Tressel Invited to State of the Union by Former Player

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel will attend the State of the Union tonight as the guest of U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, R-16 Ohio, is in his first term as a congressman, representing an area that includes Wooster, Wadsworth, Middleburg Heights and Rocky River. He played wide receiver at Ohio State University under Tressel for three years. During that time he was also an Academic All-American as a philosophy major.

After five seasons in the NFL, Gonzalez enrolled in the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2012, eventually earning a master’s of business administration.

The decision to invite Tressel is a sign of gratitude, according to the Columbus Dispatch, which first reported the news. Gonzalez has said many times that it was Tressel who encouraged him to run for office and served as a mentor after his days at Ohio State.

With Tressel’s appearance, the Mahoning Valley will have four representatives at the State of the Union address. Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown is attending as the guest of U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, UAW Local 1112 President Dave Green as the guest of U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-13, and East Liverpool police officer Chris Green as guest of U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-6.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.