REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Brian Holloway gave the secret of his success on the football field during Team Redstone's African American/Black History Month program Feb. 22.
"You lay the soul of a Soldier on top of the passion of a playmaker you will never ever, ever, ever be stopped," said Holloway, a former Stanford All-American and five-time NFL All-Pro.
Wearing the New England Patriots jersey he wore during his playing days, Holloway related that he was the son of a Soldier. He relied on a Soldier's fighting spirit to overcome adversity and odds.
"One shot, one kill. The soul of the Soldier," he said. "And that empowered me. It took my game to the next level."
The Omaha, Neb. native, who wore No. 76 for the Patriots, was the team captain of New England's 1985 AFC championship team. The former offensive tackle played for the Patriots and Los Angeles Raiders from 1981-88. He was selected by the Patriots in the first round (19th overall) of the 1981 NFL draft out of Stanford University.
"Don't you ever, ever, ever, ever give up," said Holloway, in his passionate talk to an estimated 550 people in Bob Jones Auditorium.
He received mementos from Maj. Gen. Jim Myles, commander of the Aviation and Missile Command and Redstone Arsenal. Holloway in turn presented a football to the commanding general.
Myles also made a presentation to outreach art contest winners. Redstone's Horace Wilson presented his poem "Black History, Our History." And the Johnson High School Jazz Band performed a mini-concert.
"We have to remember our past to make sure the future continues to be bright," Myles said.
Team Redstone's essay winners for Black History Month included: first place, Keisha Tafari of Marshall Space Flight Center; second, K.C. Bertling of Space and Missile Defense Command; and third, Audrey Dixon of MSFC.
The display winners were: first place, 2nd Army Recruiting Brigade; second, Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space; and third, Logistics Support Activity.
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