Nationally recognized athletes Jordan Shipley and Jaxon Shipley will speak at a luncheon benefiting the Brownwood-area Fellowship of Christian Athletes on Monday, April 18. The event will be held in the Beadel Dining Area of Howard Payne University’s Mabee University Center. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. with the program featuring the Shipley brothers scheduled to begin at 12:15 p.m. Items autographed by Jordan Shipley will be auctioned as part of the fundraising effort.
Jordan Shipley, a former Texas Longhorn football standout, is a receiver for the National Football League’s Cincinnati Bengals. He was selected by the Bengals in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. This past season, he led American Football Conference rookies in receptions (52) and was ranked second among all NFL rookies in receiving yards (600).
At The University of Texas, he was a two-time All-American (2008, 2009), a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, recognizing the nation’s top wide receiver, and a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award, recognizing the nation’s top player, in 2009. He is Texas’ all-time career leader in receptions (248) and ranked second in yards (3,191) and touchdowns (33), along with many other single-season receiving and kick/punt return records.
While a student at Burnet High School in Burnet, Texas, he earned All-State honors in football, golf and track and field, and was selected as a High School All-American in football and named the Class 3A Offensive Player of the Year. He is the Texas high school all-time career record holder in receiving touchdowns (73), receiving yards (5,424) and receptions (252).
Jaxon Shipley, Jordan’s younger brother, is a senior at Brownwood High School. He has enjoyed athletic success of his own, going to state in track and field as a junior and leading the Brownwood Lions football team to a 14-1 record and the Texas 3A Division II Semifinals in 2010. Hauling in 86 passes for 1,656 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior, he earned All-State and All-American honors and was selected as the Class 3A Offensive Player of the Year. As one of the nation’s top receivers and elite college prospects in the 2011 recruiting class, Jaxon has committed to The University of Texas for this fall.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes is the largest Christian sports ministry in America. Founded in 1954, the locally funded non-profit organization seeks to challenge coaches and athletes on the professional, college, high school, junior high and youth levels to impact the world for Jesus Christ.
The regional office for the Big Country FCA is in Abilene, with the new local-area representative office on the HPU campus in Brownwood. FCA’s ministries include coaches’ Bible studies, team devotionals, campus huddles, summer camps and other annual events such as Fields of Faith and the Myrle Greathouse FCA All-Star Classic for football, girls’ basketball and cheerleaders in the Big Country.
The public is encouraged to attend the luncheon. Tickets, available in advance or at the door, are $25 per person. Businesses may purchase tables for $250 each. The meal will be provided by Sodexo. For more information, contact Corbin Young, FCA area representative, at 940-389-3210 or cyoung@fca.org.
