AH podcast: Former Iowa receiver Quinn Early honors two great people
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Former Iowa and NFL receiver Quinn Early was our guest on Friday's All-Hawkeyes podcast.
He spent part of the 40-minute interview reflecting on his days as a Hawkeye from 1984-87 under Hayden Fry, and on his 12-year NFL career with four different teams: San Diego, New Orleans, Buffalo and the New York Jets.
But Early spent most of the interview talking about his mother Ann Patterson Early, who recently died from Alzheimer's disease.
Ann raised Quinn as a single parent in New York and taught him the value of hard work and overcoming adversity.
She also wrote a biography of their relative, Sherrod Bryant, a man often described as the richest black man in the antebellum South.
“Bryant Acres” was published in September, thanks largely to Quinn's help, and he is dedicating the proceeds to Alzheimer’s research — with one exception:
During a visit to Iowa City around the Hawkeyes' Nov. 10 game against Northwestern, proceeds of books sold there will benefit the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital.
Quinn also will make appearances in Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Des Moines and Iowa City.
It is his way of honoring his mother and the legacy of Sherrod Bryant.
We appreciate Quinn being our guest and for sharing his thoughts on two great people.
My mom was an amazing woman. Single, she went back to college and got her BA, Masters and PHD while working 2 jobs and raising me. She passed away with Alzheimer’s before she could publish her book I published it for her. Proceeds going to Alzheimer’s. https://t.co/LZsbkpq1JH pic.twitter.com/8qg6AOAvOE
— Quinn Early (@QuinnEarly) October 3, 2018