BLAQUELINE Entertainment Magazine - Issue 01 | Page 24

GEORGE HEGAMIN

Born George Russell Hegamin with a bigger than life smile, he has always been described as an inspiration and a motivator. In 1994, he bypassed his final two years of college to enter the NFL Draft, in order to help his mother who was diagnosed with cancer. Hegamin was a third-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1994 NFL Draft.

You do not have to be a personal friend of Mr. Hegamin to appreciate the attention he garners when he speaks to a room full of athletes.

His commanding structure, positive attitude and caring spirit will immediately fill you with encouragement and appreciation.

Motivator - Mentor - Coach

Where were you during draft day and who was with you?

I decided to spend my draft experience at home with my family. They had been through it all with me from the beginning therefore I wanted to return the favor in celebrating such a wonderful accomplishment in my life.

Explain/describe some of your emotions on being in the NFL Draft?

Being drafted into the NFL is like no other “job placement” that I can think of. It is filled with anticipation and anxiety no matter where you are projected to be taken. My personal experience was crazy because in my day only the first two rounds were held on the first day. The rest of the draft was done on day two. I wasn’t drafted until the last pick in the third round; therefore I had to wait over night to hear my name called which caused all sorts of emotional uneasiness for both me and my family. However, once I got that call from Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys all of our uneasiness suddenly changed to jubilation.

You were extremely successful as an athlete and now a successful business man. Can these characteristics be built if they are not already mentally instilled in a person?

I have grown to understand that whatever you spend the most time doing, learning or caring about is where your highest levels of success will come from. For me, I spent 21 years of my life trying to perfect my craft as an athlete therefore I was able to achieve certain successes that most will never achieve. Now as a retired athlete I am utilizing those same attributes and characteristics that provided me a successful life in athletics to my new careers in business and education. I feel that as you grow you also learn and as a result you build onto your foundation of success through trial and error.

George Hegamin has had opportunities and a life that many dream about. But as a mentor and motivation speaker, he is truly on a stage in which he makes a difference in the lives of many.