The Tyler Morning Telegraph reported that the Tyler City Council voted to honor their hometown hero, Earl Campbell, with a street name on March 26.
"Earl Campbell has been an inspiration to the community because he has shown that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible," said Mayor Donald Sanders. "He has inspired the youth of this community to reach for their dreams."
Besides being known as the rose capital of America, Tyler, Texas, is also known for the infamous running back Campbell. Campbell, ironically nicknamed the Tyler rose, has left an imprint on the Tyler community and the longhorn nation.
Campbell came to the University of Texas in 1974 and was the running back for the Longhorn football team for three seasons. During his last season in 1977, Campbell received the coveted Heisman Trophy.
In 1978, Campbell entered the National Football League draft and was the first draft pick by the Houston Oilers. He was traded in 1984 to the New Orleans’ Saints and retired from professional football in 1986.
Campbell, who attended his dedication in Tyler, Texas, told the media, "I've just been thinking, that's such a tremendous honor, to have a street, your children and your grandchildren, people will go up and down and say, 'We want to go to that Earl Campbell Street.' I think it's just unbelievable."
In my opinion, Campbell’s recognition from his hometown is great publicity for the University of Texas’ football program because it shows the current public the impact a player, who has hasn’t played a game in Royal- Memorial Stadium in over thirty years, can have on a community.
Campbell was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1991.
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