Editor's note: Where Are They Now? is a weekly feature catching up with former athletes from the Longview News-Journal's coverage area.

AUDRAY MCMILLIAN

Age: 45

High school attended: Carthage, Class of 1980.

College attended: University of Houston, Class of 1984, business technologies major.

Current job or profession: Founder of New Choice Builders Inc. in Houston. McMillian started it in 1992 to provide affordable single and multifamily residences. The company expanded to commercial construction in 2000.

Family life: Married 23 years to high school sweetheart Lisa, who is also from Carthage. The couple has two sons, Michael (19) and Zachary (16).

Why you remember him: McMillian was an all-everything quarterback for the Carthage Bulldogs before starting at quarterback as a true freshman at Houston. McMillian was MVP of Houston's nationally-televised game against SMU. A couple of shoulder injuries prematurely ended his first two seasons, but McMillian, who also played safety in high school, moved to the secondary for his senior year at Houston.

The New England Patriots drafted McMillian in the third round of the 1985 NFL Draft, but released him in camp. The Houston Oilers picked him up, and he played there for four years before playing for the Minnesota Vikings the rest of his career. McMillian was a 1992 Pro Bowl selection when he led the league with eight interceptions. He played five seasons in the NFL without an anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees, and the removal of a torn meniscus in his knee ended his nine-year career in 1994.

TWO-MINUTE DRILL

Q: How difficult was moving from quarterback to defensive back as a college senior?

A: It was a pretty simple move based on the fact that I played safety in high school. I knew how to play it because I had played it before. Going there from quarterback wasn't that difficult.

Q: How did you feel when you realized you would play in the NFL?

A: It wasn't anything I had dreamed about growing up as a kid. It was just something I was able to do. I played here (in Houston) in college and had the opportunity to go to a few combines. I worked hard to be able to play. But getting my education was the main thing I wanted to do. I wanted to try to get a degree, and after getting that in 31/2 years, football was something I could focus on while I still (had eligibility).

Q: What memories do you have of playing at Carthage?

A: I have a lot of fun memories playing there. The 1979 season was probably the most enjoyable season. That's when we pretty much began to turn things around, and that was also my senior year.

Q: What's your best memory from playing pro football?

A: The year I led the league in interceptions and was selected to the Pro Bowl probably has to be my best memory.

Q: What sparked the transition from the NFL to the construction business?

A: I got into the construction business to create multifamily housing in the inner city. I owned 252 units in the city, and one year they had an initiative in the city to build housing. We put together a group of people to get this done, and working through that group we formed the company. (The initiative) to build quality, affordable homes in the inner city was part of a major redevelopment plan. After I got out of football, I started getting involved in real estate investment.

Q: Do you ever make it back to Carthage?

A: Yes, quite a bit. We go to visit my mother and father since they still live there.