Ex-NFLer Crawford Ker's 'Rags to Riches' Story

Everyday Inspirations is a series that features people in Patch communities who inspire others through their work, or people who have faced extraordinary situations and grown from them. They have been featured by other people in the community that have been inspired by the nominees.

Name: Crawford Ker
Town: Largo, FL
Nominated by: Molly Jacobson

Why is this person an "Everyday Inspiration?" 
NFL alumni, WingHouse restaurant owner and philanthropist, Crawford Ker, has lived a "rags to riches" story few are given the opportunity to hear about.

His father, an immigrant from Scotland, worked two and sometimes three jobs - at a convenience store at night and running a lawn service during the day - to provide for his family the best he could. Crawford often worked alongside his father cutting grass, dreaming of the day his father could stop working so hard and enjoy his life.

Though Crawford never played high school football, he decided in his junior year that football could provide a means to an end for his family. Known as being a “skinny kid,” Crawford purchased a K-Mart weight set and focused all of his energy towards becoming a professional athlete.

His efforts paid off. After only a single year of high school football, Crawford attended a junior college in Arizona before getting a scholarship offer from late UF coach Charley Pell. He played on a pulverizing UF offensive line known as "The Great Wall" and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the '85 NFL draft. And, yes, he used the money he made to help his father retire.

After leaving the NFL eight years later, Crawford had $500,000 in his bank account and with that, he opened Florida restaurant staple, Ker’s WingHouse, which is in the midst of celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Community activist and philanthropist, Crawford has made it vitally important to give back to his community in every way he can. For instance, each year, WingHouse hosts “Ker’s Christmas,” where hundreds of toys and Christmas meals are provided to underprivileged children and families. Also, WingHouse has aligned with the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, which has, in only a single year, provided over $29,000 to the foundation.