Bo Jackson was one of the anonymous donors who paid for the funerals of the 19 children and two teachers killed in the Uvalde school massacre in May.
In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Jackson said that he felt compelled to support the families of the victims after the loss of so many children.
Jackson said he doesn't know if it's because he's getting old. Parents should not bury their children. It doesn't make sense.
Every family there is likely to work hard just to do what they are paid to do. They didn't need to shell out a lot of money for something that shouldn't have happened.
Jackson feels a personal connection to the city he's traveled through many times. Uvalde has been a stop for a bite to eat before a long drive to visit a friend's ranch on hunting trips.
His familiarity with Uvalde's Main Street, leafy town square and the people he'd met on those stops touched his heart when he heard about the Robb Elementary shooting. A Texas House investigative report blamed the school district and law enforcement for the attack because they took too long to enter the classroom.
Jackson and a close friend flew to Uvalde and presented a check for $170,000 to the governor.
During a May 27 news conference, Abbott said it was an anonymous donation.
He said that they did not want media. Nobody knew we were there.
Jackson said he hasn't kept it a secret, but he hadn't spoken about it until this week.
Uvalde is a town that stays in your head. Jackson said just the name. I don't know anything about that place. I just felt it touch me.
The friend who went with Jackson contributed to the donation as well.
Local funeral homes said they wouldn't charge families for services after raising millions of dollars for families. Jackson's donation was an early point of light.
Jackson's money was quickly directed to cover funeral costs through OneStar, a nonprofit created to further volunteer and community service in Texas.
Abbott said that Americans are lifting up one another in times of need and hardship. Bo covered all funeral expenses for the victims' families so they wouldn't have to worry about it as they grieve.
Jackson did not say if he had been in touch with any of the families.
Jackson urged America to stop all the nonsense on the day of the shooting. Pray for the victims. Say something if you hear anything. Our children are not supposed to be buried. I am praying for all of the families who have lost a loved one to gun violence. This can't keep going.
Jackson said only that he wrote what he meant when he said this couldn't continue.
I don't want to turn this into something else. Jackson said he was just trying to put a little sunshine in someone's cloud.
He noted that there was a lot of mass shooting in the country.
He said that the last thing you want to hear is that there is an active shooter in the school. It's happening all over the place.
Jackson's first large scale act of philanthropy was Uvalde. After tornadoes killed nearly 250 people in Alabama, he started an annual bike ride to raise money for disaster relief. He donated to Uvalde in response to the shooting.
The children are at fault. The children are the ones who are at fault. Jackson paused before every repetition to gather himself. Something is wrong with you if it doesn't bother you.
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