TicketsApril 23, 2007
CINCINNATI, Ohio-- Former teammates, coaches and current coaches were in attendance on Saturday afternoon when the University of Cincinnati dedicated the Jacky Lee Locker Room Facility with a formal ribbon cutting ceremony at the Richard E. Lindner Center.
Jacky Lee, a standout quarterback for the Bearcats from 1957-59, contributed a $300,000 gift to benefit the football program and enrich the experience of its student-athletes.
"The kind of things that Jacky Lee has done sets the pace for this program," said Director of Athletics Mike Thomas. "We are indebted to Jacky for all he has done and this is a great opportunity to celebrate what he has done for this program."
The most prolific passer in UC history at the time of his graduation, Lee amassed 2,814 yards passing for his career, completing 55.1 percent of his attempts, including 13 for touchdowns. A two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference quarterback, he played in both the 1959 Blue-Gray All-Star Game and the 1960 Senior Bowl where he earned the game's MVP award.
After leaving Cincinnati, Lee was a first-round AFL Draft pick of the Houston Oilers and a sixth-round choice of the St. Louis Cardinals in the NFL Draft in 1960. A proven winner, he went on to an 11-season professional playing career that included four AFL Championship Games and stops in Houston, Denver and Kansas City.
"A locker room is where relationships are built and where morale really comes together," stated Head Coach Brian Kelly. "It's no a mistake that Jacky Lee looked at the locker room as a cornerstone to building a championship program."
The UCATS Club and the athletics department are extending the opportunity for former Bearcats to make the next step by endowing individual lockers in the Jacky Lee Locker Room. The funds generated are set to go to recruiting, technology and retaining outstanding football student-athletes.