WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- The 14th Annual Midwestern State Athletics Welcome Back Dinner features legendary Dallas Cowboy Cliff Harris as its guest speaker on Sunday, Aug. 22, at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
The event begins with an enhanced silent auction and social beginning at 5:30 p.m. with Dallas Cowboy and Midwestern State memorabilia as well as many other valuable items.
 
The dinner, catered by the Ribs, Inc., follows at 6 p.m. while program begins at approximately 6:45.
 
Reserve your seat by submitting $100 for a student-athlete sponsorship. A limited number of complete tables accommodating six people with sponsor acknowledgement can be purchased for $600. Additional seats are available for $100. Purchase your tickets by contacting Sheri Mummert at (940) 397-4779 or online at www.msumustangs.com/welcomeback.
 
Harris enjoyed a storybook football career patrolling the secondary from his free safety position for the Dallas Cowboys from 1970-79.

Known as "Captain Crash" for his hard-hitting penchant, Harris helped the Cowboys to victories in Super Bowls VI and XII earning first-team All-Pro four times from 1975-78 as a six-time Pro Bowl selection earning the nod each season from 1974 to 1979.

Hall of Fame safety Larry Wilson of St. Louis Cardinals fame once said, "I feel Harris is the finest free safety in the business today. He changed the way the position is being played. You see other teams modeling their free safeties around the way Harris plays the pass and striking fear in everyone on the field because he hits so hard."

Harris' impact played a key role in the Cowboys' success as the fame "Doomsday" defense ranked in the top 10 every year with him in the lineup. He amassed 29 interceptions and recovered 18 fumbles during his career and even served as Dallas' primary kick returner early in his career.

Harris became the 15th Cowboys player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020, but his enshrinement was delayed to Aug. 7 in Canton, Ohio due to coronavirus pandemic.

The unlikely game changing safety emerged as an undrafted free agent out of Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia, Ark. in 1970. Ironically, OBU was the only college to offer Harris a scholarship coming out of Fayetteville's Des Arc High School.

He was a member of Ouachita's Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) championship squad as a freshman before twice earning All-AIC honors later in his collegiate career while also competing in track & field.

Harris graduated as a double major in math and physics before earning his way onto the Dallas Cowboys' roster as an undrafted rookie starter.

Harris was inducted into the Cowboys' Ring of Honor in 2004, but has earned many post-career honors as a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1978, the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1985, the Ouachita Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

He was named to the 1970s All-Decade Team and to the Cowboys' Silver Season All-Time Team in 1984.

Harris remains active in small college athletics participating in the selection of the top defensive player in the country representing Divisions II, III and the NAIA. That player is presented the Cliff Harris Award which was claimed by former Midwestern State standout Marqui Christian in 2015.

Ouachita Baptist honored him in 2014 by naming its new football facility -- Cliff Harris Stadium.

Cliff Harris Award -- presented to the top defensive player in the country representing Division II, III and NAIA -- Marqui Christian in 2015

Ouachita Baptist named its new stadium Cliff Harris Stadium in 2014.

PAST FEATURED SPEAKERS

2019 // Tony Dorsett
2018 // Ed "Too Tall" Jones
2017 // Jay Novacek
2016 // Everson Walls
2015 // Charles Haley
2014 // Raghib Ismail
2013 // Dan Reeves
2012 // Danny White
2011 // D.D. Lewis
2010 // Randy White
2009 // Calvin Hill
2008 // Chad Hennings
2007 // Drew Pearson