[00:02:01]
AND NOT INTO TEMPTATION.GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US HERE TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF YOUR LOYAL AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.
GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US ALL HERE SAFELY.
THIS MORNING, WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THIS CEREMONY.
REMEMBER THE FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES, THE WIFE, THE DAUGHTERS, BROTHERS, SISTERS, AND CHILDREN.
REMEMBER THEM AND BRING YOUR ANGELS BY THEIR BEDSIDE TO COMFORT THEM.
IN THE NAME OF YOUR LIVING SON, JESUS CHRIST.
MION RUSSELL DIXON FOR OUR MUSICAL TRIBUTE
[00:05:07]
HOME.NOT JUST CLOSE BY THROUGH AN OPEN DOOR.
NO MORE MOTHERS TO ME, FATHER'S INTO LOTS OF FOLK HOME.
I'D NOW LIKE TO WELCOME A DEAR FRIEND OF OUR FAMILY, LONGTIME FRIEND OF TEXAS, AND THE MAYOR OF OUR WONDERFUL CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE FOREMAN FAMILY, HIS WIFE, HIS SONS, HIS DAUGHTERS, GRANDCHILDREN, FOR ASKING ME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR GEORGE EDWARD FOREMAN, AFFECTIONATELY CALLED BIG GEORGE.
AND TO OUR OUT OF TOWN GUESTS, PARTICULARLY THE FIGHTERS IN THE ROOM THAT HAVE TRAVELED HERE TO CELEBRATE GEORGE'S LIFE.
[00:10:01]
HAVE SOME BUMPS ON YOUR HEAD, DELIVERED BY GEORGE.YOU KNOW, GOD DOES NOT ALLOW US TO DECIDE WHEN WE LOSE A LOVED ONE, A FRIEND, OR IN THIS INSTANCE EVEN A HERO.
A HERO TO OUR CITY, OUR STATE, OUR NATION, AND THE WORLD.
I STAND BEFORE YOU AS THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND I KNOW I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL HOUSTONIANS TO THANK GEORGE FOR HELPING US BECOME A GREAT CITY.
HE NEVER FORGOT WHERE HE CAME FROM.
AND ALSO, AS A FRIEND IN 19 73, 50 YEARS AGO, AS A YOUNG STATE REPRESENTATIVE, MICKEY LELAND WAS A COLLEAGUE OF MINE.
WE WERE FRIENDS, AND IT WAS VERY SPECIAL THAT MICKEY ASKED ME TO MEET GEORGE FOREMAN FOR A PHOTOGRAPH AND A VISIT.
GEORGE HAD WON THE OLYMPICS IN 68.
HE HAD JUST BECOME THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.
AND HE AND I CHERISH THAT PICTURE MANY TIMES THROUGH THE YEAR.
AND WHAT I REMEMBER MOST CERTAINLY REMAINING IN CONTACT PERIODICALLY THROUGH OUR CAREERS OF ALL THE TRAITS THAT I COULD MENTION, HIS FAITH, HIS FAMILY, HIS BOXING CAREER, CERTAINLY HIS BUSINESS CAREER.
THE ONE THAT STANDS OUT OUT TO ME AS A FRIEND OF GEORGE FOREMAN, HE NEVER FORGOT WHERE HE CAME FROM.
THAT IS SO SIGNIFICANT FOR SOMEONE THAT REACHED SUCH A CLAIM AND WORLDWIDE RECOGNITION.
IT STARTED IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, IN FIFTH WARD, TEXAS, FOR OUR GUESTS FROM OUT OF TOWN, FIFTH WARD'S, ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MILES NORTHEAST OF HERE, HISTORICALLY NEGLECTED COMMUNITY.
AND ABOUT A YEAR AGO, GEORGE CALLED ME.
I'D JUST BEEN SWORN IN AS MAYOR, AND HE SAID, MAYOR, MAYOR JOHN, I WANT YOU TO COME OUT TO THE HOUSE.
'CAUSE I WANT TO DISCUSS WITH YOU HOW WE CAN PARTNER TO GIVE YOUTH ACROSS HOUSTON THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I RECEIVED.
NOW YOU REMEMBER, GEORGE DROPPED OUTTA WHEATLEY HIGH WHEN HE WAS 15 YEARS OLD, GOT A SECOND CHANCE OF JOINING THE JOB CORPS.
IT WAS A GREAT SOCIETY OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN A SECOND CHANCE.
