Ryan Russell (LA’14) was born January 17, 1992, in Carrollton, Texas. In high school, he was named defensive MVP for his football team. At Purdue, he played defensive end during the 2011, 2012, and 2013 seasons. While studying sociology, he played 50 games for the Boilermakers, compiling 149 total tackles and 10 sacks. After graduating, […]
The year was 1968. And Leroy Keyes remembers it well. For many reasons. Tumult enveloped the nation. There was the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. that set off riots in Chicago, Washington, DC, and other cities. Civil rights demonstrations also sparked fury across America, highlighted by a deadly protest in Orangeburg, South Carolina. At […]
Have you ever looked at an NFL team and wondered what they eat? Well, Purdue alum Ted Harper (HHS’08) knows exactly what they eat. For the past eight seasons, Harper has planned and managed as many as five meals a day for the New England Patriots players, coaches, and staff. This video (produced by the […]
Former pilot keeps his cool as head referee of Super Bowl LIII When John Parry (T’88) took the field at Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta February 3, he stepped onto a global stage at a moment in history when his profession needed his best. As if the pressure of serving as head referee for the […]
Relentless drive for perfection fuels linebacker Markus Bailey Markus Bailey was 6 years old when his world came crashing down. The eldest of two sons has nothing but fond memories of those prior early years. His parents, Demarko and Amy Bailey, were still in high school when Markus was born. He recalls a loving home […]
Fifty years after his season of glory, the legendary football star reflects on his impact on and off the field Leroy Keyes laughs at the question. “Did I know where Purdue was when I was back in high school? I had no idea,” he says. Keyes (HHS’69) laughs again. It’s a big laugh, the kind that […]
How athleticism delivered Donald Winston from a life of poverty, hardship When a teacher asked Donald Winston what the most important thing in his life was, the freshman at Scecina Memorial High School in Indianapolis had a one-word answer: Football. Winston (T’00, MS T’01) was a non-Catholic and an African American in a predominantly white […]
Entering his sixth season as the New England Patriots’ sports dietitian, Ted Harper (HHS’08) is fueling Super Bowl champions. His comprehensive eating plans have helped 300-pound defensive linemen take on double teams totaling 600 pounds and kept 180-pound speedsters fresh on long runs through the playoffs. Yet he wouldn’t have his position with one of […]
