Priest Holmes Foundation
Publication: PriestHolmesFoundation.org
Date: February 3, 2009
By Ruth Baum Bigus
Former NFL and Texas Longhorns running back Priest Holmes has made some pretty exciting trips in his football career. There was the 1994 Sun Bowl game against North Carolina when Holmes scored four touchdowns. He played in the first Big 12 Championship game, coveting MVP honors. There was the 2001 Super Bowl victory when Holmes played for the Baltimore Ravens.
In December, Holmes returned to El Paso to be inducted as a Legend during the 75th anniversary of the Sun Bowl. However, nothing quite prepared the football great for the trip he made Jan. 20th of this year standing with millions near the steps of the nation’s Capitol to witness first hand the inauguration of Barack Obama as the United States first African American president.
“Being able to experience that moment was great,” Holmes said.
Holmes set out to attend the inauguration late last fall working through his agent’s office in Atlanta as well as the NFL. At the same time, Holmes was talking with some bailiffs he knows in the local court system in San Antonio, where he lives. The bailiffs mentioned several of the area’s judges were going to the inauguration, through the Texas Democratic Party, and would call them on Holmes’ behalf. The next thing Holmes knew, he had an invitation and tickets to attend the inauguration.
“They were flattered to have me join them and I was so excited to go with them,” Holmes said.
Among Holmes group was Bexar County Court Judge Karen Crouch, Judge JoAnn De Hoyos, Senator Leticia Van De Putte and a number of attorneys. Holmes said the experience was amazing – and cold.
“Being a true Texans I had no idea what I was confronting – I thought wearing a big coat with a suit underneath would be warm enough,” he said with a laugh. “WE didn’t sleep for a day and a half. And my feet were so worn out and cold. I should have had a whole lot of sweats on like on the football sidelines.”
Despite the weather, the historic significance of the day was not lost on Holmes.
“It was incredible to see the unity amongst all of the people,” Holmes said. “I think success is being redefined. We’ve been consumers for so long as a society. Success is now picking yourself up and helping others.”
Holmes met lots of celebrities during his trip, but he never had the chance to meet the president in person. Still, he doesn’t regret making the journey, frozen feet and all.
“IT was a great experience,” he said.
