Governor Honors Hines Ward

Harrisburg – Governor Tom Corbett today presented the following proclamation honoring retired Pittsburgh Steelers player Hines Ward during an event at the state Capitol in Harrisburg:

Tribute to Hines Ward

WHEREAS, Hines Ward played 14 seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers, during which he established himself as one of the all-time greatest NFL wide receivers, being heralded as a leader on and off the field; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ward was drafted in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers from the University of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, over the course of his career, Mr. Ward earned three team Most Valuable Player awards, was selected to four consecutive NFL Pro Bowls and was named to three NFL All Pro teams; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ward is a two-time Super Bowl Champion, and was named Super Bowl XL Most Valuable Player; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ward holds Pittsburgh Steelers all-time records for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, and is one of only eight receivers in NFL history to reach 1,000 career receptions; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ward has a long history of community involvement, including his efforts with the Hines Ward Helping Hands Foundation, Hines Ward Helping Hands Korea Foundation, Pearl S. Buck International, The Caring Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Salvation Army, Make a Wish Foundation, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and Take a Player to School; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ward’s efforts on behalf of inner-city and underprivileged youth in the Pittsburgh and Atlanta areas, and on behalf of biracial children in Korea have earned international praise and recognition;

THEREFORE, I, Tom Corbett, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim that Hines Ward has demonstrated unparalleled character as a football player and as a humanitarian, and will forever be remembered as one of the greatest Pittsburgh Steelers of all time.

GIVEN under my hand and the Seal of the Governor, at the City of Harrisburg, on this twenty-second day of May in the year of our Lord two thousand and twelve, and of the Commonwealth the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

TOM CORBETT, Governor