OMAHA, Neb. -- Former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers
is hoping for a full pardon 37 years after robbing a Lincoln gas
station.
The ex-Nebraska football star has thought about seeking a pardon
for years, but he decided to move forward after considering limits
on felons in business ventures, Rodgers' lawyer said Tuesday.
Rodgers starred on two national championship teams for the
Huskers and played in the Canadian Football League and the NFL.
He plans to open a sports bar in Omaha -- Jets All Sports Bar and
Grill -- with partners in his corporation, Jets, Inc.
Rodgers, 56, said the restaurant would hold community events and
showcase memorabilia and photographs of prominent athletes and
entertainers, including those with ties to the state.
But Nebraska law prevents businesses from obtaining a liquor
license if a convicted felon owns 25 percent or more of the
business, according to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission.
Rodgers was convicted of grand larceny in 1971 for the robbery
and sentenced to probation.
He was also convicted in San Diego in 1987 of assault and
illegal gun possession for an incident involving a cable television
repairman who was disconnecting service to his home. The assault
conviction was reversed on appeal, but Rodgers served three years
of probation for the gun charge.
The California gun conviction would not affect Rodgers' ability
to own more of the Nebraska bar, said his attorney, Michael Kelley.
"He had wanted to do it (seek a pardon) for a long time, and
this just gave him a legal reason as to why he should seek it,"
said Kelley, who said he advised Rodgers to apply for the pardon.
On Tuesday, a pardon application had not yet been submitted to
the Nebraska Board of Pardons. Kelley said he was filling it out
and obtaining documents to accompany it and said he did not know
when he would submit it.
After the application is made, the board could consider it
during one of its meetings or schedule a hearing.
The Pardons Board is composed of Gov. Dave Heineman, Attorney
General Jon Bruning and Secretary of State John Gale. It meets
every six to eight weeks and holds hearings quarterly.
Gale will not comment before Rodgers' pardon application is
submitted and considered, but the former wingback won't get special
consideration because of his celebrity, spokesman Ron Moravec said.