Don Perkins, who played for the Dallas Cowboys and their legendary head football coach Tom Landry, will be a guest speaker at Luna Community College's "A Conversation with the Community," at noon Tuesday at the Allied Health Auditorium in Las Vegas, N.M.

Perkins became the first Cowboy to reach 6,000 rushing yards for the team and was a six-time All-Pro selection.

Perkins was voted the NFL's Rookie of the Year in 1961 and played alongside Don Meredith, Dan Reeves, Craig Morton, Larry Cole, Chuck Howley, Lee Roy Jordan, Mel Renfro and Bob Lilly.

"I never planned on going to college, and I certainly didn't plan on playing in the pros," says Perkins, a native of Waterloo, Iowa. "I grew up in a very modest home. I was prepared to look for a job after high school. Like many poor kids I wanted to get a job and make some money."

As it turned out, the scholarships were few and far between. He eventually ended up playing four years at The University of New Mexico, where he was a three-time All-Skyline selection.

"My expectations were practical, but I always worked hard," Perkins says.

Perkins played in an era where rich contracts were not at a premium.

"I remember I was offered a $1,500 bonus from the Cowboys and a contract for $10,000," Perkins recalls. "The good thing is that, even if I didn't make the team, I would get to keep the bonus."

Not only did he make the team, Perkins became a staple of the Cowboys' prestigious and exclusive Ring of Honor, which includes Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Randy White, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith.

Perkins played eight years and ran for 6,217 yards with 45 touchdowns, but some thought he left the game too early. Not Perkins.

"I saw what happened to athletes if they stayed a little too long," Perkins says. "I remember a great boxer by the name of Joe Louis who stayed too long and stars in the NFL that lost a step that were relegated to kickoffs or punt teams. There's where they put people that are expendable. I didn't need to do that with myself."

After his pro career he worked for CBS Sports as an analyst, but when faced with the prospect of moving to New York City, Perkins chose to stay put in the Southwest.

"I thought about my wife and my four children," Perkins says. "I like the heterogeneous mixture here in New Mexico. It's not white or black in this state. There are so many different cultures and I like that."

Perkins, 70, and his wife raised two boys and two girls, and they have 10 grandchildren. Aside from speaking engagements, Perkins keeps busy by being part of their lives. One in particular, Anthony Perkins, is following in his footsteps.

"He attends school at the University of Colorado and plays defensive back for them. I travel all over the country to watch him play," Perkins says.

The title of Perkins' speech is "A journey through life: Be prepared for the opportunity."

"That's kind of what my life has been — be more than one dimensional and always be prepared," Perkins says. "Just like the time I got a job with CBS. Someone liked the way I talked on the microphone. You never know where life will take you. You have to be ready to step in the door."