TIFTON — Tift County football legend Roy Hart Jr. appeared Oct. 20 at the Tift Theatre to tell his story, spanning from his youth all the way to his current role with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Hart appeared in support of Jake’s Hands, a local non-profit organization.

Born in Adel, but a high school player for the Blue Devils, Hart had success at every level of football.

It started, he said, from a worth ethic instilled in youth, when he helped in tobacco fields and hog farms. Hart said he was always known as a good athlete. Thanks to early work in the weight room, he was one of the largest players on the field at Matt Wilson, then a junior high. Football seemed a perfect match. “I found football,” he said. “We found each other.”

Tift assistant John Reynolds, said Hart, “was amazing to me.”

Though Hart excelled with the Blue Devils in high school, no offers came his way. Reynolds had shown him star running back Willie Hill’s letters from colleges and Hart long wanted the same.

Hart had already bounced back from a broken leg his freshman year, an injury that threatened to derail his football career. The broad details of the story, a devastating injury, was a theme throughout the speech. Hart had much to overcome. The high school broken leg was near his growth plate, he said, but fortunately he was in the hands of the right doctor to make sure it healed correctly.

Hill did end up playing a part in Hart’s long-awaited recruitment. South Carolina had signed Hill and the Gamecocks gave Hart a look, too. Though big, he was undersized for a defensive lineman. Hart said he was told his energy on the field got their attention.

Hart was a three-sport athlete with Tift, also participating in track and wrestling. He said the offseason work “made me a better football player.”

At South Carolina, there were on- and off-the-field setbacks. He tore ligaments in his knee. “Another challenge along the way,” Hart said. While healing, his grades slipped and he went to community college to regain eligibility. South Carolina promised him a spot if he got his grades right. He did and so did they.

Like in high school, Hart found himself waiting as he ended his college football career. It was time for the NFL Draft and Hart was anxious to hear his name called. Finally, that call came from the Seattle Seahawks in the sixth round.

Hart worked that summer to make the squad, doing so in 1989. Then the injury bug came again, his shoulder while sacking Cleveland’s Bernie Kosar. Released by Seattle, Hart soon found a new opportunity, in more ways than one: The World League of American Football.

The London Monarchs signed Hart. Playing on their home grounds, Wembley Stadium, “Gave me goosebumps,” Hart said. The World League spanned America and Europe, making for difficult travel, he said, but he was rewarded as the Monarchs won the World Bowl over Barcelona.

His success in Europe brought another NFL look, this time from the then-Los Angeles Raiders.

“I go from Tift County High Blue Devils Stadium to the office of Al Davis,” Hart said about meeting the Raiders’ legendary owner. Hart spent a season with the Raiders, then drifted to the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Hamilton was fun until the winter. Snow, said Hart, was “this high,” raising his hand well above his head. That worked out, too. The CFL was expanding in those days, making a run at America. That did not work out longterm for the league, but did see Hart get the opportunity to play with one of its teams in Las Vegas.

Hart played a season with Vegas, then hurt his knee again. He was advised by doctors to hang it up.

Still in Vegas, he found another avenue, working security. “I developed incredible people skills in working the door,” he said. Hart was able to work his way up, mixing candor with his size.

After years of releasing what he called “the beast” on a gridiron, he found a different release. “Now, I had the outlet for that beast,” Hart said. Clients included NBA players and venues.

Hart began experiencing health problems, including falls that he said ended his career in security. While at a Raiders alumni event, he bumped into an old teammate, Andrew Glover, who encouraged him to get checked out by a doctor. Turns out, Hart said, he had fractured vertebra during his football career. He does not know when.

“I look to the future,” said Hart. “I don’t look to the past.”

He began speaking to groups. Then came another opportunity, once again with the Raiders, who were moving to Las Vegas, where they currently play. “The Raiders have the greatest alumni department,” he said. Now, he’s able to work with old team.

Hart said the Raiders were his hometown now, but “Tift County is my roots.”

He considers himself fortunate throughout his years. “The power of one ranks powerful in my life,” he said. The one big scholarship offer, the meeting with Davis, the World Bowl. “I am the power of one,” he said.

Hart spoke of his parents, how fortunate he was to still have both at the age of 58. “Thank you mom,” he said. “I truly appreciate the love.”

Sharing affirmations he receives in his inbox each week from the NFL, Hart has a favorite. “The love you give, the love you receive,” he said. “That’s how I have guided my life.”