Watch the Homer Iron Men video:  Rick Rowe's Spirit of the Game

2nd Annual Meeting - August 10, 2019

The “Iron Men” from the 1957 Homer football held their 2nd annual event with several invited guests. Their team was one of the most storied high school football teams to ever play in North Louisiana. They compiled an 11-2-1 record and were State AA Runners-Up. Twelve team members made All-District, five made All-State, one made All-Southern, and two made High School All-American. The “Men” had the leading scorer in District 1-AA, and their defense allowed only 71 points to be scored against them. The team earned its name from sportswriter Jerry Byrd when the team reached the state championship game despite fielding just 18 players.

After the luncheon Sammy Camp, a halfback for the Iron Men team, held a planning meeting with Bart Oates, President of the NFL Alumni Association (NFLAA), to discuss establishing a north Louisiana chapter for former NFL players. The NFLAA is a membership-based organization devoted to helping their members lead healthy, productive and connected lives.

Dr. James Andrews, an end for the Iron Men team, has become one of the most well-known orthopedic surgeons in the world, and has performed surgery on many high-profile athletes. He is also President and Chairman of the Board of Andrews Institute that is dedicated to injury prevention, education and research in orthopaedic and sports medicine. Dr. Andrews has served as the team doctor for the Alabama Crimson Tide, Tampa Bay Rays, Auburn University Tigers and Washington Redskins.

​To celebrate the occasion Hope & Healing Hands, a local 501c3 non-profit committed to improving healthcare in rural north Louisiana, partnered with DIAMC to provide free A1c diabetes testing for the public. DIAMC, a Shreveport-based clinic, specializes in reversing Type 2 diabetes. The event concluded with a 4-man parachute team from Skydive Louisiana dropping in to entertain the crowd.

L to R: Elo Groomes, a 12-season veteran with the NFL; Liffort Hobley, NFLAA Dallas Chapter President; Ray Weaver, Iron Man;
Lori Parrish, NFLAA Events Coordinator; Ray Wilkins, Iron Man; G.W. Zachary, Iron Man; Sammy Camp, Iron Man;
Bart Oates, NFLAA President; Dr. James Andrews, Iron Man

​Check Out Our 2018 Event Read the Article:
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NFL Alumni Joins Celebration of Iron Men

NFL Alumni CEO Elvis Gooden recently attended the 2018 Iron Men Football Festival in Minden, Louisiana. The event was hosted by Hope and Healing Hands Inc. to honor the 1957 Iron Men of Homer (Louisiana) football team and support local men’s ministries.
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The Homer High School Pelicans football team of 1957 was a group of 18 boys who captured the state’s imagination and nickname “Iron Men” by defeating the odds with an 11 win season. The team reached the Louisiana High School Football State Championship despite fielding just 18 players. Following their winning season, 12 of the “Iron Men” players received college football scholarship offers and forever cemented their legacy among all-time Louisiana high school football teams.

Sam Camp and Dr. James Andrews were teammates on the legendary “Iron Men” team, and both had an opportunity to speak at the event. The program began on Friday, August 17, with speaker Dr. Andrews providing insight on the importance of adolescents being dual-sport athletes. Dr. Andrews spoke in length on the amount of injuries he has seen in youth who focus on one activity, and encouraged grandparents attending to get their grandchildren involved with more than one sport.

Camp, a member of the “Iron Men” team and partner of Brightview Medical, spoke about preserving the legacy of The Homer High School Pelicans football team of 1957. He concluded his speech by honoring all 18 members of the 1957 team.

Super Bowl Champion and former Baltimore Colts Defensive Tackle Fred Miller (1963-72) was also a member of that ’57 Homer team. Miller presented the gold football he received at Super Bowl 50 to Homer High School and thanked the school by honoring its role in developing and supporting his career. Miller was an All-American player at LSU after high school.
Throughout the two-day event, attendees met members of the ’57 team and were treated to live gospel music, and free food.

A mobile MRI Unit on site throughout the course of the event. Complimentary MRI scans were available to guests.

Elvis Gooden and Bob Schmidt, Executive Director of the Pro Football Retired Players Association, spoke on the event’s closing day. “It was an honor to be invited to speak at an event honoring a key piece of Louisiana high school football history, ” said Gooden. “The Iron Men of Homer and their story exemplify what it means to come together as a collaborative whole and defy the odds.”

NFL Alumni made a $5000 donation to Hope and Healing Hands Inc., a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide hope and better healthcare for its communities.  The Iron Men of Homer may have played a half century ago but they will not be forgotten.