Ford Motor Co, honors NFL Hall of Famer Art Monk with plaque at White Plains High, where Monk (class '76) starred. pic.twitter.com/jA36CZZs0I — Nancy Haggerty (@HaggertyNancy) May 19, 2016
Art Monk had an incredible 16-year NFL career – 14 of those years coming with the Washington Redskins. It was a career that landed Monk in the Pro Football Hall of Fame back in 2008.
Monk made his mark in the NFL, but he got his start in the game at his alma mater, White Plains High School, in White Plains, N.Y. On Thursday, the school played host to Monk, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Ford Motor Company, as he was the man of the hour at the Hometown Hall of Famer program presented by Ford.
The program honored Monk with a permanent plaque honoring the support he's shown for his hometown.
"I have traveled a long road since I left White Plains High School to attend college at Syracuse and make my football career and after life in the Washington, D.C. area, but I still and always will remain a White Plains Tiger," Monk said. "It was a real pleasure to return to the community and school that was instrumental for my journey to Canton."
White Plains High School is now an official high school of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It's one of only 102 schools in the United States to receive such an honor.
"Ford is proud to participate in this great initiative honoring local heroes," Ford Regional Sales Manager Jim Splendore said. "Ford and the Pro Football Hall of Fame share a commitment to excellence and it is truly an honor to join this organization in welcoming Art Monk back to White Plains for this special recognition."
The Redskins selected Monk with the 18th pick in the first-round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He caught 58 passes in his rookie season and earned All-Rookie honors. Monk had 50 or more catches in nine seasons, and had 1,000 yards five times. He set then-NFL records for catches in a season (106 in 1984), most consecutive games with at least one reception (183), and career receptions (820). Monk finished his career with 940 catches, which is good for 18th on the NFL's all-time career receptions list. He was named to three Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro choice twice.
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