Each year, the senior class looks forward to hearing about their graduation speaker. This year’s speaker is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Graduation speaker Garry Cobb graduated Stamford High School in 1975 as an All-American football, baseball, and basketball player. After high school, Cobb played baseball and football at the University of Southern California for two years. While at USC, he was a member of the National Championship team and on two Rose Bowl Championship teams. While on the football team, he was initially an outside linebacker and later became a defensive end.

Cobb graduated USC with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology. After graduating, Cobb decided to play in the National Football League despite being offered baseball contracts with the California Angels and the Chicago Cubs. Cobb was picked 274th overall in the ninth round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys but was waived in August. In October of that year, he signed as a free agent with the Detroit Lions, and he became a full-time starter in 1981. Cobb helped the Lions make it to the playoffs in 1982 and 1983 as the Lion’s three-time defensive captain. In 1985, Cobb was traded to the Eagles, and in 1988, he signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys. Unfortunately, he was cut in 1989 after missing most of the season due to a knee injury.  

After retiring from football, Cobb became a radio talk show host in Philadelphia. Cobb was also a sports anchor and reporter on CBS for eight years. He then created GCobb.com to write about Philadelphia sports and it quickly became one of the most popular websites in the area.

Cobb has been praised for his extensive community involvement. He volunteers for the Chaplain’s Office at the Youth Study Center in Philadelphia, which provides shelter for young kids who have been arrested and are waiting for their court dates. In 2002, Cobb was honored by President Bush for his work with troubled kids. Currently, Cobb is on the Board of the Caring People Alliance of Philadelphia and helps to oversee community centers and the Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia. In 2007, Cobb co-wrote the book, Don’t Be Clueless, to help adults and teenagers find meaning in their lives, learn how to prepare for their careers, and take responsibility for their actions.

Cobb later moved to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and in 2014, he ran for the Republican nomination for New Jersey’s first congressional district. Cobb won the Republican nomination but lost the election for the US House of Representatives. Cobb is still living in New Jersey with his wife, Gwendolyn, and has three children, Allie, Garry II, and Allyse.

We look forward to Cobb sharing his stories and advice with our seniors at graduation on June 20.