Montana coming to Carson City on July 26

Joe Montana will be the keynote speaker at the 34th annual Governor's Dinner.

The fund-raiser for the University of Nevada athletics will be held on Friday, July 26 at the Governor's Mansion. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with hosted cocktais and hors d'oeuvres, followed by a sit-down, barbecue-style dinner prepared by the Eldorado.

The Governor's dinner was recently voted the fans' favorite Wolf Pack fund-raiser. Tickets are $200 per person ($160 tax deductible) and tables of eight are available for reservation. Tickets go on sale June 10.

Montana was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. Selected in the third round of the NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers in 1979, Montana had an outstanding career for the 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs.

He directed his teams to 31 fourth quarter comeback wins, including a 92-yard drive in the closing seconds to win Super Bowl XXIII for the 49ers. His ability to lead teams to comeback wins was known as "Montana Magic."

Montana won the NFL's passing title in 1987 and 1989. He led the NFC in passing five times (1981, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989). He passed for 300 or more yards 39 times and 400 or more yards seven times.

His six 300-yard postseason passsing games is an NFL record. He also owns the career playoff record for attempts, completions, touchdowns and passing yards.

He led teams to a record 11 postseason appearances. Montana led teams to nine division titles and the 49ers to four Super Bowl titles. He was named as the Super Bowl most valuable player three times.

He was named all-NFL three times and all-NFC five times. Montana was chosen to the Pro Bowl eight times. At the time of his retirement in 1994, he ranked fourth in career passing yards (40,551), attempts (5,391) and touchdown passes (273). His 3,409 completions ranked third all-time and his career-passing effiency rating of 92.3 ranks second all-time.

Montana was born in New Eagle, Pa. where he played football for Monongahela Ringgold High. He went to Notre Dame where he led the Irish to the 1977 national title.

Montana and his wife, Jennifer, have four children, Alexandra, Elizabeth, Nathanial and Nicholas. Montana lives in Santa Rosa, Calif. where his new interest is a passion for horses.

For more information about the event, call 784-4870, extension 246.