Manning’s first National Football Foundation honor was 1989, when Manning was inducted into College Football Hall of Fame. I was sent to New York to report on the Waldorf Astoria event. It was unforgettable to take a taxi from LaGuardia up to Park Avenue. My accent was immediately picked up by the cabbie. He asked, “Where are you from?” “Jackson Mississippi.” “That’s Ole Miss, right?” “No. Ole Miss’ Oxford campus is here.” “Oh yes, that’s where the great author is from.” Hemingway,” said the taxibie, clearly proud of his knowledge. “No, I think that you mean William Faulkner,” the cabbie replied. “Well, I know that’s where Archie Manning was quarterback.” “I won’t forget the game he played against Alabama on television. “Man, that guy was amazing.” I told him Archie Manning was why I was here and shared my first-hand experience covering Manning. We became fast friends and he was able to tell me a lot about Mississippi by the time we dropped him off at the hotel. We all know about Manning’s philanthropic efforts over the years, particularly in the area of the University of Mississippi Medicine Center. His significant contributions to the game of football at a national level are less well-known. Manning certainly earned Tuesday night’s medal. His contributions to amateur soccer are unsurpassed. In 1993, he joined the National Football Foundation board. In 2007, he was elected chairman of the organization and led a network of 120 chapters across 47 states, with over 12,000 members. The foundation saw significant growth during his tenure as chairman. His leadership was crucial in opening the $68.5 million state-of the-art College Football Hall of Fame, which is located in the heart of Atlanta. He was also responsible for the creation of the National Football Foundation Leadership Hall of Fame. This has allowed millions of dollars to be raised and distributed to scholarships, programs, and other initiatives. The organization currently distributes over $1.3 million annually and recognizes thousands student-athletes who have excelled on and off the field. Induction was, and is, a black-tie affair. More than 200 Mississippians were present. Donny Anderson, Sid Gillman, Roman Gabriel, and Larry Csonka were among the 14 inductees. According to tradition, one Hall of Famer is selected by his peers to deliver an acceptance speech. His peers chose Manning. Manning, dressed in a black suit and looking fit enough to play, gave a memorable speech. Manning began by praising each other inductees, and then he said that it was an honor to be able to speak for them all. Manning stated, “We’ve left field, we’re no longer in print.” “We are the memories. We are the ones who can see college football not only as a measure for yards gained but also as a measure our personal selves and aspirations. The Hall of Fame isn’t about glory. It’s all about dreams. Although we have all had our names added to a wall, we all know that football remains America’s favorite game. All the children who toss a football in the backyards and playgrounds. All the third-string players who just want to get a chance at playing. “We are the fortunate ones to have played one last night. We get to publicly thank colleges and universities, coaches, and our former teammates for making us headlines. We are grateful to all who cheered for us and gave us a night to remember.”_x000D