Curtis Frazier – From Gridiron to Pig Iron…

Curtis Frazier – Quality Inspector, Professional Football Player, and Friend.

Mr. Curtis Frazier, a Quality Inspector for many years in the metal fabrication industry, and employed most recently by Metaltech Products, Inc. for the last seven years, retired recently.

Metaltech employees gathered in his honor to celebrate his accomplishments not only as a co-worker, but as a friend.

We all wish you the best of luck in the next chapter of your life Curtis!

The Curtis Frazier Story – #43 Defensive Back for the 1968 Cincinnati Bengals

The below story is from Metaltech’s archives of past employee newsletters. It is from the year 2009 when Metaltech had asked Mr. Frazier to write an article about himself for an employee spotlight section. We believe you will find this to be an interesting and inspiring read about life, goals, and especially faith:

Hi!

My name is Curtis Frazier, or as I am called around here by some, the “Old Man.”  I don’t mind being called an old man, because I am (smile).  Being that, an “old man,” says that I have been around a while, been many places and had many opportunities.

One such opportunity I received in this life, through God’s grace, was that I played professional football with the 1968 Cincinnati Bengals!

When I was 12 years old, I saw a professional football game on TV and decided that was what I wanted to do in life.  It fascinated me and I just knew that it was something I could do well.  I remember asking my teacher what I had to do to become a professional athlete.  He told me that if I studied hard, got good grades, played sports, and went to college, perhaps I would get drafted by a pro-team.

That set my course. 

From that time on [about the 5th or 6th grade] I was on a mission.  I did what that teacher suggested-got good grades, played football in high school and junior college.  During that time, I received “The Most Improved Player” trophy in high school as well as second team All Conference while in junior college.  Though excited about these accomplishments, they were just precursors to my dream.  Because I was successful in football, I received a scholarship to attend Fresno State College where I played well enough to receive Honorable Mention All Conference.

After my senior year at Fresno State, I got a chance to try out as a free agent with the San Diego Chargers.  I was one of the last players to be cut before the regular season opener.  They offered me a position on the Taxi (or Practice Squad as they call it today).

I was given some bad counsel from a veteran player and refused the offer. Needless to say, that was a bad decision and quite a learning experience.  I continued to workout and practice.  I even played with a semi-pro team that season in Sacramento, California.Still not giving up, I continued to work out and practice on my own.  Tom Bass the ex-defensive back coach of the San Diego Chargers and the director of player personnel Al Localsal, were working with Paul Brown [Hall of Fame coach for the Cleveland Browns] putting together an expansion team called the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Cincinnati Bengals

They remembered me from San Diego and offered me a contract with the Bengals.  Needless to say, I accepted their offer.  I spent the summer working hard before and during training camp.  I had a good preseason and made the team!

I had achieved my goal.

I was a backup defensive back and a special team’s member.  I was so excited! I couldn’t believe it……but that’s a whole new story.  I will stop here, but the moral to this story is that dreams can come true!  By applying oneself in the direction of your dream, and with God’s help you can achieve it!

                                                                                                           – Curtis Frazier

1968 Cincinnati Bengals Roster