Priest Holmes is a man of few words on the field. His quiet demeanor and tactical approach define him.
His recognition in the NFL as a former football running back garnered him years of extraordinary experiences. After all, he won the Super Bowl XXXV with the Baltimore Ravens and was named NFL Offensive Player in 2002 with the Kansas City Chiefs.
However, a series of injuries caused Holmes to reexamine his life and make a decision that would change the landscape of his career. Announcing his retirement from the NFL at the end of 2007, he returned to his hometown of San Antonio.
Holmes made a commitment to a community who inspired him in life and stood behind him as he rose to the top throughout a record-breaking career. Today, as the 36-year-old founder of The Priest Holmes Foundation, he speaks whole-heartedly through his actions to encourage, enhance and empower the lives of young men and women.
A Promise Towards Tomorrow
Born in Fort Smith, Ark., nestled within the Arkansas River Valley, Holmes moved to San Antonio at age 5 with his mother and siblings. His interest in football did not begin as a childhood dream. One might say it was not Holmes who chose football, but rather football chose him.
He recollects his youth when he sang in the church choir.
“I always wanted to be a singer,” Holmes admits with a childish grin. But, as fate would have it, his dream was quickly put to rest when a choir director asked him to lip sync during rehearsal.
“I told myself that when I found something I was good at I'd never let someone tell me I couldn't do it,” he says
This was perhaps the beginning of what set forth a “warrior-like” mentality that helped him overcome challenges and reach his true potential. “I've always lived by the mantra of being tactical in everything I do,” says Holmes. As a child, he watched the men in his family play chess. After winning his first chess tournament in junior high, he realized, “I had the ability to make people miss.”
Even though Holmes demonstrated great ability and potential on the field, he was initially told he wouldn't go far in football. At 5 feet 9, he lacked the height and build of the other team players. Still, Holmes strategized.
“I never wanted to be on the team with the big guys,” he says. By opting for the other team, Holmes was able to practice frequently which helped mold him into the player he became.
After four years at the University of Texas at Austin, he proved himself worthy of the success that shortly followed. He became the first 1,000 yard rusher for the Ravens, and led the Kansas City Chiefs in rushing.
As Holmes discovered, the NFL lives by its own rules. “You're one in a million in the NFL,” he points out. “You have a huge responsibility to your fans and to yourself.”
However, an accident in 2005 during training camp left Holmes suffering the first of many concussions. It would eventually lead to his retirement two years later.
Statistics show that within three years 78 percent of retired NFL players will be divorced, bankrupt or lose their home. “This is a statistic I faced before I even played my last snap in the NFL,” he says.
In 2008, he returned to San Antonio. “This is my home,” he says. “I'm here so long as God gives me my breath.” Today, he proudly hangs his jersey on the wall in his office: No. 31. “This jersey means a lot to me,” he says. “It signifies overcoming odds and represents all the support I had from San Antonio.”
Making A Difference
With gratitude and a love for his hometown, Holmes formed the foundation. “I was an example to encourage. I can empower these kids through scholarships to take what they've done to the next level,” he emphasizes. “There are people in this world who care. It definitely feels good to give back.”
He smiles as he speaks of a young woman at Holmes High School, who was one of the 19 scholarship recipients awarded this year. She took care of her father who was ill with cancer.
Holmes hand delivered the scholarship to the winners. She told him she was inspired because he reached out to her. “What we do helped to change her life for the better,” he says.
Being a founder is definitely new to Holmes. “Foundation work is very competitive,” he admits. “But I carved out my own niche and continue to advance the foundation.”
Throughout his football career, Holmes observed and helped to support many organizations. Now that he is home, he partners with organizations, such as the George Gervin Youth Center. “I joke with George Gervin,” he says smiling. “I'm a rookie on the field again.”
The motivation behind his work is a joint effort steered by a strong group of individuals, including Kamille Warren, who manages marketing and community relations.
"The Priest Holmes Foundation is a private organization that has relied heavily on internal resources to support our Scholarship & Standards, Priest Holmes Incentive and Camp with the Pros Programs,” Warren says. “Since 2005, Priest Holmes has put forth a valiant effort to lay the groundwork for the foundation.
“ As 2009 comes to a close, we are gearing up for another year of exciting philanthropic initiatives in 2010 that will increase awareness surrounding our programs, allow us to diversify our funding sources and eventually transition into a public foundation.”
The Three E’s
In his pursuit to encourage, enhance and empower, Holmes created three programs that define his foundation: Scholarship & Standards Program, Priest Holmes Incentive Program and Camp with the Pros football and conditioning camp.
The scholarship committee is led by Linda Gann, a secondary mathematics instructional specialist with Northside Independent School District. In their first year, the committee received 80 applications, and 19 scholarships were awarded.
Six of the students who came close to the committee's final selection were again placed in the scholarship pool for the NFL Retired Players Chapter in Houston of which Priest is a member. Two of those students received scholarships as well.
The incentive program is a joint effort between the Priest Holmes Foundation and the San Antonio Spurs to encourage students to stay in school. Based on the values of working hard, attending class and treating others with respect, the program grants eligible students Spurs tickets to every home game.
The foundation works with Communities in Schools to identify students and encourage them to take part in the fun. This past summer, Holmes hosted the 10th annual football Camp with the Pros, a two-day camp inside the Alamodome where more than 300 kids played ball, socialized and had fun with other kids and famous players.
Erik Darmstetter, CEO for Sales by 5, witnessed Holmes in action.
“Nan Palmero and I got to see Priest’s work live at the Alamodome this summer at his Camp with the Pros. His messages to the large group of youth were inspiring to them, us and people of all ages,” Darmstetter says. “Priest’s enthusiastic coaching and help with the kids during the football drills was again inspiring. Priest’s face lit up when he told our team about the foundation being able to give away 21 scholarships and over 900 Spurs tickets this year. That is real and something real to be a part of."
Ace of Spades
Holmes is a family man. His sons are involved in football, but he says it's not something he pushes upon them. Even though he is now off the field, the game is still very much a part of him. “When I see someone make a touchdown, I still get butterflies,” he says.
Outside of the foundation, Holmes is known for his love of motorcycles. “I'm a huge Harley guy,” he shares with enthusiasm. But it's the game of chess that represents the very essence of his life and what he's accomplished thus far.
“You have to find your ace of spades,” Holmes says. “You have to believe in what you do. That's the one card you can always pull out in life.”
What Holmes says he will do, he will accomplish. Perhaps, he couldn't predict the outcome of his life, but he has embraced the moment with a tender generosity towards a younger generation. As for the future, he will continue to foster opportunities that build confidence in the young, and allow every child to believe dreams really do come true.
“I still have so much more work to do,” he says, “and so many more lives to impact.”
