Football legend Archie Manning will be the keynote speaker at the 2007 International Pool & Spa Expo in Orlando, Fla.
The former quarterback of the New Orleans Saints was chosen for his on-stage presence as well as his sports icon status.
“Manning has had a [great career],” said Tracy Beaulieu, show manager. “He’s warm and funny and has a motivating spirit about him.”
Manning’s son, Peyton Manning, is quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, who recently captured the NFL title in Super Bowl XLI.
Eli, his other son, plays for the New York Giants. “It’s an exciting time for Archie,” Beaulieu said. “He’s a proud father with a story to tell.”
Manning’s 15-year career was studded with numerous triumphs and awards. Voted NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1978, he also was given the title of Mississippi’s Greatest All-Time Athlete in 1992. He was the first Saints player to be inducted in the Louisiana Superdome Wall of Fame.
But Manning excels in more places than the football field. While in pro football, he received the Byron “Whizzer” White and the Bart Starr humanitarian awards. He also hosted four Archie Manning Cystic Fibrosis Golf Tournaments in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Manning has co-written a book with Peyton called Manning: A Father, His Sons and a Football Legacy (Harper Entertainment, 2000).
In the past, the Expo has recruited other celebrity keynoters such as Jim “The Rookie” Morris and former Notre Dame football player Rudy Ruettiger. Last year, customer service guru Robert Spector shared his humor and insight into consumer trends.
The 2007 Expo is slated for Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center on Nov. 28-30. The keynote address will be Wed., Nov. 28, at 9:45 a.m.
The International Pool & Spa Expo is owned by Hanley Wood, LLC, which also is the parent company of Pool & Spa News.
