Tulsa World: Ex-Sooner Jackson reaches out to youths

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Ex-Sooner Jackson reaches out to youths

Keith Jackson

By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 5/27/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 5/27/2009 3:59 AM

Related story: Q&A with Keith Jackson.

During a press conference that preceded last week's Wayman Tisdale funeral, former University of Arkansas basketball star Darrell Walker was asked whether he had ever known another person whose overall character would compare to Tisdale's.

Walker said that yes, in fact, he could identify one man of comparable quality — Keith Jackson, the former two-time All-American tight end at the University of Oklahoma.

In his ninth and final NFL season, Jackson won a Super Bowl ring with the Green Bay Packers and was a Pro Bowl starter.

He could have played for several more seasons, but he retired at 31 in order to commit his time and resources to the establishment of a youth program in his hometown of Little Rock, Ark. In 1993, he founded the Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids program.

"We've had 139 kids who went to college, and one who's getting his Master's degree, one who's getting his doctorate and one in law school," said the 44-year-old Jackson. "We've gone from being in a $600,000 building to being in a $5.2 million building.

"I don't wear any championship rings, but I wear my P.A.R.K. ring every day."

While in Tulsa for a recent speaking engagement, Jackson reflected on his OU and NFL playing careers during an interview with the Tulsa World.

Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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