Boys Town Boosters

2003 Banquet Speaker Howie Long

Long, who was one of the best defensive linemen to play in the NFL, and was inducted into the Hall-of-Fame on July 29, 2001, in Canton, Ohio. His size (6'5", 275 lbs.), combined with his speed, strength, intensity, durability and explosive quickness set him apart from the competition. He joined the Raiders as a second-round draft choice (48th pick overall) in 1981, became a starter in his second season and helped the Raiders to a Super Bowl XVIII win over the Washington Redskins by posting a career-best 13 sacks. Long played his entire 13-year career with the Raiders and tied the team record with eight Pro Bowl selections before retiring at the end of the 1993 season. He was the last active Raider to have played for the franchise when it was first based in Oakland and he holds the Raiders record for sacks in a game (5). Long was named a defensive end on the NFL Team of the '80s, was the Seagrams Defensive Player of the year in 1985, was voted by fans as the 1984 and 1986 Defensive Lineman of the Year and was named 1984 NFL Defensive Lineman of the Year by the NFL Alumni Association. He also holds the AFC Pro Bowl record with nine career sacks.

Five years ago, Long entered into a contract with 20th Century FOX Film Corporation to appear in three pictures. The first was the 1995 action-adventure film Broken Arrow, starring John Travolta and Christian Slater, and in 1998, Long starred in the action-adventure film Firestorm. He is currently filming his third feature film, 3000 Miles to Graceland, alongside Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell. In addition, Long starred in TNT's 1998 feature film Dollar For The Dead.

Long has also been featured in many national commercials and advertising campaigns including Coors Light, Radio Shack, Nike, Campbell's Soup, Hanes, Personal, Frito Lay, Coca Cola, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Nabisco, Kraft, Pepsi, and the very popular Bud Bowl campaign. In addition to his professional duties, Long has been active in charity work, making personal appearances before students and community service organizations. He is the founding National Chairman for Athletics & Entertainers for Kids and was Chairman for Heart, a charity to aid battered women and children. Long has received the West Coast's Father's Day Council "Father of the Year" award and this past year he became a member of the American Cancer Society.

Public Awareness Council. Long is also the honorary chairman of his local Boys and Girls Club and has established a scholarship fund at Villanova in honor of his grandmother to benefit under privileged children from the Boston area. He hosts a golf tournament each year to raise funds to benefit this scholarship.

Long hosted the 20th anniversary special for the re-release of the Star Wars trilogy. He was named "Male Star of Tomorrow" in 1997 by ShoWest, sharing the honor with past winners such as luminaries Brad Pitt, Chris O'Donnell and Will Smith.

Long was a four-year letterman in football at Villanova University as a defensive lineman. He was All-East and honorable mention All-America as a senior while also becoming a champion boxer as an undergraduate. Long graduated from Villanova in 1981 with a degree in communications.

Born January 6, 1960, in Somerville, Massachusetts, he currently resides in Virginia with his wife Diane and their three sons, Christopher, Kyle and Howie.