HE WENT TO SAN MARCUS, GOT HIS GED WAS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS OUT THE LET ATHLETIC SKILLS.
SO HE ASKED ME ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WHAT COULD WE DO TOGETHER? HOW COULD WE USE HIS MINISTRY TO ASSIST YOUNG PEOPLE WITH AN EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, JOB TRAINING? IT WAS SPECIAL.
CERTAINLY ANYONE WOULD WELCOME, CERTAINLY THE MAYOR OF THIS GREAT CITY, GEORGE FOREMAN WOULD PARTNER WITH OUR CITY, ALLOW ME TO BE IN HIS PRESENCE TO TRAVEL THIS CITY, MENTOR YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE HE WAS DOING.
AND OF COURSE, HE PASSED TOO SOON.
HE AND I SHARED THE VISION, AND I WANNA PUBLICLY SAY, TODAY, HIS VISION WILL LIVE ON.
I AM COMMITTED TO GEORGE'S VISION ACROSS HOUSTON.
CERTAINLY THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH HE GREW UP.
HIS CHURCH WAS LOCATED IN NORTHEAST HOUSTON, VERY CLOSE TO WHERE HE WENT TO SCHOOL.
SO LET ME JUST ASK EVERYONE PRESENT TODAY, JOIN ME AND CARRYING OUT GEORGE FOREMAN MISSION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, NOT ONLY IN HOUSTON, BUT ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD.
SO LET ME BEFORE I SIT DOWN, WE DID A PROCLAMATION AT THE CITY THIS WEEK.
IT SPEAKS OF HIS SUCCESS STORY, HIS LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY, HIS BUSINESS SUCCESS, BUT REALLY REMEMBERING WHERE HE CAME FROM.
SO I, JOHN WHITMEYER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
[00:15:01]
HOUSTON, DO BY HERE CLAIM.APRIL 14TH IS GEORGE FOREMAN DAY IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON.
MOST OF YOU KNOW ME AS THE OLD BOXING CHAMP.
I WON AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL IN 1968.
IT WAS IN MEXICO CITY THAT I RAISED A SMALL AMERICAN FLAG WHILE REPRESENTING MY COUNTRY.
I WENT ON FROM THERE TO WIN THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1973.
BUT IT WAS IN 1977 THAT I HAD THE MOST DYNAMIC EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE.
IN MARCH OF THAT YEAR, WITHIN HOURS, I WAS TRANSFORMED FROM ONE MAN TO ANOTHER.
YOU SEE, I TASTED WHATEVER YOUNG MAN FEARS MOST DEATH FOR YEARS.
I HAVE PREPARED FOR WHAT ALL OF US WISH TO ATTAIN LONG LIFE.
AND BECAUSE I WANTED MORE THAN OTHERS, I DID MORE LIKE GETTING A GOOD NIGHT'S REST, EATING HEALTHY FOODS, AND EXERCISING FOR LONG, LONG HOURS.
YES, MY LIFE REALLY BEGAN AFTER A BOXING MATCH, A BOXING MATCH IN WHICH I FELT I HAD WON.
NO BOX EVER BELIEVES IT WHEN HE LOSES.
SO AT THAT, I'M NO DIFFERENT
I GOT BACK TO MY DRESSING ROOM THAT NIGHT IN MARCH OF 1977 AND TRIED TO COOL OFF AS I HAD DONE SO MANY TIMES BEFORE.
BUT I COULDN'T THOUGHT OF THE UNBELIEVABLE DEATH ENTERED MY MIND.
I FOUGHT A SOLID FIGHT TO KEEP ALL I'D EVER CALLED MY OWN, MY LIFE.
I WANTED TO LIVE AS MUCH AS ANY OTHER PERSON.
I HAD NOT SEEN ANY OF THE GREAT WONDERS OF THE WORLD.
AT 28 YEARS OLD, ALL I'D EVER SEEN IN RELIGION FROM MY CHILDHOOD, I FELT WAS WEAKNESSES.
SO AS MUCH AS I TRIED, I ALWAYS CAME UP WITH, IT CAN'T BE REAL THOUGH.
I WOULD SAY FROM TIME TO TIME, THERE MUST BE A GOD SOMEWHERE IF HE LIVES, HE HAS GOT TO BE WITH ME BECAUSE I WAS RICH AND THERE WERE SO MANY THAT WERE POOR.
