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Propagator Wine Reception: Meet Gary Burley

Thursday, July 9, 2015
5:00 pm7:00 pm
Eddie and Kay Aldridge Arts & Historical Collections Museum
This event is limited to propagator members only.

Propagator level members will enjoy their monthly wine reception while mixing and mingling with our special guest Gary Burley. Gary is a former National Football League Player and the current CEO and Founder of Pro Start Academy.

Pro Start Academy is an athletic and academic program founded and managed by former NFL players, professionals, and other experts. Its primary goal is to develop and enhance the athletic ability of its students, while building upon their academic foundation, and teaching them valuable life skills. This is done through a focus on mentoring, leadership, and civic engagement.

Gary's story is one of perseverance and hard work. He was not recruited out of high school to play college football, but he worked hard and became a Junior College All-American -- which eventually earned him a full scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh. While at “Pitt” he earned top honors as a Collegiate All-American and Walter Camp, Kodak All American. He also made numerous bowl and all-star game appearances.

In 1975, he was selected in the third round of the NFL draft. This resulted in a ten-year career as a defensive end for both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Atlanta Falcons -- the highlight of which included playing in Super Bowl XVI.

Upon retirement from the NFL he worked in the sports, entertainment, and publication businesses. During this time he held positions as advertising manager for the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Braves sports publications, as well as R&B music and sports marketing for legendary entertainment attorney, Joel Katz.

In addition, Gary co-founded the Leon Bender Epilepsy Research Foundation with Grammy winner Manuel Seal. The organization partnered with Emory Hospital to fund an Epilepsy Research initiative that has shown promising results.

Sounds interesting, doesn't it? Don't miss your chance to hear more about Gary's story, direct from the source. Make plans to join us on July 9.