Boyd honored in Central weight room

Valley Stream Central High School has had no shortage of distinguished alumni in its more than 80 years of molding young students, but it would be tough to find a graduate who has done more for the school than former NFL linebacker Stephen Boyd.

Although Boyd graduated Central in 1990 and had a solid football career, first at Boston College and then with the Detroit Lions, he never forgot where he came from. He routinely donates his time, money and wealth of knowledge to make Central a better place for current students. For that, Boyd was honored in Central’s newly expanded and renovated weight room on May 22 in front of family, friends, coaches and Central athletes.

There were several speakers during the event, including Principal Dr. Joseph Pompilio, who also played the role of emcee. Pompilio and others who know Boyd all characterized him as a humble man who understands the importance of hard work and dedication. With roughly 20 current student-athletes in attendance, Pompilio said it was important for them to learn from Boyd’s example.

Sophomore Kendall Jones, a three-sport athlete, said she is in the weight room year-round and the new facility, which opened earlier in the school year and is about double the size of its predecessor, will be used by just about everyone at Central. “It’s evident that he’s a humble man,” she said of Boyd. “He doesn’t talk about his accolades, but look where he got. If we all work hard in the weight room, on and off the court or field, we can become something just like him.”

Boyd was a three-year starter and two-year captain of the football team, and helped lead the Eagles to the 1989 Nassau Conference II championship. After playing four seasons at Boston College (another team named the Eagles), Boyd was picked in the fifth round of the 1995 NFL Draft by the Lions. In his six-plus seasons with Detroit, Boyd led the team in tackles four consecutive years before retiring in 2002 due to chronic back pain.

After Pompilio read a plaque about Boyd that will be posted in the weight room, Boyd, the head football coach at Chaminade High School in Mineola, gave the student-athletes some advice.