Kansas City Chiefs mascot Dan Meers to keynote 10th annual Semoball Awards

Longtime mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs Dan Meers will keynote the Semoball Awards this summer in Cape Girardeau.

Meers has served as KC Wolf for the Chiefs since 1990 and is one of the most celebrated mascots in professional sports. He was the first NFL mascot to be inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame. In 2020, he was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. As a member of the Chiefs, Meers has received two Super Bowl Championship rings (2020, 2023) for his service with the team.

Prior to his 30-plus year career with the Chiefs, Meers spent time with the St. Louis Cardinals as Fredbird and was Truman the Tiger for four years while a student at the University of Missouri.

Meers is a regular keynote speaker with a riveting story of faith and perseverance. He shares the miraculous story from 2013 of surviving a stunt gone wrong at Arrowhead Stadium. His message, which includes humor and stories from the Gridiron, focuses on how individuals have a choice in how they respond to adversity. Meers is the author of two books, "Wolves Can't Fly" and "Mascot on Mission".

Dr. Matt Janzow, vice president and chief medical officer of SoutheastHEALTH, and Lucas Presson, assistant publisher of the Southeast Missourian, take a photo with a poster of Dan Meers, the keynote speaker for this summer's Semoball Awards. Meers is the KC Wolf mascot for the Kansas City Chiefs.Megan Burke ~ Southeast Missourian

"We are thrilled to have Dan Meers as this year's keynote speaker," said Southeast Missourian assistant publisher Lucas Presson. "His story of overcoming adversity is gripping. It really puts life in perspective, and we believe it will connect with athletes, parents and community members."

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Semoball Awards, which recognizes about 200 athletes from 56 schools across Southeast Missouri for individual sport accomplishments and top award categories such as comeback performance, sportsmanship and scholarship.

Fall sports finalists were announced in March, and winter sports finalists were announced earlier in the day Thursday, April 27. Spring sports finalists and those up for the top awards will be announced in early June.

SoutheastHEALTH has been the presenting sponsor of the Semoball Awards since its inception in 2014. Dr. Matt Janzow, SoutheastHEALTH vice president and chief medical officer, said during Thursday's speaker announcement the program connects well with the health system's mission.

"The Semoball Awards program aligns with our commitment to positively impact young people in our region and to be supportive as they work to reach milestone goals both in the classroom and in their sport," Janzow said. "Health care and sports have much in common. Both take training, diligence, determination and, most of all, teamwork."

Along with presenting sponsor SoutheastHEALTH, title sponsors include: The Bank of Missouri (Official Bank Sponsor), SEMO ESPN Radio, the St. Louis Cardinals, rustmedia and your local newspaper.

This year's event will be held Friday, July 14, at La Croix Church. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a red carpet show, heavy hors d'oeuvres and other pre-event festivities. The show kicks off at 7 p.m.

Tickets are available at www.semoball.com/awards.

Dan Meers, dressed as KC Wolf, takes a photo with the Lombardi Trophy at the 2020 Super Bowl. Submitted