Bledsoe, Jendrick receive Ibas
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
6/6/2006
Both recipients have family members who made huge sacrifices.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe and Olympic swimming gold medalist Megan Quann Jendrick were honored as 2006 recipients of the Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Awards during a Monday night banquet at the Renaissance Hotel.
The Iba Awards are presented to America's premier athletes who excel in their sport and who show, by their actions, a desire to help others. Bledsoe and Jendrick were picked because of sacrifices they have made to improve the lives of others.
Sacrificing apparently runs in their families.
Drew Bledsoe's great-grandfather was Navy Admiral Albert McQueen Bledsoe, who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor. Drew Bledsoe said his grandfather, Stewart Bledsoe, was a UCLA student at the time.
"He was listening to the radio that whole night so he and his best friend went and enlisted the next morning," the quarterback said of a grandfather who became a top gun fighter pilot.
Jendrick's grandfather, Mel Walk, was a high jumper who, in 1940, earned the right to represent the United States in the Olympics. He never went to the Olympics because he went to war instead.
Walk was presented jewelry -- a little gold shoe on a chain -- for winning the Olympic Trials. Sixty years later, he gave the good luck charm to his Olympic-bound granddaughter.
"That was really special," she said.
Jendrick wore the golden shoe around her neck up until the time she jumped into the pool to win gold medals in the 100-meter breaststroke and the 400-meter medley relay.
Jendrick said her grandfather is a man of few words. "But I knew he was really proud of me," she said.
There's a lot for families of the Iba Awards recipients to be proud about.
Bledsoe, who ranks among the top 10 players in NFL history in career completions, attempts and passing yards, was inducted last year into the Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. He has been the recipient of the Thurman Munson Humanitarian Award, the NFL Alumni Spirit Award, the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and is a former international chairman of the Children's Miracle Network.
"I personally, and we as athletes, we take it very seriously what we do on the field. It's important to us. We work hard at it," Bledsoe said.
"But in the grand scheme of things, what's more important? If we can make an impact that goes beyond entertaining people on Sundays, that's vastly more important. So to receive an award for what I have done and what we have accomplished off the field is hugely important."
Bledsoe made a $2,500 Salvation Army Donation for every touchdown pass he threw last season and raised more than $57,000 for Hurricane Katrina victims. Mac Bledsoe, the quarterback's father, said Drew has contributed $5 million over a period of years to a "Parenting With Dignity" program that teaches parenting skills.
Iba Award recipients are presented a bronze trophy and $10,000, payable to the charity of their choice. Jendrick chose the Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle and Bledsoe chose Parenting With Dignity.
Jendrick said she chose a children's hospital because many girls who look up to her are younger and she wants to give back to them.
Jendrick has visited several children's hospitals and spoken at more than 100 elementary schools to promote goal-setting and positive achievement. She is actively involved with the American Lung Association and Junior Achievement.
ESPN SportsCenter anchor John Anderson served as master of ceremonies at the 13th annual Iba Awards and former Ole Miss and New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning was the keynote speaker. Manning is the father of current NFL quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. Peyton Manning was an Iba Award recipient in 2002.
The Iba Awards, named for a former Oklahoma State and U.S. Olympic basketball coach, were created by the Rotary Club of Tulsa and Williams debuted as presenting sponsor.
6/6/2006
Both recipients have family members who made huge sacrifices.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe and Olympic swimming gold medalist Megan Quann Jendrick were honored as 2006 recipients of the Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Awards during a Monday night banquet at the Renaissance Hotel.
The Iba Awards are presented to America's premier athletes who excel in their sport and who show, by their actions, a desire to help others. Bledsoe and Jendrick were picked because of sacrifices they have made to improve the lives of others.
Sacrificing apparently runs in their families.
Drew Bledsoe's great-grandfather was Navy Admiral Albert McQueen Bledsoe, who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor. Drew Bledsoe said his grandfather, Stewart Bledsoe, was a UCLA student at the time.
"He was listening to the radio that whole night so he and his best friend went and enlisted the next morning," the quarterback said of a grandfather who became a top gun fighter pilot.
Jendrick's grandfather, Mel Walk, was a high jumper who, in 1940, earned the right to represent the United States in the Olympics. He never went to the Olympics because he went to war instead.
Walk was presented jewelry -- a little gold shoe on a chain -- for winning the Olympic Trials. Sixty years later, he gave the good luck charm to his Olympic-bound granddaughter.
"That was really special," she said.
Jendrick wore the golden shoe around her neck up until the time she jumped into the pool to win gold medals in the 100-meter breaststroke and the 400-meter medley relay.
Jendrick said her grandfather is a man of few words. "But I knew he was really proud of me," she said.
There's a lot for families of the Iba Awards recipients to be proud about.
Bledsoe, who ranks among the top 10 players in NFL history in career completions, attempts and passing yards, was inducted last year into the Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. He has been the recipient of the Thurman Munson Humanitarian Award, the NFL Alumni Spirit Award, the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and is a former international chairman of the Children's Miracle Network.
"I personally, and we as athletes, we take it very seriously what we do on the field. It's important to us. We work hard at it," Bledsoe said.
"But in the grand scheme of things, what's more important? If we can make an impact that goes beyond entertaining people on Sundays, that's vastly more important. So to receive an award for what I have done and what we have accomplished off the field is hugely important."
Bledsoe made a $2,500 Salvation Army Donation for every touchdown pass he threw last season and raised more than $57,000 for Hurricane Katrina victims. Mac Bledsoe, the quarterback's father, said Drew has contributed $5 million over a period of years to a "Parenting With Dignity" program that teaches parenting skills.
Iba Award recipients are presented a bronze trophy and $10,000, payable to the charity of their choice. Jendrick chose the Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle and Bledsoe chose Parenting With Dignity.
Jendrick said she chose a children's hospital because many girls who look up to her are younger and she wants to give back to them.
Jendrick has visited several children's hospitals and spoken at more than 100 elementary schools to promote goal-setting and positive achievement. She is actively involved with the American Lung Association and Junior Achievement.
ESPN SportsCenter anchor John Anderson served as master of ceremonies at the 13th annual Iba Awards and former Ole Miss and New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning was the keynote speaker. Manning is the father of current NFL quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. Peyton Manning was an Iba Award recipient in 2002.
The Iba Awards, named for a former Oklahoma State and U.S. Olympic basketball coach, were created by the Rotary Club of Tulsa and Williams debuted as presenting sponsor.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:08 AM
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