Jack Kemp to be Honored by Pop Warner
Former AFL star and Congressman to recieve the prestigious Warner Award

February 4, 2004

About the Award:

Jack Kemp will recieve the 2004 Warner Award at the 44th Annual Scholar All-American Banquet on Saturday, May 29, 2004 at DisneyWorld in Lake Buena Vista, FL. The Warner Award is named after Glenn S. "Pop" Warner, and is presented to an individual who has achieved excellence in athletics, scholarship, and life's endeavors with integrity and humanity. The award will be a part of the evening ceremony at the annual event, attended by Pop Warner scholars and parents. Former winners of the Warner Award include Dick Butkus (1995), NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue (1993) and Eddie Robinson (1996). To view a list of all past award winners, click here.

The Early Years:

Jack Kemp was born in Los Angles, California in 1935. He attended Occidental College which is also located in Los Angeles. While attending college he lettered in three sports, including his true passion of football. Jack was named All Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Choice in his last two years at Occidental. He completed his collegiate years with a degree in Physical Education.

Professional Football Career Highlights:

Jack Kemp's first attempt at professional football came when he tried to sign unsuccessfully in the National Football League. He was then able to land a job in “the other league,” which was the newly formed American Football League (AFL). He was the captain of the San Diego Chargers from 1960-1962 before he signed with the Buffalo Bills via waivers from San Diego in 1962. From 1962-1969 Jack was able to propel the Buffalo franchise among the elite in the AFL.

Kemp will forever be remember in history of professional football for several reasons. First, he was the only quarterback to last the entire duration of the AFL from start to finish. In those ten years Kemp was able to lead his team to 5 of the 10 championship games played in the AFL. He won two of his three championships with the Buffalo Bills (1964-1965). After he lead his team to a 23-0 route in the 1965 championship game versus San Diego, he was named the AFL league MVP. He helped co-found the AFL Players Association where he was elected as the president five times. He was added to the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame in 1984, and was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Bills Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. Kemp will forever be remembered as the first great quarterback of the Buffalo Bills.

Post-Football Career Highlights:

After his years in professional sports Kemp turned to the political arena. In 1971 he became a member of the United States House of Representatives with a landslide victory. He remained in the House for 18 years from 1971 to 1989. Later, Kemp became a member of the presidential cabinet when he was named Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in 1989. He remained in this position for 4 years.

Kemp is the co-founder and co-director of Empower America which was established in 1993. Empower America is a company that focuses on public policy and advocacy organization.

In 1995, Kemp served as chairman of the National Commission on Economic and Tax Reform. His work here involved the studying of how major reconstruction of the tax code could unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of America, grow the economy without inflation, and create greater opportunity for Americans to escape poverty.

Jack Kemp also currently serves as the Chairman for USA Football, a national Pop Warner partner.