Chiefs For former Louisiana police diver, drowning of Chiefs’ Joe Delaney remains haunting

**Tribal Warfare** · 07-18-2015, 02:23 PM

NSU to host advance screening of ESPN Films' 'Delaney'
NATCHITOCHES – A Tuesday evening, Aug. 4 screening will be held on the Northwestern State campus of the eagerly anticipated film "Delaney," part of ESPN Films' 30 for 30 Shorts series, telling the remarkable story of the late, heroic two-sport All-American Demons' star athlete Joe Delaney.

Tickets priced at $10 will be on sale at the NSUDemons.com website for a 6:30 p.m. reception and the 7 p.m. screening hosted by the film's producer/director Grant Curtis, along with the Demons Unlimited Foundation, at NSU's Magale Recital Hall.

Curtis will discuss the film project before screening it for the audience. Afterwards, he will be involved in a half-hour-long panel discussion also involving former teammates of Delaney's and others who knew him.

Proceeds from the event will support the Joe Delaney Memorial Scholarship for NSU student-athletes. If it does not sell out in advance, tickets will be available at the door. Attire is casual.

"Delaney" will debut Aug. 19 on the ESPN platform, with specific viewing opportunities to be announced later this summer by the sports network.

A Wednesday, Aug. 5 screening event will be staged in the Shreveport-Bossier City area, supporting the Joe Delaney Park project in his hometown of Haughton. Details of that event will be announced shortly by local organizers, with Curtis slated to participate in a similar format to the NSU screening.

The film will tell the remarkable and heroic story of Delaney, the Haughton native, Northwestern State two-sport All-American and Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl running back who died in a 1983 attempt to rescue three drowning children. Delaney was a two-time All-America running back in 1979-80 for the Demons, and joined Mark Duper, Victor Oatis and Mario Johnson on the Demons' 1981 NCAA championship 4x100 meter relay team, earning All-America honors.

Curtis and co-producer Jeremy Wheeler headed a crew of nearly a dozen filmmakers from Los Angeles, Shreveport and Nashville who visited Natchitoches, Haughton and other north Louisiana locations last July. They spent nearly five hours doing interviews and shooting footage at the NSU athletic complex.

ESPN Films' 30 for 30 Shorts series won television's highest honor, the Emmy Award, for "Outstanding Short-Format Nonfiction Program" in 2014. The series highlights important people in the sports world and sports history from the point of view of feature filmmakers.

Curtis is currently an executive producer on "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2" and was an executive producer for 2013's well-received "Oz the Great and Powerful." He was a producer on the "Spiderman" trilogy starring Tobey Maguire and was an associate producer of the 2000 supernatural thriller "The Gift" starring Cate Blanchett and co-written by Billy Bob Thornton.
Wheeler is a writer for NFL Network who was an assistant to Curtis for six years. He will not be able to attend the screening events.

Delaney was the 1981 AFC Rookie of the Year for the Chiefs and played in the Pro Bowl. Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy, who drafted Delaney in the second round of the 1981 draft and coached him in 1981-82, said Delaney was one of the five best players he coached in his 45-year career, including nearly 30 years in the NFL.

Delaney died June 29, 1983, trying to save three children from drowning in a pond at an amusement park in Monroe. One survived. Delaney left behind his wife, Carolyn, and their three young daughters. His heroic act matched his selfless lifestyle and coupled with his astounding athletic career to make him an instant icon in north Louisiana far beyond the sports world.

His No. 44 Demon football jersey was retired at halftime of his final game at NSU. Since his death, no Kansas City player has worn his No. 37. He is immortalized in several ways at Northwestern, including plaques at Turpin Stadium and the Ledet Track Complex, and with the permanent football team captains receiving Joe Delaney Memorial Leadership Awards annually. The Demons' spring football game has been known as the Joe Delaney Bowl since 1989 and the Joe Delaney Distinguished Supporter Award goes each year to a leading backer of NSU Athletics.

Delaney was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizen's Medal from President Ronald Reagan, presented at his funeral by then Vice President George H.W. Bush to the Delaney family. Delaney is enshrined in the N Club Hall of Fame, the Ark-La-Tex Museum of Champions, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame and the Chiefs' Ring of Honor at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

Advance tickets can be purchased online using the Donate button below or at the NSU Athletics ticket office Monday-Friday, 9-5.

