Classy Gesture by Jason Garrett

[CowboyDan]

Last night I was at the Taste of Texas Tailgate, an annual charity event hosted by Preston Pearson, Chad Hennings and Chef Tom Rathbun (you may have seen him on Iron Chef). The event benefits the Texas Food Bank and draws a pretty good crowd every year, along with current and former players.

For those of you who may not know, Preston's wife Janie passed away last year. She was very involved with this event every year prior to her passing. Long story short, as Jason Garrett got up on stage to greet everyone at the beginning of the event, he took a few minutes to make some nice comments about Janie and her involvement with the Cowboys and with this particular event.

He then presented Preston "with a game ball to show how much Janie meant to the event and to the Cowboys organization." I spoke with Preston afterwards and he said it meant a lot to him, and that he was very close to breaking down when Coach presented him with the ball.

 

[wittenacious]

Neat story, Dan. Thanks for posting it. So cool that you could be there at the Taste of Texas Tailgate .

 

[LeonDixson]

Dan, is that dinner open to the public?

 

[CowboyDan]

Neat story, Dan. Thanks for posting it. So cool that you could be there at the Taste of Texas Tailgate .

It's kinda my annual charity donation. It's a great cause and the event is really cool, though they moved to a new location this year and it was definitely a downgrade. I know they've already discussed moving it back to where it once was.

The food is outstanding.

 

[TheDallasDon]

Cool story dude....thanks for sharing

Nice gesture by Garrett

 

[Cajuncowboy]

I didn't know his wife died. I met her and talked with her at the Autograph signing you guys did a few years back when I went with your company. She was a very nice lady. And she sure was hustling the Preston Merch there. I bought a few things and she said, "What, you don't want to buy a picture as well?"

Glad to hear the event went well but sad to hear of her passing.

 

[wittenacious]

It's kinda my annual charity donation. It's a great cause and the event is really cool, though they moved to a new location this year and it was definitely a downgrade. I know they've already discussed moving it back to where it once was.

The food is outstanding.

The food for those types of events is usually a draw but I think it's great that you make it an annual charity donation -- "The event benefits the Texas Food Bank" -- backing it as a cause you believe in supporting. Great that Jason Garrett participated also.

 

[BoysFan4ever]

With all the bad news you read about sports & sports figures it's great to read stories like this & learn about people like Preston's wife. Thanks for sharing!

 

[CowboyDan]

I didn't know his wife died. I met her and talked with her at the Autograph signing you guys did a few years back when I went with your company. She was a very nice lady. And she sure was hustling the Preston Merch there. I bought a few things and she said, "What, you don't want to buy a picture as well?"

Glad to hear the event went well but sad to hear of her passing.

That's Janie! She's been with us since day 1, and she and Preston really helped us get things off the ground and build relationships with the current and former players. She played a huge part in building Cowboys Corral / Star Sports Tours. It was definitely weird not having her around last year, after 14 years. I went to her funeral and it was a Who's Who of Dallas Cowboys players and staff. Drew Pearson, Lee Roy Jordan, Cliff Harris, Hollywood Henderson, Moose Johnston, Babe Laufenburg, Brad Sham, and on and on.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Nothin but class!

 

[Apollo Creed]

Garrett is a good dude.

Love seeing prominent individuals doing more than just symbolically being good samaritans.

That ball probably means so much to that man, props RJ.

 

[cowboy_ron]

Last night I was at the Taste of Texas Tailgate, an annual charity event hosted by Preston Pearson, Chad Hennings and Chef Tom Rathbun (you may have seen him on Iron Chef). The event benefits the Texas Food Bank and draws a pretty good crowd every year, along with current and former players.

For those of you who may not know, Preston's wife Janie passed away last year. She was very involved with this event every year prior to her passing. Long story short, as Jason Garrett got up on stage to greet everyone at the beginning of the event, he took a few minutes to make some nice comments about Janie and her involvement with the Cowboys and with this particular event.

He then presented Preston "with a game ball to show how much Janie meant to the event and to the Cowboys organization." I spoke with Preston afterwards and he said it meant a lot to him, and that he was very close to breaking down when Coach presented him with the ball.

Sorry to hear of her passing..I had not heard that..Preston was always a class act..not to mention pretty clutch on 3rd downs

 

[CCBoy]

Public service is an area that the entire organization, starting with Jerry Jones has to be given credit for nurturing. It is very strong in prior players, as well as current players. Every summer, Cowboy players sojurn down to Corpus Christi to put on a Charity Basketball event here to benefit kids in this area. Tony Hill is the MC, and it always is a huge success.

Then, the Manster puts on a 'Big Ugglies' camp each summer as well. My wife, got in in an autograph signing event with Bob Lilly...and everyone who ends up here, is warm, genuine, and very approachable as well.

I love our team...:starspin

 

[wittenacious]

I love our team...:starspin

I wholeheartedly echo that sentiment. What's not to love, once all the knee-jerk cynicism has been eliminated from the overall equation? Great core values the Cowboys have always represented in support of their community.

That oughtta count for something, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Last night I was at the Taste of Texas Tailgate, an annual charity event hosted by Preston Pearson, Chad Hennings and Chef Tom Rathbun (you may have seen him on Iron Chef). The event benefits the Texas Food Bank and draws a pretty good crowd every year, along with current and former players.

For those of you who may not know, Preston's wife Janie passed away last year. She was very involved with this event every year prior to her passing. Long story short, as Jason Garrett got up on stage to greet everyone at the beginning of the event, he took a few minutes to make some nice comments about Janie and her involvement with the Cowboys and with this particular event.

He then presented Preston "with a game ball to show how much Janie meant to the event and to the Cowboys organization." I spoke with Preston afterwards and he said it meant a lot to him, and that he was very close to breaking down when Coach presented him with the ball.

One of my all-time favorite Cowboys--he was great getting the 1st down when we needed it.

 

[J-DOG]

Preston is pure class. Sorry to hear of his loss but I am glad to see what Garrett did for him. starspinstarspin:starspin

 

[Zaxor]

thanks for sharing that story

 

[Phoenix]

Very nice. Such a classy thing to do.

Number 26 is one of my all-time favorite Cowboys. Unstoppable on 3rd down. He was such a hero for me that I named my pig Preston when I was in FFA

 

[jobberone]

Sorry to hear of her passing as well. Preston was one of my favorites for many reasons including we wore the same number. I'm not surprised by any of the Cowboys doing charity work nor of Jason's kind gesture. Thanks for sharing this. These posts are really small treasures for Cowboy fans. Thanks again.

 

[Hostile]

Love this story. I really wish Jason Garrett would invite Preston Pearson to teach our RBs about getting open out of the backfield.

He is still the best I ever saw at doing it. I think Marshall Faulk was the most dangerous guy I ever saw, but Pearson just made it look so effortless and the chains moved.