NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Announces Rutledge Haggard as Distinguished Texan Award Winner

Plano legend Rutledge Haggard to receive Distinguished Texan Award during Chapter’s annual awards banquet on March 28

Rutledge Haggard at the Haggard Party Barn in Plano, Texas.
Photo: Local Profile

DALLAS, Texas (March 23, 2026) – The NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas, the north Texas chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc., today announced that Rutledge Haggard has been named the 2026 Distinguished Texan Award recipient. Haggard will be honored during the chapter’s 17th Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, March 28, from 6:00–8:00 p.m.

“Rutledge Haggard embodies everything the Distinguished Texan Award stands for,” said Gerald Brence, NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter President. “His life has been defined by service, humility, and a quiet commitment to education and community, values that form the foundation of the National Football Foundation. While his name is woven throughout Plano’s history, his greatest legacy is the example he has set for generations of young people: lead with integrity, serve others, and leave your community better than you found it.”

The event will showcase the inspiring stories in North Texas that encourage future student‑athletes to excel in the classroom and contribute to their communities. It also provides a platform to recognize the leaders whose dedication has helped place North Texas football among the nation’s best.

Distinguished Texan Award Honoree: Rutledge Haggard

Rutledge Haggard is a lifelong Texan whose stewardship, service, and work ethic have shaped Plano and the surrounding region for decades. The Haggard family’s roots in Plano stretch back to 1856, making them among the city’s earliest settlers and most enduring civic stewards. Rutledge, a fourth‑generation member of the family, has spent his life balancing respect for the land and its history with thoughtful leadership as Plano grew from a rural farming community into a regional hub. He has long been known for his patient, humble approach to caring the family’s historic property, reflecting a perspective of stewardship rather than speculation.

A 1954 graduate of Plano High School, Haggard’s early years included working the family farm and even driving school bus routes while still a student, experiences that set a lifelong tone of responsibility and service. After attending Arlington State Junior College and graduating from Texas Christian University, he served in the United States Army, where he taught fellow soldiers academic subjects and helped many prepare for the GED,a continuation of his belief in the power of education to change lives.  

Throughout his adult life, Haggard has been an advocate for public education, community planning, and responsible growth, often working quietly behind the scenes on school initiatives and civic priorities. His approach mirrors the National Football Foundation’s focus on building leaders through discipline, scholarship, and citizenship, and it reflects the spirit of the Distinguished Texan Award, which honors Texans whose impact extends far beyond their own accomplishments.

As a portion of the historic Haggard family land in Plano begins a carefully planned transition into a new community space, the project reflects the family’s long‑standing commitment to honoring its agricultural heritage while thoughtfully integrating modern amenities, another expression of the stewardship ethos that has guided Haggard’s life.

About NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas

Founded in 2008, the NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas is one of 120 nationwide chapters of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF). The NFF, founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik, and journalist Grantland Rice, is a nonprofit organization that leverages the power of amateur football to build leaders. With 120 chapters in 47 states, the NFF oversees initiatives such as the NFF College Hall of Fame, the NFF William V. Campbell Trophy®, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments, Future For Football, and I Played. Learn more about the NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas at www.nffdallas.org and the NFF at www.footballfoundation.org.

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Media Contact
Gary Peek
gpeek@nffdallas.org
972.465.0173