NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Jake Locker drew a parallel with lessons he learned from his father and grandfathers to life skills and leadership developed through participation in the Boy Scouts of America on Tuesday.
The Titans' quarterback delivered the keynote address at the 22nd Annual Boy Scouts Patron Luncheon, a fundraiser for the Middle Tennessee Council, at the Renaissance Hotel.
The event, which was sponsored by CCA, Community Health Systems, Pinnacle Financial Partners and Grand Avenue included a performance of Oh Shenandoah by Suzy Bogguss, raises money for the youth enrichment programs that are organized in 37 counties in Middle Tennessee, including Boxwell Reservation in Lebanon and Latimer High Adventure Reservation in Van Buren County.
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| Titans QB Jake Locker said he's enjoyed learning about the life lessons that are offered to youth through participation in the Boy Scouts at the Middle Tennessee Council's 22nd annual luncheon. Slideshow. |
Locker told the crowd of more than 800 that he's tried to demonstrate honesty, integrity and accountability because those traits were emphasized to him by his family.
"Those three things for me, if I have the opportunity to meet somebody that has those three characteristics, I'm going to get along with them because you can respect anybody that lives their life trying to accomplish those three things," Locker said. "We're not perfect, you're going to fall short, you're not going to be everything you want to be all the time, but I think striving to be more, striving to be better and be honest, do the right thing when nobody is looking and when it's hard and hold yourself accountable to the people around you, it's been so important for me in my life, and one thing that's taught me that is sports."
Locker was not in the Boy Scouts during his youth but said he enjoyed learning more about the organization's principles.
"Scouting, I think, is similar (to teamwork in sports) in the way anybody can be involved but there's different backgrounds," the QB said. "Kids come from different walks of life, homes, but can all push toward one common achievement and I think it's pretty neat to see kids come together and do that."
He delivered the keynote address after meeting Council President Lee Beaman last fall.
"When he presented it to me, that's why I was so excited about it because it's something I believe in, something I enjoy and after learning about the cool things they get to do, I wish I would have done it as a kid," Locker said.
Past keynote speakers at the event include Olympian Scott Hamilton, Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning and former University of Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer.
Locker said Boy Scouts in the Middle Tennessee Council devoted 63,000 man hours of volunteer time through service projects the previous year, and encouraged continued support for the organization.
New Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt, who reached Eagle Scout status during his youth, introduced Locker and said he's already seen great leadership from Locker and is "a man that values the importance of teamwork."
"To have the success he had at the University of Washington and to be taken in the first round by the Tennessee Titans says a lot about who he is," Whisenhunt said, "and I can't think of a much better person to get up here and speak about this than our quarterback, Jake Locker."
