Rotary Club’s 20th Annual Speaker’s BanquetH. Haveman
Rotary International is the world’s first service club organization. It was founded in 1905 by Paul P. Harris in Illinois, but quickly gained popularity. Rotarians began pooling their resources and contributing their talents to help serve communities in need. Clubs were rapidly formed around the world. Today, there are more than 32,000 clubs and over 1.2 million members in more than 200 countries devoting themselves to further the motto, Service Above Self.
Rotarians volunteer time and money in support of humanitarian, educational, and cultural programs and address issues such as environmental decline, illiteracy, world hunger, and children at risk. Rotary International’s most notable current global project, PolioPlus, is contributing to the global eradication of polio and has raised over $600 million since beginning the project in 1985. And while there are numerous Rotary-wide efforts, Rotary clubs are also encouraged to take part in local ventures.
On Thursday, February 11 at Red Rock Park, Rotary Club of Gallup will host its 20th Annual Scholarship Fundraiser Banquet. All proceeds will go to the Gallup Rotary Club Regional High School Scholarship Fund, and will support students selected from area high schools. Included in the night’s festivities are a reception and photo opportunity, a silent auction, dinner and featured speaker – Ron “Jaws” Jaworski – all beginning at 5:00pm.
Ron Jaworski was born and raised in the gritty steel town of Lackawanna, New York, a small town outside of Buffalo. Ron was a high school standout, playing football, basketball and baseball. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals right out of high school. He wanted to play baseball immediately, but his father pushed for college first.
After a two-week introduction to reality arranged by his father, Jaworski quickly decided to pursue a college degree and chose to play football at Youngstown State University in Ohio. His outstanding career included an impressive appearance in the Senior Bowl and the Ohio Shrine Bowl games. Ron’s father was his biggest booster. “My freshmen year in college, all I did was hold for placekicks, but he’d drive three and a half hours each way just to see that. My biggest disappointment in life is that he never got to see me play in the pros. His father died in 1971, when Jaworski was about to begin his sophomore year at Youngstown.
The Rams drafted him in the second round of the 1973 draft. After spending four years with the Rams, the rights to Jaworski were traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in March of 1977. Under Head Coach Dick Vermeil and behind Ron’s ability and enthusiastic field leadership, the Eagles advanced to the NFC Playoffs in 1978 and 1979. In 1980, Jaws led the Eagles to a 12-4 record, the NFC Championship and their first ever berth in a Super Bowl (XV) against the Oakland Raiders. Ron finished the 1980 season as the Number 1 rated passer in the NFC and was awarded the 1980 NFL MVP! In recognition of his brilliant season, Ron was selected to the Pro Bowl.
Along the way, Ron became known as Jaws and enjoyed a successful NFL career, starting in 116 straight NFL games, a record for most consecutive starts. Jaws held that record until 1999, when Brett Favre broke it. Ron led the Eagles to the NFL playoffs four times. He is the all-time Eagles leader in many passing categories, including career touchdowns and career passing yardage.
After becoming a free agent in March of 1987, Ron was signed by the Miami Dolphins. Ron played for the Dolphins in 1987 and 1988. In 1989, he signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs. Ron retired in 1990 after sustaining a season-ending knee injury.
Ron is currently color commentator for ESPN’s Monday Night Football alongside Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden. He is also on ESPN’s NFL Match-up Show with Merril Hoge and Sal Paolantonio.
Ron’s amazing stories and experiences are sure to entertain and inspire. Don’t miss this fun night and a chance to help support local youth through Gallup’s Rotary Club.
Tickets are available for $125 per person. Corporate tables are also available. For more information, please call 863-6851. |
