Warrick Dunn

Renee McFee

October 10, 2017

Comm 211-03 MW 3:30-4:45 Person Speech: Warrick Dunn

Introduction

AGD: For the Majority of my life, I grew up in a single-parent home. Throughout my

life I never really caught on or noticed the struggles my mom was going through until I was older, mainly because parents don’t want their kids catching on to that.

Connect With Audience: According to nccp.org, 80 percent of poor children live in single-parent households and 32 percent of non-poor families live in single parent households. It is possible that you or someone you know live in a single-parent household.

Establish Impact: Warrick Dunn is a well known throughout Louisiana, Florida and Georgia, he also grew up in a single-parent home and has been able to help many people like him and single parents reach their goals in life.

Thesis: As some of you may know, growing up in a single-parent home is a lot harder than people think it is.

Preview Points: Before I tell you about Warrick Dunn’s accomplishments and how far he has come, I must first tell you where it all started, the struggles he has had to face, and the responsibilities brought to him in order to become such an inspirational person.

Transition:

Body

Point 1: Early Life

Subpoint A: Warrick Dunn’s life began on January 5, 1975. He was born here in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As Dunn attended high school as Catholic High, he was known throughout the town for his love of football and exceeding expectations of many. In his sophomore year,

Dunn led his team to victory in the national championship game for the first time for Catholic High. Dunn looked forward to what life was going to bring him in the future.

Subpoint B: Dunn was the oldest of six children. According to lasportshall.com, Dunn had always had a father-like role for the other siblings. Dunn’s father was nowhere in the picture. His whole life he was raised my his mother. Dunn always helped care for his siblings while his mother was hard at work trying to provide for the big family she had. As Dunn was well known in high school and looked up too by his siblings, he could not help but be excited about what life was about to bring him in college.

Transition: Little did he know that his life what about to change forever. Point 2: The Struggles

Subpoint A: Well known police officer of Baton Rouge by the name of Betty Smothers was also his mom. Smothers worked long hours and picked up extra shifts as a security guard to provide for her children. On January 7, 1993, tragedy struck the streets of Baton Rouge. Two days after his 18th Birthday, Dunn’s mother was taken from him. As Smothers was working a long shift the night, she picked up a fellow coworker and also manager at a convenient store. Her friend needed to make a deposit into the night deposit box at a bank nearby where she worked. According to si.com, Lee, which was the fellow coworker, was unlocking the deposit box when she heard what she thought was fireworks. Twelve bullets were shot at Smother’s squad car. Five into Smothers herself and some wounded Lee. After Lee had realized what was going on, she threw the car in drive and headed for the hospital.

Subpoint B: As Dunn’s mother was out at work, he was at home watching over his siblings. Soon, Dunn hears the phone ring and answers.. Someone telling him to get to the hospital as soon as possible. Sports Illustrated also says, Betty Smothers was gone before she or he could even make it to the hospital. Before Dunn could even say goodbye, his life changed in an instant. He looked up to his mother, respected her, he would have done anything to make her happy.

Transition: As Dunn’s life just changed forever, he believed he had to give up his dreams of playing pro ball.

Point 3: Unexpected Responsibilities and Facing Demons

Subpoint A: In Dunn’s Autobiography he talks about when he came face to face with the

man who murdered his mom, He had so many things he wanted to ask him but yet was so angry and so confused all at the same time. He says in Running for my Life, “I wanted him to know that i remembered growing up wanting to be a father, a husband, a dad. I wanted him to know that what he did to my mom that night, ruined all of that for me.” After the killing of his mother, Dunn took on the responsibility of raising his siblings with the help of his grandmother. Even though it was going to be a long road ahead, Dunn had many people on his side to help him through this journey. Many of people donated food and clothing, they received free health care, and a lot donated money to help support them.

Subpoint B: As Dunn raised his siblings and helped them through school