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February 25, 2013
ULM alum Joe Profit to culminate Black History Month Celebration
University of Louisiana at Monroe alum and former NFL running back Dr. Joe Profit (B.S. ‘71)—who recently published, “Fields of Success – Raised Expectations”—will give a lecture as part of ULM’s Black History Month Celebration.
The lecture will begin at 7 p.m., on Thursday, Feb. 28., in the ULM Conference Center, located on the seventh floor of the ULM Library.
The event is free and open to the public. A reception will follow Profit’s lecture.
“We are pleased to have Dr. Joe Profit come back to ULM and speak to the campus and the community,” said Dr. Wayne Brumfield, vice president for Student Affairs at ULM.
“His accomplishments on the football field and as an entrepreneur, businessman, and author speak volumes to his perseverance, dedication and the hard work he has committed himself to, to ensure personal success in his life.”
While attending what would later be known as the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Profit majored in education.
He was the first African American to play football for then-Northeast Louisiana University, playing running back for four years from 1967-1970. Profit set the all-time rushing record with 2,818 career yards – a record that stood for 22 years.
Profit was also the first athlete to have his number retired in university history, and is a member of ULM’s Hall of Traditions and Hall of Fame.
In 1971, Profit was selected in the first round of the NFL draft as the seventh-overall pick, but the first draft choice for the Atlanta Falcons.
A career-changing injury during his stint with the Falcons gave him a new perception on life and helped turn his focus toward business and higher education.
After graduating from ULM, Profit received a Doctor of Philosophy from Haywood University and an honorary doctorate from Logos Graduate School.
For three consecutive years, “INC.500 Magazine” ranked his company Communications International Inc. (CII) as one of the fastest growing privately held companies in America in 1987, 1988 and 1989.
CII was instrumental in the development of the new telephone communications platform, and as technology advanced, so did the company, as it branched into digital broadcasting. Hence the new company, Multimedia Digital Broadcast Corporation.
Profit was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, the Business and Professional Hall of Fame, and the Institute of American Entrepreneurs as a lifetime member.
He has also been featured in USA Today and Essence Magazine as well as the Money section of The Wall Street Journal.
Profit is the founder, President and CEO of Multimedia Digital Broadcast Corporation.
To purchase “Fields of Success,” visit
www.drprofitfieldsofsuccess.com or Amazon.com
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