It was a tragedy that’s been turned into philanthropy,

the way I like to describe it. People are beginning to participate and we’re beginning to give back.

College football's Hall of Fame is honoring the Black 14—former football players for the University of Wyoming. You've always been one to say it didn't define us.

That's exactly right. We defined it. In 1969, the players were removed from the team before their game against Brigham Young University. They wanted to protest a policy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that prevented black men from priesthood ordination. The Church policy changed in 1978. Decades later, this conflict has turned into a collaboration and friendship with BYU and the Church. We didn't like each other when we played against each other. It was always a dogfight every time we played.

But the difference now it’s... that was on the field. But we're doing some good things off the field. We’re working in concert with each other.

We have a great relationship with the Belonging program at BYU. We have a great relationship with the social justice programs that we have at the University of Wyoming.

I mean, that’s illustrated right on my chest. I feel gratitude in so many ways, but not so much for myself, as much for the situation. When I can look back and look at the collaboration between two adversaries 50 years ago, that is doing something great right now and what we say justice served. The Hall of Fame recognized the players for the past and their present work. The honor came with service at the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The Black 14 and The Church of Jesus Christ have worked together to donate more than 1 million pounds of food throughout the United States. It’s always a good thing to partner. Our mission, engaging our neighbors and helping them, those who are in food insecurity, it’s something that we need partnership to do. It's great when others recognize someone standing for what's right and then joins with them. We care about all of God's children.

There’s people out there that are struggling.

And and when we come together with different groups like the Black 14, I think it shows a—really a story of redemption. The purpose of this humanitarian work is to curb food insecurity and provide academic scholarships. It was an unbelievable series of events and an unbelievable time. It's also the subject of a BYU documentary, “The Black 14: Healing Hearts and Feeding Souls.” 50 some years later, good is coming from it. The film tells of the evolution of the relationship between BYU and the Black 14, now making a difference together. They asked me, what do you want to do for the rest of your life? And I said, service. And that's what I think God wants me to do.

And so service is my goal.