07-18-2015, 02:23 PM	#1
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2837187	NSU to host advance screening of ESPN Films' 'Delaney' NATCHITOCHES – A Tuesday evening, Aug. 4 screening will be held on the Northwestern State campus of the eagerly anticipated film "Delaney," part of ESPN Films' 30 for 30 Shorts series, telling the remarkable story of the late, heroic two-sport All-American Demons' star athlete Joe Delaney. Tickets priced at $10 will be on sale at the NSUDemons.com website for a 6:30 p.m. reception and the 7 p.m. screening hosted by the film's producer/director Grant Curtis, along with the Demons Unlimited Foundation, at NSU's Magale Recital Hall. Curtis will discuss the film project before screening it for the audience. Afterwards, he will be involved in a half-hour-long panel discussion also involving former teammates of Delaney's and others who knew him. Proceeds from the event will support the Joe Delaney Memorial Scholarship for NSU student-athletes. If it does not sell out in advance, tickets will be available at the door. Attire is casual. "Delaney" will debut Aug. 19 on the ESPN platform, with specific viewing opportunities to be announced later this summer by the sports network. A Wednesday, Aug. 5 screening event will be staged in the Shreveport-Bossier City area, supporting the Joe Delaney Park project in his hometown of Haughton. Details of that event will be announced shortly by local organizers, with Curtis slated to participate in a similar format to the NSU screening. The film will tell the remarkable and heroic story of Delaney, the Haughton native, Northwestern State two-sport All-American and Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl running back who died in a 1983 attempt to rescue three drowning children. Delaney was a two-time All-America running back in 1979-80 for the Demons, and joined Mark Duper, Victor Oatis and Mario Johnson on the Demons' 1981 NCAA championship 4x100 meter relay team, earning All-America honors. Curtis and co-producer Jeremy Wheeler headed a crew of nearly a dozen filmmakers from Los Angeles, Shreveport and Nashville who visited Natchitoches, Haughton and other north Louisiana locations last July. They spent nearly five hours doing interviews and shooting footage at the NSU athletic complex. ESPN Films' 30 for 30 Shorts series won television's highest honor, the Emmy Award, for "Outstanding Short-Format Nonfiction Program" in 2014. The series highlights important people in the sports world and sports history from the point of view of feature filmmakers. Curtis is currently an executive producer on "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2" and was an executive producer for 2013's well-received "Oz the Great and Powerful." He was a producer on the "Spiderman" trilogy starring Tobey Maguire and was an associate producer of the 2000 supernatural thriller "The Gift" starring Cate Blanchett and co-written by Billy Bob Thornton. Wheeler is a writer for NFL Network who was an assistant to Curtis for six years. He will not be able to attend the screening events. Delaney was the 1981 AFC Rookie of the Year for the Chiefs and played in the Pro Bowl. Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy, who drafted Delaney in the second round of the 1981 draft and coached him in 1981-82, said Delaney was one of the five best players he coached in his 45-year career, including nearly 30 years in the NFL. Delaney died June 29, 1983, trying to save three children from drowning in a pond at an amusement park in Monroe. One survived. Delaney left behind his wife, Carolyn, and their three young daughters. His heroic act matched his selfless lifestyle and coupled with his astounding athletic career to make him an instant icon in north Louisiana far beyond the sports world. His No. 44 Demon football jersey was retired at halftime of his final game at NSU. Since his death, no Kansas City player has worn his No. 37. He is immortalized in several ways at Northwestern, including plaques at Turpin Stadium and the Ledet Track Complex, and with the permanent football team captains receiving Joe Delaney Memorial Leadership Awards annually. The Demons' spring football game has been known as the Joe Delaney Bowl since 1989 and the Joe Delaney Distinguished Supporter Award goes each year to a leading backer of NSU Athletics. Delaney was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizen's Medal from President Ronald Reagan, presented at his funeral by then Vice President George H.W. Bush to the Delaney family. Delaney is enshrined in the N Club Hall of Fame, the Ark-La-Tex Museum of Champions, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame and the Chiefs' Ring of Honor at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Advance tickets can be purchased online using the Donate button below or at the NSU Athletics ticket office Monday-Friday, 9-5. __________________
Posts: 43,435