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Brett Favre statue to be unveiled Saturday
National media expected in Kiln for NFL star?s own ?day?
BY JOSEPH W. GEX II Staff Writer
The final preparations are being made for the celebration of Brett Favre Day in Kiln at Hancock High School. The county school system will pay tribute to its most famous football graduate
-	Green Bay Packers All-Pro quarterback Brett Favre.
The weekend is shaping up to be a slam dunk for Hancock County which will be thrust into the national spotlight of sports.
The signature event will be the unveiling of a life-size bronze statue of Hancdck's favorite son at Hawk Stadium on the campus of Hancock High School.
The 600-lb bronze statue sitting atop a granite base was sculpted by Edmond Schumpert of Euporia. Schumpert has work displayed at Disney World among many other notable public venues.
The weekend of festivities will begin on Friday evening with a patron party being hosted by Casino Magic at Torgey's on The Green from 6pm-8pm. The social event is by invitation only to honor the many patrons who have
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Brett Favre
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Favre -- statue to be unveiled
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helped make this event a success.
On Saturday, May 8, the day's festivities at hancock High School begin at 10 a.m. The public will be allowed to attend by paid admission only. No passes will be accepted.
There will be junior varsity and varsity spring football scrimmages being played between Hancock High School, St. Stanislaus College, Biloxi High School and Pascagoula High School.
The scrimmages will take place from 10 a.m. until 12 noon and from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.
In between the scrimmages from 12 noon to 1pm, the dedication and unveiling of the statue will take place.
The mistress of ceremonies will be Pass Christian native and current ABC/ESPN sportscast-er Robin Roberts. Other speakers include former Green Bay Packers quarterback and NFL hall of Famer Bart Starr, Brett's junior high football coach Joe Shaw, high school football coach Rocky Gaudin, college coach Jeff Bower, pro coach and current
Mississippi	State
University head coach Sylvester Croom, Chief Martin of the Choctaw tribe, Scott Favre and Brett Favre.
Current Hancock County School Superintendent and former high school principal David Kopf will deliver an address, as well.
Hancock High School's Head Coach of Athletics Rocky Gaudin, co-chairper-son of the event along with Mrs. Beth Seymour, stated, "We have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of this event. Without the help of our numerous patrons this event would not be possible. We owe them an immense amount of gratitude. Our patrons that have helped with this event have come as far away as Green Bay, Chicago and Arizona. All along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, this event has received a tremendous amount of support. Numerous local patrons have assisted with whatever we have needed. Casino Magic-Bay St. Louis has been extremely generous with their assistance and we are very grateful to them. The final preparations are being made as we
speak and now we are just praying for great weather."
The event is being put on to honor Hancock County's greatest NFL star - Brett Favre. Brett graduated from Hancock North Central in 1987 following a decorated three-sport career for the Hawks. He was offered a football scholarship by only one school, the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.
Brett enrolled there and eventually rewrote the record books in M.M. Roberts Stadium.
Following a colorful collegiate career, Favre was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League in the second round. He played one season for the Falcons seeing limited field action. He was traded following his rookie year to the Green Bay Packers.
Not far into his second season in the league, Favre was inserted into the lineup for the Packers and the rest is history. He became the league's only three-time MVP, won a Super Bowl in. nearby New Orleans, and has become a perennial All-Pro.
Despite all his fame and
fortune, Favre has never forgotten where he came from.
His Brett Favre Forward Foundation benefits many needy causes here in South Mississippi. His annual charity golf tournament is always a huge hit.