkansas College Foundation, the JPH Lecture Series sponsors nationally recognized experts to speak about topics of interest to the people of northern Arkansas. Hammerschmidt, who represented the Third District of Arkansas in the U.S. House of Representatives for 13 terms during the administrations of six presidents, has an office at Northark, and many of his photographs, awards, and other memorabilia are on display in the building on the college’s South Campus that bears his name.
Born in Little Rock, Jackson was a three-sport athlete at Little Rock Parkview, where he was a Parade All-American in football. He also played the cello with the Parkview orchestra. Upon graduating from Parkview, Keith attended the University of Oklahoma, where he completed a BA in Communications with academic honors in 3 ˝ years. While at OU, Jackson helped the Sooners to a 42-5-1 record in four seasons and a national championship in 1985. He recorded a total of 62 receptions for 1,407 yards, an average of 23.7 yards per catch, and was a College Football All-America Team selection in 1986 and 1987. In 2001, Jackson was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
In 1988, the Philadelphia Eagles made Jackson the 13th pick of the first round in the National Football League draft. During his rookie season, Jackson recorded 81 receptions for 869 yards and six touchdowns, along with seven catches for 142 yards in the Eagles’ only playoff game that year, and won the NFC Rookie of the Year award. In his final professional season, Jackson had 40 receptions for 505 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns, assisting the Green Bay Packers to a 13-3 record and a win in Super Bowl XXXI. Jackson finished his pro career with a total of 441 receptions for 5,283 yards and 49 touchdowns playing for the Eagles (1988-1991), Miami Dolphins (1992-1994), and Packers (1996).
Jackson spent much of his off the field time promoting an academic center that would give the youth in his hometown of Little Rock hope, strong values, and academic confidence. In 1992, this vision became a reality with the incorporation of P.A.R.K. (Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids). P.A.R.K. became a non-profit organization under the leadership of Jackson, who serves as president of the board. Keith not only put his name and personal money in the program; he also puts in countless hours with the youth of this program.
P.A.R.K. serves junior and senior high school students who appear to be at risk of dropping out of school and or succumbing to the pressure of drugs, alcohol, sex, and/or gangs. P.A.R.K. provides after school tutoring, recreation, summer programs, and community service. Jackson strongly believes that an atmosphere of love, nurturing and discipline can put children on the path towards a positive future. A family man and Christian, Keith and his wife, Melanie, have three children (Keith Jr., Kenyon, and Koilan). He is recognized as one of the most dynamic and inspirational speakers in the country.
This will be the 15th presentation in the JPH Lecture Series. Jackson follows Astronaut and Cosmonaut Dr. Jerry Linenger, Sherpa mountain guide Jamling Tenzing Norgay, CIA officers Tony and Jonna Mendez, internationally syndicated columnist Gwynne Dyer, former North Vietnam prisoner of war Colonel Edward L. Hubbard, 1972 Olympic 800-meter-run champion Dave Wottle, FDNY Chief Richard "Pitch" Picciotto, Harrison native and music therapy specialist Dr. Frederick (Ted) Tims, Savant Syndrome expert Dr. Darold Treffert, retired Wal-Mart senior vice-chairman Don Soderquist, “Homeless to Harvard” heroine Liz Murray, Navy Commander (retired) Scott Waddle of the USS Greeneville, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette staff writer and Iraq war correspondent Amy Schlesing, and animator/filmmaker Gary Goldman as a speaker in the series.