Pro Football Hall of Famer, Tony Dorsett has tackled many of life’s challenges and still continues to put his family and community first.
Tony Dorsett’s life story is well known, even to those who only casually follow professional football. Raised in the Pittsburg suburb of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, he re-wrote the NCAA football record book while at the University of Pittsburg. As the second overall pick in the 1977 NFL draft, he would become a Dallas Cowboy legend. He is one of only two players in history who has won the Heisman Trophy, a Super Bowl, a College National Championship and also been enshrined in both the College Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. However, it is Dorsett’s achievements outside of football that have earned him our VIP Award.
Tony Dorsett has worked hard to balance the demands of family life with the demands of his professional endeavors. His son, Anthony, followed in his father’s footsteps, first playing safety at the University of Pittsburg and then playing for eight seasons in the NFL. His oldest daughter Jazmyn plays basketball at Oklahoma State University, and daughters Madison, 15, and Mia, 10, keep him busy on a daily basis. Volunteer work for many charities has always been a priority for Dorsett, including hosting his Tony Dorsett Memorial Celebrity Golf Classic benefitting the McGuire Memorial Home in New Brighton, PA. Whether serving as spokesman for various non-profit organizations or his work promoting health issues for former professional athletes, he has set an example of personal integrity and passionate service.
In 2013, Dorsett announced he had been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease found in many former athletes. While the extent of his condition is not fully known, he has mentioned memory loss as a major symptom. Since making his diagnosis public, Dorsett has spoken openly about his condition and his prognosis, bringing attention to the disease and promoting research for treatment and a cure. For his contributions to the community and for the examples he has set as a parent and as a role model, Good Family
Life Magazine is honored to give the first VIP Award to Tony Dorsett.
“Selecting Tony for this award was quite simply one of the easiest decisions I have ever made. He is often quoted as saying, ‘to succeed you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you’, which is exactly the essence of who he is. He is battling CTE with the same unstoppable vitality as when he made NFL history running ninety-nine yards for America’s Team. Tony is passionate about his wife, Janet, his children, his community, his philanthropy and his fans. Tony is a legend, a leader and an inspiration to all. Plus, he’s got the best smile in the universe.” – Sheryl Pidgeon, Editor-In-Chief, Good Life Family
“Tony was a consummate pro. He did his job. He always wanted the ball in any tough situation. He squeezed every bit of production out the enormously talented body God gave him and he never quit. Qualities like that are often used to describe football players. But they are, especially in Tony’s case, also a blueprint for how he’s lived his life as a former star player and father and now as he faces physical challenges. Were there “Halls of Fame” in life for various categories, Tony would be in several of them.”
– Norm Hitzges, Show Host,