National Football League Hall of Famer Willie Lanier will be the guest speaker at the Virginia Union University 2012 Football Kickoff Banquet, to be held at 6 p.m. on Friday August 10, in the L. Douglas Wilder Library on the VUU campus in Richmond, Va.

Lanier was middle-linebacker who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1967 through 1977. He won postseason honors for eight consecutive years, making the American Football League All-Star team in 1968 and 1969 before being selected to the Pro Bowl from 1970 through 1975. He was inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

Lanier also attended Maggie Walker High School in Richmond, Va.

Lanier played college football at Morgan State University under head coach Earl Banks where he was twice selected to the small-college College Football All-America Team and was also chosen MVP of the Tangerine Bowl.

Willie Lanier is a member of The Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C. National Intercollegiate All-American Football Players Honor Roll.

Virginia Union, guided by Head Coach/Athletic Director Michael Bailey, will kick off the 2012 season on September 1 when the Panthers meet Benedict College at 7:00 p.m. in Historic Hovey Field in Richmond, Va.

For more ticket information and table reservations, please call the VUU Department of Athletics at (804) 342-1484.