Richard K. Armey: “this past week in my district I had the privilege and the opportunity to present the first-ever Freedom Works Award to…”

“this past week in my district I had the privilege and the opportunity to present the first-ever Freedom Works Award to Emmit Smith, runningback for the Dallas Cowboys. It was a great privilege for me to do that in that in my initial discussions with Emmit about the opportunity to receive this award, which was created to acknowledge and recognize individuals for their personal service in their communities, that Emmit Smith insisted that, if the award were to be given, that it should be about neither football nor politics but about service. I applauded him for his point of view and said that he was exactly right. Emmit Smith is a person that has done exemplary service in his community in a quiet way through Emmit Smith Charities. He has followed up on his initial expression of service and appreciation by keeping his promise to his mother, and in his off-season, even though he obviously has no economic need to do so, Emmit Smith went back and completed his college education and received his degree as a tribute to his mother and the promise that he made. In addition to that, through Emmit Smith Charities he has personally provided over 9,000 meals to distressed families in the community during holiday seasons and using that as an opportunity to express his conviction that freedom works best when it is expressed in service to people other than yourself.”