Heisman Trophy winner, 12 year NBA vet Ward speaks here Nov. 7
Heisman Trophy winner, 12 year NBA vet Ward speaks here Nov. 7
Charlie Ward, the 1993 Heisman Trophy Winner and a first round NBA draft choice, will be the guest speaker at the Nov. 7 Gulf Coast Athletic Club meeting in the Palmer Dining Room at Craft Farms Gulf Club in Gulf Shores. Social hours starts at 6 p.m., and guests are always welcome. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m., and the program starts at 7 p.m. Annual club membership is $200, but non-members may attend meetings for $30. For more info, email David.d.DeMeyer@gmail. com.
The most decorated player in the history of college football, Ward won literally every award he was eligible for as a senior quarterback on Florida State’s 1993 National Championship team. In addition, Ward was the sparkplug on three Seminole NCAA Tournament basketball teams.
Ward won the Heisman during his All-American career as quarterack of Florida State. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, Ward was described as “a natural born leader’’ by coaching legend Bobby Bowden. “Guys listen to him,” Bowden often said.
Ward, currently the Pensacola Washington High football coach, also works with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos as community ambassador.
He is the only athlete in American sports history to win the Heisman Trophy, then become a first-round NBA draft selection. He played 12 NBA seasons and was the point guard for the New York Knicks (who drafted him) when they reached the NBA Finals in 1999 under coach Jeff Van Gundy. He also played for the Houston Rockets.
Ward was also considered a good enough baseball player as a teenager to become twice selected in the MLB draft.
The Milwaukee Brewers picked him in the 59th round in 1993. The New York Yankees chose him in the 18th round in 1994. He bypassed those chances, along with an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl in 1993 to focus on his basketball future.
A devout Christian, Ward has been a motivational speaker to many groups. He is active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter in Pensacola. In 2011, Ward received the John Wooden Keys to Life award.