Archie Manning coming for Heisey's birthday party Archie Manning, the patriarch of the famed football family, former Olympic gold medal wrestler Jeff Blatnick and former major league star pitcher Dave Dravecky will be in Great Falls June 22 to help the Heisey Youth Center celebrate its 75th birthday.

All three sports figures will speak at the Great Falls Civic Center's Mansfield Theatre in what the Heisey is billing as "a night of sports and motivation celebrating 75 years of the Heisey Youth Foundation."

The fundraising event starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets priced at $50 and $75 are currently on sale through the Mansfield Theatre. The Heisey Youth Center is located at 313 7th St. N. in the heart of Great Falls. More information about the event is available by contacting Sandra Fermo, executive director of the Heisey, at 453-1211 or 590-0060.

Manning is the father of current NFL star quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning. He was a star quarterback in his own right, earning All-Americans honors at the University of Mississippi, where he is the only player to have his number retired.

Archie Manning had a 15-year career in the NFL, primarily with the New Orleans Saints, and in 1992 was voted Mississippi's Greatest All-Time Athlete. He was also named Mississippi's Most Popular Athlete of the Century.

Manning, 63, was recently selected as one of 10 outstanding New Orleanians by Family Service of Greater New Orleans and named Hornblower of the Year by the Public Relations Society of America. He currently serves in public relations and consulting capacities for several local, regional and national companies. For 25 years he hosted four Archie Manning Cystic Fibrosis benefit golf tournaments in Louisiana and Mississippi and is active in a wide variety of charitable and civic causes.

Dravecky, who spoke in Great Falls nine years ago at a benefit fundraiser for Foothills Christian School, is a former star pitcher whose career was shortened by cancer. His story is one of hope, courage and perseverance in the midst of dark and overwhelming uncertainty.

In 1988 Dravecky was at the top of his game and life. Not only did he have a wonderful family but he was reaching his all-star peak playing the game of his childhood dreams. His 5-1 opening day victory over the Dodgers was overshadowed later that fall by the discovery of cancer and the removal of half of the deltoid muscle in his pitching arm. Dravecky came back to pitch once again in the major leagues, but suffered a broken arm while delivering a pitch and eventually the cancer returned. He retired from the game in 1989 and eventually had the arm amputated.

Dravecky's award-winning book, "Comeback," sold more than 650,000 copies. He and his wife, Jan, later wrote another book dealing with the loss of his arm and career, "When You Can't Come Back." He subsequently authored another book, "The Worth of a Man."

Because of the overwhelming response to their story and their desire to walk along side others who suffer, the Draveckys founded Dave Dravecky's Outreach of Hope, a nonprofit organization. His messages range from motivational to inspirational to evangelical. Dave Dravecky genuinely relates through his own experiences with loss and suffering, and he powerfully inspires through the encouragement he gathered from the faith and hope he discovered along his journey.

Blatnick was an Olympic gold medalist wrestler in 1984. The two-time member of the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team had discovered in 1982 that he had Hodgkin's Disease. After a series of daily radiation treatments, he resumed training and eventually won the gold medal.

Just one year after this remarkable athletic achievement, Blatnick was again diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease. This time, six months of chemotherapy were prescribed to put the cancer into remission.

Today, Blatnick is one of the premier motivational speakers in the country. His enthusiasm, sincerity and love of life have kept him focused on a single purpose: overcoming adversity.

Blatnick has kept extremely active as a spokesperson for the Leukemia Society of America, United Way, American Cancer Society, US Olympic Committee, National Fitness Leaders Assn and the New York State Dept. of Education. He has also served on the Board of Directors of USA Wrestling and continues to assist in policy setting, promotion, wrestling clinics and fund raising efforts.