Career Highlights: Vocalist, guitarist, pianist, songwriter, and producer, Jay DeMarcus was a member of the country band Rascal Flatts, alongside Joe Don Rooney and Gary LeVox for 22 years. After their Farewell – Life is a Highway Tour was cancelled in 2020 they ended their career together. DeMarcus recently joined a new band: Generation Radio with Dean Castroovo, former lead singer/drummer of Journey, Jason Scheff, former lead vocalist/bass player of Chicago, Chris Rodriguez and Tom Yankton to bring 80’s rock and classic music back to life with hits from their former bands. DeMarcus got his musical start with the Christian music group New Harvest and later helped start the contemporary Christian music group East to West. He moved on to play with country star Chely Wright’s band, while doing his own music – which led to the formation of Rascal Flatts. Rascal Flatts sold more than 23 million albums, delivered 17 #1 singles, and was the most awarded country group of the past decade earning more than 40 acclaimed honors. In 2018, DeMarcus founded the label Red Street Records, and released his memoir, “Shotgun Angels: My Story of Broken Roads and Unshakeable Hope.”
Roger Clemens
Career Highlights: An 11-time All-Star and seven-time Cy Young Award winner, Roger Clemens’ pitching records are unmatched in major league history. In an illustrious 24-year MLB career, Clemens was a two-time World Series Champion with the Yankees (1999 & 2000), a seven-time ERA leader, five-time AL strikeout leader, four-time MLB wins leader, two-time triple crown leader (wins, ERA and strikeouts), and was the 1986 American League MVP. Clemens played for Boston (1984-96), Toronto (1997-98), New York Yankees (1999-2003, 2007) and Houston (2004-06). With the Yankees in 2001, Clemens became the first pitcher to start a season 20-1, and also won his sixth Cy Young. Clemens retired in 2003, but came back to play for his hometown Houston Astros for three seasons, winning his seventh Cy Young Award (most by any pitcher) in 2004 (oldest winner at age 42). He also led the Astros to their first World Series in 2005, which they lost to the Chicago White Sox. Clemens finished his career with 354 wins, a 3.12 ERA and 4,672 strikeouts. His Roger Clemens Foundation supports children’s charities.
Jerome Bettis
Career Highlights: Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis is considered one of the greatest NFL power running backs ever. A six-time Pro Bowler, two-time First-Team All-Pro and Second-Team All-Pro honoree, the 13-year NFL veteran rushed for 13,662 career yards and retired following the Pittsburgh Steelers 2006 Super Bowl win over the Seattle Seahawks. Selected 10th overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1993 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, Bettis began his successful rookie campaign rushing for 1,429 yards. His post-season honors included being named Co-Rookie of the Year, Sporting News Rookie of the Year, and the Rams MVP. Nicknamed “The Bus,” Bettis played the first three years of his career with the Rams before being traded to the Steelers where he played for 10 more illustrious seasons. A member of the 10,000 yards rushing club, Bettis was one of only eight players in history to rush for 1,000 yards for eight or more seasons. His other accolades include the 1996 Comeback Player of the Year, three-time Steelers MVP, and the 2001 Walter Payton Man of the Year.
Brian Baumgartner
Career Highlights: Emmy Award-winning actor Brian Baumgartner is best known for playing Kevin Malone on the former NBC hit comedy “The Office.” With numerous television and film credits, Baumgartner appeared on the big screen in the comedy “Four Christmases” with Vince Vaughn, “License to Wed” starring Robin Williams, the independent drama films “Into Temptation,” “Dirty Girl,” “The Last Push,” “House of Good and Evil,” and the comedy “One Last Night,“ followed by the 2020 film, “My Boyfriend’s Meds.” His television credits include: “The Goldbergs,” “Chicago Fire,” “Arrested Development,” “CSI,” “Jake in Progress,” “Hot in Cleveland,” “Mike & Molly,” “Criminal Minds,” and many others including the 2021 computer animated streaming series “Trash Truck.” Baumgartner began his career in the theater in Minneapolis and co-founded the Hidden Theatre, whose first offering was Athol Fugard’s “People Are Living There” followed by “Of Mice and Men” and more complex roles including “The Crackwalker” and “Curse of the Starving Class.” In 1998, Baumgartner began a run of the one-man show “Rum and Vodka” and then a one-man comedy show showing his versatility in both drama and comedy.
Ray Allen
Career Highlights: Considered one of basketball’s most prolific shooters ever, Ray Allen won two NBA Championships with the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics. A 10-time NBA All-Star guard, Allen was inducted into the 2018 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The former NBA career leader in three-pointers made (Stephen Curry broke his record in 2021), Allen’s clutch shooting helped Miami win the 2013 NBA Championship. Prior to joining the Heat, Allen led Boston to five straight NBA Playoffs including the 2008 NBA title. He had an incredible 2011 season leading the NBA in points scored, minutes played, field goals made, field goals attempted, three-point field goals made, and three-point field goals attempted. Prior to Boston, Allen played for Seattle (2003-07) and Milwaukee (1996-2003), where he still holds numerous franchise records for both teams. He led the NBA in three-point field goals made four times, and was named to the 2005 All-NBA Second Team and 2001 All-NBA Third Team. Allen won the 2003 NBA’s Joe Dumars Sportsmanship Award and an Olympic gold medal with the 2000 United States basketball team.
Marcus Allen
Career Highlights: One of the greatest running backs in history, Hall of Famer Marcus Allen is the only player to win a Heisman Trophy, an NCAA National Championship, a Super Bowl, and be named NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP. A six-time Pro Bowler and two-time rushing touchdowns leader, Allen was inducted into the 2003 Pro Football Hall of Fame. He had a phenomenal 16-year career with the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs where he posted 3,022 carries for 12,243 yards with 5,411 receiving yards. Third on the NFL’s all-time rushing touchdown list with 123, Allen was MVP of Super Bowl XVIII when the Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins. His other accolades include: 1982 NFL Rookie of the Year, 1985 NFL MVP, 1982 and 1985 First-Team All-Pro, 1984 Second-Team All-Pro, and 1993 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Allen’s best year came in 1985, when he led the league with 1,759 rushing yards on 380 carries and 11 touchdowns. At the University of Southern California, Allen won the 1981 Heisman Trophy setting an all-time single-season rushing record with 2,342 yards.