NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith set to speak at Midland College

NFL Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith, also a businessman and entrepreneur, is scheduled to present at a lecture series at Midland College on Thursday, March 23.

The event, an installment of the Midland College Foundation and Davidson Distinguished Lecture Series, is free and tickets are not required for general admission seating. Midland College Distinguished Donors and Friends of the Series receive preferred seating tickets.

Doors open at 6 p.m., and the lecture will start at 7 p.m. at AL G. Langford Chaparrel Center on the Midland College Campus.

Emmitt Smith, a Dallas resident and father of five, needs little introduction, but it is worthy noting that his success extended far beyond his playing days.

In 15 seasons as NFL running back starting in 1990, including 13 with the Dallas Cowboys, Smith amassed the most career rushing yards and most career rushing touchdowns in league history. He was the first running back in NFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in 11 seasons on Oct. 27, 2002, surpassing Walter Payton as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. The eight-time Pro Bowler earned three Super Bowl championship rings and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2019, he was selected to the NFL 100 All-Time Team.

After retiring from the NFL, Smith served as a football analyst. He took his TV career a step further by winning the third season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, during which he was called “the king of effortless cool.” He’s also the author of Game On, which outlines the principles that helped him succeed both on and off the field.

Smith then transitioned to the role of businessman and entrepreneur and runs several companies spanning real estate, construction and technology. He is active in charitable outreach in the Dallas area and on a national level, providing educational opportunities and unique experiences for underserved youth. In August 2021, Smith became a co-owner of a NASCAR team, a partnership with Jesse Iwuji Motorsports that centered on STEM education for lower income communities and diversity and inclusion initiatives within NASCAR.

Contact the Midland College Foundation (432) 685-4526 for more information about preferred seating opportunities to the March 23 lecture series.