Former NFL player delivers inspirational message to high school students

Former professional football player Tim Lester spoke to Scott City High School students Tuesday, leaving them with a message to be good "choosers" and to not conform to the world around them.

"We are not born winners, we are not born losers, we are born choosers," Lester said, as he encouraged the students to run away from drugs and alcohol and make good choices in their lives.

Lester, a former fullback for the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys, visited several local schools Tuesday and will continue to deliver his message today to more school districts and civic groups. He is one of about 20 former professional athletes who give motivational speeches through the not-for-profit Sports World Ministries organization.

Lester was known as "The Bus Driver" because of the four seasons he spent at the Pittsburgh Steelers blocking for star running back Jerome "The Bus" Bettis.

Lester began his message with disparaging comments about popular music.

"The music kids listen to talk about the same things that are killing them, which are drugs and alcohol," Lester said.

Lester shared his story of growing up in a rough neighborhood with six siblings and following the rules while other members of his family chose drugs -- landing one brother in a mental institution and another in prison.

He attended college on a football scholarship at Eastern Kentucky University. But before starting college, he was involved in a car accident that put him in a coma and sustained injuries that almost ended his career. When he awoke from the coma, he said he worried about losing the scholarship and not being able to play football. He received a phone call in the hospital from his college football coach, urging him to make it to school or he would lose his scholarship.

"I chose not to give up, I got up and walked through the pain to catch up on my school work," Lester said. "A year later, I rushed for over 1,200 yards because I chose not to give up."

Lester's first touchdown was against Southeast Missouri State University.

"My college education is the most important thing I did. No one can take that away from me," Lester said.

Lester was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which occurs in people who suffer multiple concussions. He said he was introduced to the prescription drug Toradol during his NFL career and played 16 games and practiced with Toradol injections.

"I was feeling good, no pain during the game," said Lester, who said feeling no pain during practices or games contributed to his condition.

He said fame blinded him from what he knew to be right, so he turned to God and now lives a religious life.

skluesner@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

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