Rick Upchurch, NFL Superstar:

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Cost Structure:  $10,000 for one day training, $3,500 for keynote address 

-- GOD!  How He Made Me A Winner and How God Has A Purpose For Your Life
--  The Life Story of an NFL Superstar with Practical Lessons for Everyone!
--  How I Helped The Denver Broncos Organization To Its First Super Bowl!
--  The Secrets of Winning At Health, Love and Life (with a chapter on my engagement to marry Condi Rice)

My Famous Martin Luther King, Jr. Speech

Youth Development Strategies for Success

Fundraising Made Fun!

Rick Upchurch was born May 20, 1952 in Toledo, Ohio (a long, long, long time ago).  He was raised by his grandparents on a small farm in Holland, Ohio.
As a child, his grandparents, who moved out of racism in the deep south was taught hard work and respect for each other would go a long way in life.  God and Jesus Christ was the base of that foundation.

Rick was taught each and every day when he came home from school that chores had to be done, like chopping wood, bringing coal into the house, slopping hogs, working in the garden and feeding the chickens, (that’s how he learned how to run soooooooooooooooo fast) --------SMILE!!!

Rick was the happiest child on earth with this life.  Then suddenly, his grandmother, who he always called “Mother” passed away in her sleep.  He was 11 years old.  Rick went into a deep depression that lasted for years, but finally realized that was not the way his grandmother would want him to live.  Rick continued to live with his grandfather until he passed away from lung cancer.  He was 15 years old at that time.

Rick decided to continue to live in the home that his grandparents had built.  That meant, getting up to go to school, doing homework, working a job (on the graveyard shift) and playing sports.  When he turned 16 years old he knew that was a lot for someone his age to handle, but he did it; but not without the help of the community he lived in, including foster families and friends.  Rick is truly a part of that old saying, “It takes a village to raise a child”.

Rick was a very good athlete.  He ran track, played football, basketball and baseball (everyone thought he would be a baseball player), at Springfield High School.  He was an All-Northern Lakes League and co-player of the year in 1970 as a running back.  In track, he was a state long jump champion.  (In 1978, Rick was inducted into the Springfield High School Sports Hall of Fame).

Rick went on to play football at Indian Hills Junior College in Centerville, Iowa where he was the school’s only two-time All-American in football.  In his final season, Rick played with an injured vertebra and a torn nerve in his shoulder.  The neurosurgeon involved said that Rick played with pain impossible to bear in the final three games of the season.  Indian Hills Community College coach Al Daniels said that “Rick was the best back ever to play for the school and probably in the Iowa Junior College conference,” which was one of the top Junior College conferences in the country.  Most of the 123 major-college recruiters who saw Rick play this season, and last, said “he was one of the top three junior college running backs in the country”.

Rick played 2 years at the University of Minnesota where he was a 2nd team All Big Ten performer as well as All Big Ten in track in the long jump.  Head coach Cal Stoll was literally bubbling over Rick’s skills.  “This young man may be the most exciting player ever to put on a Minnesota uniform”.  (In 2001, Rick was inducted into the University of Minnesota’s Sports Hall of Fame).
NFL Accomplishments and Records                                 

In 1975, Rick was a 4th round draft pick of the Denver Broncos, but not without controversy.  Media and fans felt there were better choices for the team.  But Rick proved them wrong.  In 1975, he was the AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year and also selected to the All Rookie Team.

In the 1977-78 season, Rick played in the Denver Broncos first Super Bowl appearance, which was in Super Bowl XII.  In that game, he returned a kickoff for 67 yards and setup the Broncos only touchdown, (at that time that run was a Super Bowl record).

Rick went on to play in 4 Pro Bowls, was selected to two NFL all-decade teams as a kick- returner, selected to the all-time NFL 25 year team, which was put together by the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee.  In 1982, Rick was the NFL alumni kick-returner of the year.

In 2000, Rick was selected as one of the top 300 NFL players of all time by the Total Football II, the official encyclopedia of the National Football League.

