MADISON, Wis. -- Liberian immigrant Mansfield Neblett told the Secret Service if he couldn't wear his cheesehead hat to see President Barack Obama's speech, he wasn't going to come.

He made it to Obama's speech, hat and all.

Neblett said the Secret Service determined the hat, frequently worn by Green Bay Packers fans, wasn't a security risk and let him keep it.

He was easy to spot in the crowd of about 500 waiting for the president to speak in the gymnasium of a Madison middle school.

But just before Obama took the stage, Neblett said someone representing the president took the hat and said she would get it signed by Obama.

Neblett got it signed by Obama. He said he intends to sell it on eBay and put the money he makes back into his construction business.

The 46-year-old Neblett said he was wearing the hat because he owes it to the state.

Neblett immigrated to the United States seven years ago from Liberia. His 14-year-old daughter Jennifer is a seventh grade student at the school where Obama spoke about education reforms.