The Central High School Foundation and Central alumni plan to honor Pro Football Hall of Famer and Omaha Central graduate Gale Sayers later this month.

A statue of Sayers will be unveiled at Central’s Seemann Stadium on August 26. The 6 p.m. ceremony will take place before Central’s home football game.

Sayers, who graduated from Central in 1961, is considered one of the greatest running backs in National Football League history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame at age 34, making him the youngest to have the honor.

A 1970 made-for-TV movie, “Brian’s Song,” documented Sayers’ friendship with bandmate Brian Piccolo, who was dying of cancer.

While at Central, Sayers was the best football player in town in his freshman year. In his senior year, he excelled at running back and linebacker, leading the team to an undefeated season.

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Sayers remained a supporter of Central High School and the foundation for years.

Later in life, Sayers was diagnosed with dementia. Following his death in September 2020, the board and alumni of the Central High School Foundation launched a $250,000 fundraising campaign in his honor.

Littleton Alston has been selected to design and build the bronze memorial statue which will be placed in front of the Victory Eagle outside Central Stadium.

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