--- Three (3)-time winner of the Earl Hartman award (for special teams).
--- Still holds five (5) Denver Bronco punt return records, most touchdowns in a career (248), in a season (51), in a game (8).
--- Most career yards (3008), most in a season (653), most touchdowns in a career (8),
which is tied 3rd most in NFL history.  Rich Upchurch held the number one record in the NFL for touchdown returns for ten years.
--- Rick also holds the records for most yards by a rookie in his first game (284), most
combined yardage (10,081).                                                 
--- Co-holder for punt-returns in a game (2), leading the league in punt-return average    
three (3) times, punt-returns in a season (4).
--- Upon retiring, Rick held or co-held seven (7) NFL punt-return records.

In February 2003, Rick was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame !!!!!

                                   Off the field Accomplishments

--- Received a communications degree from the University of Minnesota.
--- Was the spokesperson for the NFL on honoring and celebrating the making of Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr’s. birthday a national holiday in Washington, D.C.  Rick’s
outstanding speech was made in front of the largest march in D.C.
--- Was the first African-American selected as the Grand Marshall of the Colorado
State Fair Parade.
--- Is currently an Honorary Board Member of the Annual Sheridan Black Network
Black College All-American Awards Banquet, which recognizes all black student
athletes accomplishments on and off the field.
--- Was awarded with the Keep Pueblo Beautiful Ingrid Ahlberg Good Citizenship
Award in 2002.
--- Was awarded the first annual Rick and Donna Upchurch Humanitarian Award
presented by Grace Productions in 2002.
--- Member of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission and Cultural Center.
--- Board of Directors member for the Greater Pueblo of Chamber of Commerce.
--- Chairman of the Board for the Rueben Beechum Family Life Center in Denver, Co.
--- Board Member for Southern Colorado Economic Development.
--- Proclamation “Rick Upchurch Day”, December 22, 2002, presented by the City
Council of the City of Pueblo and the Board of County Commissioners.  Also on that
same day, was presented the Inaugural City and County of Pueblo Distinguished      
Service Award.
--- President of Rare Breed Sports and Leadership Programs, worked with the youth
in Colorado and across the country, ( his motto is “Getting A Grip On Life”).
Mr. Upchurch feels all youth are Rare Breeds!!!!!
--- Became Head Football Coach of Pueblo East High School in Pueblo, Colorado in May       
2006.
--- Was named “Man Of The Year” in 2006 by Pueblo, Colorado Firefighters.

Player ----------------------- Kawanis Little League football – Toledo, Ohio
                                            Springfield High School – Holland, Ohio (2 yrs.)
                                            Indian Hills Jr. College – Centerville, Iowa (2yrs.)
                                            University of Minnesota  - Minneapolis, Minnesota (2yrs.)
                                            Denver Broncos – Denver, Colorado (9yrs.)

Awards ---------------------- Lettered in football, basketball and track

Honors ---------------------- Springfield High School (Holland, Ohio)
                                            1970
1st Team All Northern Lakes League Football
1st Team All District Football
Co-Player of the Year
                                            1971
Sectional, District and State Long Jump Championship

                                            Indian Hills Junior College (Centerville, Iowa)
                                            1971 & 72
Only 2-time Jr. College All-American in football & All
Big Ten in track in the long jump

                                            University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
                                            1973 & 74
2nd Team All Big Ten – University Minnesota

                                            Denver Broncos (Denver, Colorado)
                                            1975
Drafted 4th round by the Denver Broncos
AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year
                                            1976
AFC Punt Returns Champion
Pro Bowl
                                            1977
Super Bowl XII
Set record for longest kick-off return in Super Bowl (67yds.)
                                            1978
Inducted into Springfield High School’s Hall of Fame
Peoples Choice Award 110 Percent Special Teams Player of the Year
Pro Bowl
                                            1979
Colorado National Football League Players Association AFC Punt Returner of the Year
Pro Bowl
                                            1982
NFL Alumni Kick Returner of the Year
Most Valuable Bronco – selected by the fans
Pro Bowl

                                            1992 

2007 - Started Career of Public Speaking on the National Lecture Circuit to help inspire hope by telling my story 

Rick Upchurch and his wife, Donna Upchurch, Founders and Directors of Rare Breed Sports & Leadership Programs have worked with the youth and their families since 1997 in the Rocky Mountain Region.

Doing sports camps like football, basketball, baseball, and other sports gives us an opportunity to share our experiences that we have had in our lives as former professional athletes.

