THREE STARS

**MEN OF HONOR —** As Andrew Jackson, Jr. recalls, he and former Dallas Cowboys great Drew Pearson (right) had crossed paths several times since their first encounter more than two decades ago, most notably in January 2015 during the memorial service for former Cowboys defensive tackle Jethro Pugh, Pearson’s teammates from 1973 through 1978. After decades of being snubbed, Pearson’s much-anticipated moment had finally emerged when he was named to the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Also pictured with Jackson and Pearson is Roger Staubach, the 1963 Heisman Trophy winner and a 1985 Hall of Fame inductee.

DALLAS — Once the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame were announced on the Eve of Super Bowl 55 in February, Andrew Jackson, Jr. wasted little time reaching for his cell phone.

“I picked up the phone and called a good friend, and said, ‘They finally gave Drew Pearson (his long-awaited induction) which was long overdue,’” Jackson, Jr. told Making Headline News Thursday evening.

An avid Dallas Cowboys fans since his days of growing up in Memphis, Jackson, Jr. — like many of his fellow Cowboy faithful — was ecstatic after word spread of Pearson’s forthcoming enshrinement August 8 into the Hall after decades of being snubbed.

Pearson, 70, a Super Bowl champion and member of the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade Team, sensed his moment of being inducted into the Hall would finally happen in 2020 which, ironically, was the NFL’s 100th season.

That year, in fact, the class was larger than usual with an expanded class of 20 members to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio.

MINNESOTA MIRACLE

**HAIL MARY HERO —** Having helped propel the Cowboys to three Super Bowl appearances — including a victory in Super Bowl XII in 1978 — Pearson scored a touchdown in Super Bowl X. To his credit, he earned the nickname, “Mr. Clutch,” in large part for his numerous clutch catches in game-winning situations, most notably the Hail Mary reception from Roger Staubach that sealed the victory over the Vikings in a 1975 playoff game, a play that’s still considered arguably one of the most infamous plays in NFL history.

Watching from his Plano, Texas home before a live NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” audience, Pearson’s name surprisingly wasn’t called amongst the 15 members selected, thus leading to wave of emotions by the former undrafted All-Pro wide receiver, who spent 11 seasons with the Cowboys.

“They broke my heart,” Pearson said. “They broke my heart. And they did it like this! They strung it out like this.”

A little more than a year later, however, Pearson’s long-awaited moment had finally emerged when he was named to the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, joining the likes of fellow inductees Alan Faneca, Tom Flores, Calvin Johnson, John Lynch, Peyton Manning, Bill Nunn, and Charles Woodson.

“Way overdue, Jackson, Jr. repeatedly said of Pearson’s latest milestone. “I don’t know why he was held out for so long,”

Interestingly enough, Jackson, Jr. sensed that Pearson’s induction into the Hall should have taken place “long before Michael Irvin,” a former Cowboys great whom, along with Pearson, wore the No. 88 jersey.

A three-time Super Bowl champion who spent 12 seasons in Dallas, Irvin was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

**IN GREAT COMPANY —** *Joining Pearson in the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame are Alan Faneca, Tom Flores, Calvin Johnson, John Lynch, Peyton Manning, Bill Nunn, and Charles Woodson.*

“I’m sure Michael Irvin probably would agree (that Pearson’s induction to the Hall should have come before his),” said Jackson, Jr., adding that No. 88 should have been retired upon Irvin’s retirement from the NFL.

A longtime minister who is the Senior Pastor of West Irving Church of God In Christ, Jackson, Jr. first met Pearson in the late 1990’s during a local sporting event in which his son, Anson Jackson — a former track and field standout at the University of Kansas — was a participant.

“He was recognizing the (youth) athletes and Anson was one of the athletes,” said Jackson, Jr., recalling when he initially crossed paths with Pearson. “I basically told him I am diehard Cowboys fan and told him I appreciate what he’s done on the field.”

A native of South River, New Jersey who starred at the University of Tulsa, Pearson emerged as one of the Cowboys’ all-time greats during an 11-year stint that landed him in the team’s Ring of Honor on August 19, 2011.

In 1979, Pearson and Tony Hill — along with Tony Dorsett — helped the Cowboys become the first team in NFL history to have two 1,000-yard wide receivers and a 1,000-yard running back, when he amassed 55 receptions for 1,026 yards and eight touchdowns.

**TRULY AMAZING —** In 1980, Pearson eclipsed Bob Hayes’ franchise record in receptions, a feat that resulted in the team nominating him for NFL Man of the Year. Consequently, Pearson surpassed Hayes in 1983 as the franchise all-time leader in receiving yards. **(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)**

Having helped propel the Cowboys to three Super Bowl appearances — including a victory in Super Bowl XII in 1978 — Pearson scored a touchdown in Super Bowl X. To his credit, he earned the nickname, “Mr. Clutch,” in large part for his numerous clutch catches in game-winning situations, most notably the Hail Mary reception from Roger Staubach that sealed the victory over the Vikings in a 1975 playoff game, a play that’s still considered arguably one of the most infamous plays in NFL history.

Then, in 1980, Pearson eclipsed Bob Hayes’ franchise record in receptions, a feat that resulted in the team nominating him for NFL Man of the Year.

Consequently, Pearson surpassed Hayes in 1983 as the franchise all-time leader in receiving yards.

ABOUT TIME

**OWNING THE MOMENT —** Pearson, 70, a Super Bowl champion and member of the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade Team, sensed his moment of being inducted into the Hall would finally happen in 2020 which, ironically, was the NFL’s 100th season.

As Jackson, Jr. recalls, he and Pearson had crossed paths several times since their first encounter more than two decades ago, most notably in January 2015 during the memorial service for former Cowboys defensive tackle Jethro Pugh, Pearson’s teammates from 1973 through 1978.

“He’s an even keel guy…relaxed and very personable guy,” Jackson, Jr. said of Pearson. “He kind of reminds you of a high school buddy. He’s a down-to-earth guy.”

Not to mention a class act whom, much to the delight of Jackson, Jr., had prompted him to immediately reach for his cell phone to spread the good news once the big announcement concerning the original No. 88 was made.

Finally.

In another development:

Jackson, Jr. announced that West Irving will serve as a vaccination hub on August 14 and September 4 during which residents throughout Dallas/Fort Worth can receive free COVID-19 vaccines.

Both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will be available during both sessions hosted by the church, located at 4021 Conflans Road in Irving, and will take place from 1-5 p.m. CST.

In serving as a vaccination site, West Irving has formed partnerships with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (or CDC), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or FEMA), the Department of Human Service, and Direct Primary Care In Texas Clinic LLC.

Both sessions are open to the public, West Irving officials said.

“I highly encourage those who haven’t taken it to please take the vaccine,” Jackson, who has served as West Irving’s Senior Pastor since 1999, said. “We must do all we can to mitigate this virus.”

For more information, log on to https://www.westirvingchurch.org/ or call 972.790.8036.

Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder/Publisher & Editor In Chief of Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, call him at 901-690-6587 or send email to [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.