Henry receives super gift
MIAMI — Talk about your good seats.
Former East Brady and Seneca Valley football coach Terry Henry won't be complaining about his at Super Bowl LIV.
Henry will be sitting in the NFL Commissioner's Suite at Hard Rock Stadium as a 70th birthday present courtesy of Pro Football Hall of Famer and former East Brady quarterback Jim Kelly.
Henry was Kelly's head coach at East Brady. The two have been lifelong friends since.
“This is my 29th Super Bowl, thanks to Jim,” Henry said. “His brothers have been to 30 of them. Jim takes care of us.”
But never like this.
At Henry's 70th birthday party last summer, he was presented a letter from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell inviting him to sit in his suite at this year's Super Bowl.
“A complete surprise ... I had met and talked with Roger a number of times,” Henry said. “He's a tremendous person and has done so much for the league and its owners.
“That's why they pay him so much money. He makes so much money for them.”
Henry flew into Florida Tuesday with Kelly and his entourage. Kelly's brothers flew down as well.
They are staying with friends of Kelly's — former classmate Jeff Peck and teammate Greg Zappala — who live in the Miami area.
They were joined Tuesday by Kelly's Hall of Fame teammate with the Buffalo Bills, Thurman Thomas, at Delray Beach and went out on the water. They were on the water at Delray again Friday.
Kelly received this year's Pat Summerall Award at the Legends for Charity Banquet Thursday night.
“That event raises money for St. Jude and Jim's speech was very touching and moving,” Henry said. “He's doing a lot of speaking engagements down here
“He talked about forgetting about yourself, doing things for and taking care of others.”
Henry added that Kelly rcently received a clean bill of health from his doctors. He has undergone numerous cancer treatments and surgeries in recent years.
“He is in pain all the time, takes pain medication every day that affects his body in other ways,” Henry said. “He just never shows it. That's how inspiring and tough Jim Kelly is.
“He goes to New York City for a check-up every three months. To go through what he's been fighting and to think of me on my birthday like this shows what he's made of.”
Henry actually received a second letter from Goodell, following up on the original invitation to sit in his suite for the Super Bowl.
“I told Jim about it, how I had to make accomodations, and he took care of everything,” Henry said.
“This will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. Sitting in the commissioner's box, you never know who's going to be in there, who I'm going to have a chance to meet and talk with. I can't wait.”