In our camps, these are our goals as follows:

            --   Bolster the individual self-esteem of our participants.
--   Foster an appreciation for the importance of teamwork.
--   Promote intercultural understanding.
--   Instill an appreciation for learning, discipline and focus on a healthful
lifestyle.
--   Encourage high academic performance and discourage school dropouts.  (The
clinics help to amplify the importance of the NCAA’s Proposition 48, which
compels a level of academic performance among student-athletes).

Statement of Purpose

Rare Breed, Inc. was developed to help strengthen and dedicated to promote youth and amateur sports activities.  Rare Breed also provides and opportunity for exposure and interaction with both current and former professional athletes.  A key objective of Rare Breed, Inc. is to make these camps affordable to the broadest possible base of young people.  Rare Breed camps are being designed and operated by professional athletes who love young people, and who are committed to using the medium of sports to help them prepare to meet the challenges of life, both on and off the playing fields.

Life Skills Programs

We will be working with educational institutions, community and governmental programs, including participating in the community service projects, reading programs at the hospitals, visit senior citizens facilities, finance camps, sewing classes, cooking classes, teen pregnancy classes, fathers initiative classes, nutrition and fitness classes and conduct adult career training classes.

Let’s all work with our most valuable resources, “Our Children”!!!

        RICK AND DONNA UPCHURCH
                                       Founder and Owners of Rare Breed, Inc.
Youth Sports, Leadership and Mentoring Programs

Conduct Sports Camps---
Football, basketball, baseball, soccer, golf.

Field Trips---
State Capital, Denver museum, Elitch’s Six Flags Amusement Park in Denver, 
Pueblo museum, Pueblo Library, Dave and Busters amusement center in Denver,
horseback riding, Royal Gorge and Buckskin Joe‘s Old Western town in Canon
City, Denver Broncos Gatorade Youth Football Training Camp in Greeley,                                                                                                            
Snow-boarding in Aspen for the weekend, The Harlem Globetrotters, Denver
Nuggets basketball games, Avalanche Hockey games and John Elways’s Arena
Football games (all games at the Pepsi Center in downtown Denver, Co.) and
Denver Broncos Football games at INVESCO Field at Mile High.

Activities---
Bowling and roller skating parties, arts & crafts, miniature golf, sewing classes,
cooking classes, reading programs at the hospitals, visit senior citizens facilities,
have the youth participate in community service projects, conduct Adult Career
Training classes, fitness and nutrition classes and a finance class.

Involvements---
Pueblo Community College Foundation Board Member, University of Southern
Colorado President’s committee, Sheridan Black Networks Black College All-
American Honorary Board Member, Project Respect Youth Program, Pueblo
Ravens youth baseball team and other various youth programs in Pueblo and
around the state of Colorado and Kansas, Special Olympics, organized the
renovation of Wild Horse Park (basketball court and playground).  Conducted all
of the youth activities for the Department of Social Services choices Program,
Fatherhood Initiative program, Pueblo Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
Member, Southern Colorado Economic Development Board Member, Pueblo
Crime Stoppers Board Member, Brotherhood of Joy Youth Ministries (Denver),
worked with the youth from churches around Pueblo, gave out awards at State
Track meet every year and Cinco De Mayo Run, Martin Luther King, Jr. Cultural
Center Torch runners and members, Grand Marshall’s for the Colorado State
Fair Parade and for the Pueblo Cancer Run and also did various speaking
engagements.                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Fundraisers---
Denver Bronco Raider Hater Parties and celebrity basketball games.

We assisted families in need by buying them clothes, shoes, food, household items and provided cash donations and distributed gifts around town for all of the holidays. 

Received a proclamation from the Pueblo County Commissioners for the work we have done for the Department of Social Services, received the prestigious 2002 Ingrid Ahlberg Good Citizenship Award from the Keep Pueblo Beautiful organization, received the 2002 Rick and Donna Upchurch Humanitarian Award (which is given out every year by Grace Productions), received a Proclamation from the City and County of Pueblo proclaiming  “Rick Upchurch Day” in 2002, received the Anna Tunsig award for being chosen as one of the top women of Pueblo for 2003, received the Anthony Riesenecker Man of the Year Award in January 2005 by the Pueblo Masonic Temple, Received the 2006 Man Of The Year Award from the Pueblo Firefighters and was the Pueblo East High School Head Football Coach.