Foundation plans to honor the late Keith Jackson with statue at Rose Bowl
The late Keith Jackson wasn’t just a broadcaster. He was the quintessential Saturday soundtrack for generations of college football fans.
The Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation plans to honor that memory by erecting a statue of Jackson at the stadium he knew so well. The crowdfunding campaign aims to raise $400,000 for a monument that will “allow [Jackson’s] spirit and legacy to live for future education at the Rose Bowl Stadium — his favorite venue, and where he coined the moniker ‘The Granddaddy of Them All’ as the voice of the most Rose Bowl games ever.”
The foundation was formed in 2010 to help pay for major renovations to the stadium, promote the rich history of the venue and further engage with the Pasadena community.
“Keith epitomized big moments in sports, that turned out to be iconic memories for generations of people,” said Dedan Brozino, the foundation’s executive director. “We owe a lot of our history to his mind and his voice. We hope this statue will provide a gift for future generations to experience and learn from his broadcast legacy and that of the venue.”
Among the recent projects by the foundation were the restoration of a 1922 locker room, which was transformed into a Rose Bowl museum, and a statue outside the stadium honoring the legendary Jackie Robinson.
Stadium officials will be accepting donations for the Jackson statue at keithjacksonstatue.com, which officially launches Thursday, and are asking those on social media to use the hashtag #WhoaNellie to raise awareness about the campaign. Donations of $100 or more will be listed on a plaque at the statue.
Follow Sam Farmer on Twitter @LATimesfarmer
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