Hometown hero Kenny King received a standing ovation in the Bronco Gym last Friday, January 22, as he a presented special award to Clarendon High School and the community on behalf of the National Football League.
A special golden football noting King’s participation in Super Bowls XV and XVIII is now on permanent display at the school, but the former Oakland Raider said he was not the focus Friday night.
Former Clarendon coaches Clyde Noonkester, Bob Lemons, and Jeff Walker were on hand as King presented the golden football to Clarendon ISD Athletic Director Gary Jack.
“It’s been a great ride – where I’ve gone, what I’ve done, and where I’ve been – and to be able to come back and do something of this magnitude,” King said during the presentation. “It’s not that many players who actually get the chance. It’s not that many cities, it’s not that many towns, it’s not that many communities that have this opportunity. So I wanted to make sure that I could come back and share this with Clarendon.
“It’s not about me tonight,” King continued. “It’s about you. It’s about the community, and as we all know this is a very strong community.”
The large crowd gathered for the Broncos v. Wellington game applauded and cheered the presentation, and King signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans throughout the night and again Saturday at the Riley Shadle benefit.
King graduated from CHS in 1975 after playing football for the Bronchos for four years, including Clarendon’s 1973 appearance at the state title game, and played with Jack for three of those years.
King then played for the University of Oklahoma before signing on with the Houston Oilers and later the Raiders in Oakland. In Super Bowl XV, he caught a pass from quarterback Jim Plunkett and ran a record-setting 80 yards for a touchdown during Oakland’s victory over Philadelphia. He won his second national title in Super Bowl XVIII in 1984.
Last fall, the NFL kicked off its Super Bowl High School Honor Roll to recognize the schools and communities with a connection to the more than 3,000 people who have played or coached in the Super Bowl as part of the celebration leading up to Super Bowl 50 next month.
When King learned of the NFL’s program, he knew he wanted to honor his hometown.
“This is something the NFL is allowing us as players to do for our community,” King told the Enterprise Saturday. “I’d been talking to Gary (Jack) about this for some time, but with everything that happened it wasn’t the right time,” King said, referring to Riley Shadle’s injury early in the football season.
King said everything just worked out after Friday’s date had been picked, and he was glad that the timing allowed him to help with Saturday’s benefit.
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