Bubba Paris is remembered by many for his role in helping the San Francisco 49ers secure three Super Bowl titles.
The 61-year-old Tracy resident and retired offense lineman is still tackling challenges.
But instead of stopping NFL opponents from getting near quarterback Joe Montana he is working to help the homeless get off the streets in Tracy.
Paris is also motivating countless others through talks and a book he authored to learn how to be winners in the game that counts — life.
Paris is one of 50 authors that will be on hand for the 10th annual Great Valley Bookfest this Saturday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Orchard Valley Shopping Center at Union Road and the 120 Bypass in Manteca.
The book festival is an opportunity for authors and book lovers to join together in a festive environment. At the Great Valley Bookfest, you can mingle with your favorite authors, discover new ones, or pick up that book you have been dying to read.
There are vendors as well plus food booths, as children’s activity area and more.
More information is available at gv.bookfest.org
Paris’ book “Born for this Moment” was forged from the trials and tribulations that set the stage for him to go from a kid growing up in Louisville, Kentucky to stepping onto the field in Super Bowl XIX.
Paris recalled much of his childhood being taunted for being the overweight kid.
“There was a time when I would have given anything to be a normal kid,” Paris said,
In looking back, he realized had he gotten his wish there would never have been All-American kudos as a University of Michigan football player, second team Academic All-American honors, three Super Bowl rings as a San Francisco 49er or even to where he is today serving as executive director of the Tracy Community Connections Center.
“Everyone is born for a purpose,” Paris said. “You just have to find what it is.
His book uses his life experiences as a way of helping readers along their own journey. As such it is designed as a guide to go back and pick up again when one encounters disappointments or experiences frustrations on their journey to find their purpose in life.
“The knowledge that I gained as I navigated through the obstacles of my life can help you navigate through yours,” Paris noted. “Even though you may be at a different place in your journey, this book will help you understand the significance of your decisions and actions.”
“The true gift is not the trophy,” Paris said.
Instead, it is “whatever you are going through life to prepare you for your moment.”
The left tackle who donned the red and gold No. 77 jersey to help the 49ers secure Super Bowl titles in 1984, 1988 and 1989 wants others to find the purpose in life they were born to pursue. Paris hopes to help people understand it is not the moment that defines them as much as how they got there.
And if they do it right they will benefit from — as well as help others — through little gestures of reaching out to others. Even a fleeting moment that one may not recall or even realize when they touched the lives of complete strangers can come full circle.
“It’s about planting seeds in the world,” Paros said.
Paris noted as one gets older you have the ability to put into context the adversity and challenges you dealt with and how it helped you navigate through life.
As such Paris believes you will have the ability to make a dynamic difference in the lives of others.
“You should do it (live life) as though you have a divine purpose,” Paris said.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
