University of Oklahoma Athletics
Jackson Receives Academic Honor
February 19, 2008 | Athletics
Feb. 19, 2008
NORMAN, Okla. - Keith Jackson, a two-time Sooner football All-American, will join three other University of Oklahoma alumni who will be honored as Distinguished Alumni from the College of Arts and Sciences Friday in Norman.
Jackson, who earned his degree in communication, was selected as the 2008 Distinguished Alumnus from the area of social sciences. Jackson, along with other honorees Julianna Brannum, representing the professional schools; Cheri Cartwright, representing the humanities, and John Wiens, Ph.D., representing the natural sciences, will be honored at the annual Kaleidoscope Evening.
Each is being recognized for their contributions at the local, national and international level. Jackson will present a public lecture Friday at 10 a.m. in the Heritage Room of the Oklahoma Memorial Union. His topic is "Changing the World Through Words."
A consensus All-American in both 1986 and 1987 and a three-time All-Big Eight honoree, Jackson's versatility made him not only a great receiver and blocker, but also a rushing threat. As a junior, Jackson averaged an amazing 28.8 yards per reception on a team that was last in the NCAA in passing for most of the season. Jackson averaged 27.5 yards per reception as a senior.
Equally successful off the field, Jackson was the first Sooner to earn the NCAA Top Six Award, presented to the top six senior student-athletes. For his success on and off the field as a collegian, he became the 15th Sooner to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December of 2001.
Following graduation from OU, Jackson became the 13th player taken in the 1988 NFL draft when the Philadelphia Eagles made the tight end a first round selection. He played four years with the Eagles and three years with the Miami Dolphins before finishing his nine-year pro career with the Green Bay Packers. He played his final two years with the Packers and was a starter on the Green Bay team that won Super Bowl XXI in 1997.
He retired with 441 catches for 5,283 yards and 49 touchdowns. He started 85 of the 129 games he played.
In 1992 Jackson incorporated Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids in his hometown of Little Rock, Ark. P.A.R.K. is a nonprofit agency that serves junior and senior high school students who appear to be at risk of dropping out of school and/or succumbing to the pressures of drugs, alcohol, sex and/or gangs. It provides tutoring, recreation, summer programs and community service. Jackson serves as the president of the board.
In addition to his work with at-risk youth, Jackson has been a broadcast analyst with the TNT network, Oklahoma Sooner football radio network, Fox Sports network and the Arkansas Razorback Sports Network.
He also spends much of his time speaking to churches, civic groups, corporations and schools. He was presented an honorary doctorate of humanities by the Ouachita Baptist University; has been named Man of the Year by the Boys Club; received the Young Arkansas Award by the Jaycees; was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame; was named one of the top 85 players in the National Football League; and was named OU Offensive Player of the Century.
Tickets remain for the Kaleidoscope Evening, which begins with a silent auction at 6 p.m. at the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom at the Oklahoma Memorial Union. Individual tickets are $125 (with $75 of each ticket qualifying for a charitable contribution). Tables are $1,000 (with ($700 qualifying as a charitable donation). All proceeds from the evening benefit scholarships in the college and the Leadership Scholars program.
Tickets can be purchased online until noon Wednesday at http://casweb.ou.edu/home/alumni/kaleidoscope_registration_form.htm
