George Foreman, R.I.P.

The heavyweight knockout artist people in the boxing world

nicknamed "Big George", breezed to a gold medal in the

1968 Olympics then won the world heavyweight boxing title

twice, and did the latter in two separate stages of his storied 

boxing career --- he retired once, then came back after twenty 

years thinking he still had lots left in his tank (he was right!)

and won the heavyweight title for the second time. Both 

victories were by knockout, and the second came when

Foreman was 45! 

Big George was a man of many things: boxer, businessman,

preacher, entrepreneur, and pitchman for his George Foreman 

grill (designed to "Knock the fat out!"). and a patriot, waving 

the U.S. flag all about the ring after knocking out his opponent

from the U.S.S.R. in the championship round of the Olympics 

and answered why he waved the American flag after winning

the bout "How could I not?". Never a political animal, 

he celebrated his gold medal victory because he was simply

proud to be an American and to have honored his country

with his winning performance; before his ring success he

was a street thug who often ran afoul of the law. Boxing was 

his way to a better life.

Along the way he did some acting on TV shows, once in a 

cameo role on Sanford and Son, also in The Six Million Dollar

Man and was a guest on several talk shows. He was even a 

contestant on the game show "The Dating Game"! What is more,

is he was a much-in-demand public speaker; your admiring Peasant

attended one of his talks when he came to Milwaukee a few years

ago.

Foreman also had a ranch which was home to many different

kinds of animals, including alpacas. And he was a most generous

philanthropist. 

Big George went to his final reward on March 21, at the age of

76. He is reunited with some of the other heavyweight champions

and luminaries whom he fought, defeating most of them ----

Joe Frazier, Ron Lyle, Ken Norton, and Muhammad Ali

(who knocked Foreman out in the "Rumble in the Jungle", the only

fighter who could accomplish this feat) to name a few.

And he left a legacy of excellence in everything he did, including

excellently serving and saving souls. Requiescat in pace.

MEM