When Alan Page roamed the frozen tundra for the Minnesota
Vikings in the 1970s, he was one of the NFL's most fearsome
defensive tackles of his time. Today, Page lays down the
law to protect children as that state's first African-American
Supreme Court Justice.
Page will be the keynote speaker at EMU's MLK Day Celebration
Jan. 16. He will provide brief comments at the President's
Luncheon, scheduled for noon at the Ypsilanti Marriott.
Page will provide the keynote address at 3 p.m. in Pease
Auditorium. The Pease event is free and open to the public.
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PAGE ONE: Alan Page, a
Minnesota Supreme
Court
Justice and an NFL Hall of
Famer, will be
the keynote
speaker at Eastern Michigan
University's
MLK Day
Celebration Jan. 16.
Image courtesy
of the Minnesota
Supreme Court
|
Luncheon tickets went on sale Nov. 30 and can be purchased
by calling the Convocation Center Box Office at 487-2282.
Tickets are $32 for individuals and $15 for EMU students.
"I really do think he is a perfect match for our campus.
The guy's a terrific role model," said Melissa Ginotti,
assistant director, Campus Life programs. "First, he was
a terrific athlete with the Minnesota Vikings. While he
was doing that, he was laying the groundwork in law school
to segue into a different career, one where he could give
back to the community. I think he's a man of action. I
think that's a wonderful message for MLK Day."
Known for his staunch defense as a member of the famed "Purple
People Eaters," the Minnesota Vikings' fierce defensive
unit of the '70s, Page played in four Super Bowls with
the Vikings. He finished his 14-year career with the Chicago
Bears, retiring in 1981.
He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
His accomplishments include playing in 236 straight games;
being named the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1971 and
its Defensive Player of the Year in 1971 and 1973; was
named All-NFL six times and second-team All-NFL three other
times; and selected to nine straight Pro Bowls.
During his career, he recorded 173 sacks, 28 blocked kicks
and recovered 23 fumbles.
Page's law career actually began during his NFL-playing
days when he had the foresight to attend law school at
the University of Minnesota at the height of his football
career. When he retired from the game in 1981, he went
to work for a Minnesota law firm before being appointed
special assistant attorney general in Minnesota. In 1987,
he became assistant attorney general and, in 1993, he became
associate justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Page is now an ardent defender of equal education for
all children. In 1988, he established the Page Education
Foundation to provide college tuition for underprivileged
students. For the 2003-04 academic year, the foundation
produced 565 Page Scholars. The foundation requires its
scholars to spend a minimum of four hours per month teaching
or tutoring younger students.
Page received his Juris Doctorate from the University
of Minnesota and his bachelor's degree in political science
from the University of Notre Dame. He also has received
three honorary degrees. The recipient of numerous athletic
and humanitarian awards, Page likes to think of football
as a past chapter in his life.
"If I could choose a way to be remembered, it wouldn't
be my association with football," said Page. "Football
is the past — a good past, but I'd want to be remembered
with children — my children and other children."
For more information, call McKenny Union, Campus Life and
Diversity Programs at 487-3045.