WELL, THAT NIGHT IN THE DRESSING ROOM, I LOST MY FIGHT WITH DEATH.
I HEARD A VOICE WITHIN ME ASK, IF YOU BELIEVE IN GOD, WHY ARE YOU SCARED TO DIE? I WAS AFRAID.
I HAD NOT SAID GOODBYE TO MY MOTHER OR MY CHILDREN.
OKAY? I SAID, I BELIEVE IN GOD, BUT NOT ENOUGH TOO.
BEFORE I COULD SAY DIE, I WAS OUT OF THIS LIFE IN A VISION, IN A SPLIT SECOND.
I WAS DEAD UNDER MY FEET, ABOVE MY HEAD.
AND ALL AROUND ME WAS NOTHING BUT NOTHING.
ALL OF MY DAYS, I HAD PREPARED FOR LIFE.
NO ONE TO HELP ME AS IN LIFE, NOTHING BUT LONELINESS AND HOPELESSNESS.
EVERYTHING I HAD WORKED FOR FOR YEARS WAS AS ASHES CRUMBLING BEHIND ME.
I DON'T CARE IF THIS IS DEATH.
I STILL BELIEVE THERE'S A GOD.
I SAID, THEN I WAS ALIVE AGAIN IN THAT DRESSING ROOM.
THIS TIME I KNEW THERE WAS GOD AND THAT HE HAD HELPED ME.
I DID NOT CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.
IT'S SO HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.
SO I HAVE TO WRITE WITH MY HEART ABOUT WHAT DID AND WHAT HAS BECOME OF MY LIFE.
AND TODAY, MY HOPE IS THAT WITH THESE SONGS, I DECLARE THE LOVE OF GOD.
PLEASE LISTEN TO THE SONGS I HAVE WRITTEN.
WELCOME, FAMILY, FRIENDS, FELLOW MOURNERS HOUSTON.
[00:20:01]
PROBLEM.WE NO LONGER HAVE THAT BROAD BEAMING SMILE.
BUT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT HIS PHILOSOPHY AND HAVING THAT SMILE ALL THE TIME.
I WAS LOOKING THROUGH EARLIER THIS MORNING, A LITTLE BOOK THAT HE WROTE, UH, IN ABOUT 2009 CALLED GOING THE EXTRA SMILE.
GEORGE SAID THAT WHEREVER HE WAS, BE IT ON THE STREETS OF NEW YORK OR LOS ANGELES OR MARSHALL, TEXAS, HE'D TURN AROUND AND SOMEBODY'D BE SAYING, HEY, GEORGE.
HE'D WAVE AND GIVE HIM THE BIGGEST SMILE HE EVER HAD.
HE SAID, INVARIABLY, THE PEOPLE WOULD SMILE BACK AT HIM.
AND THAT'S WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT.
HE DECIDED THAT RATHER THAN BEING THE SCOWLING YOUNGER PERSON, THE FROW HE ONCE WAS, HE WOULD BE KNOWN FOR THAT HAPPY FACE.
AND DID HE EVER MAKE THAT STICK? THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
UH, WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE, UH, HISTORY OF GEORGE.
HE'S, IN MY ESTIMATION, ONE OF THE GREATEST TEXANS HAS EVER BEEN INDEED ONE OF THE GREATEST AMERICANS.
HE WAS A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD, UH, BIG WHEEL.
AND I WERE, UH, TALKING RECENTLY, AS WAS I WITH RED, THAT, UH, THIS IS AN OCCASION NOT ONLY FOR FAMILY, BUT FOR THE WORLD BECAUSE HE BELONGED TO THE WORLD.
BUT LET'S THINK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EARLIER THINGS THAT MADE HIM FAMOUS AND HOW HE WAS ABLE TO, BASED UPON THOSE, BUILD A FOUNDATION TO GO FORWARD AND TO BECOME WHAT I BELIEVE, UH, WHO I BELIEVE WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST AMBASSADORS OUR WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE THE TELEVISION ON TOO LONG OR READ TOO MANY NEWSPAPERS TO KNOW, TO REALIZE THAT THE WORLD INDEED IS FULL OF HICCUPS TODAY, WHERE WE TO HAVE MORE GEORGE FOREMAN, THAT PROBLEM WOULD BE SOMEWHAT MASSAGED.
I CAN'T SAY ERADICATED, BUT WOULD SURE BE BETTER.
HE DEDICATED THE LATTER YEARS OF HIS LIFE IN WANTING TO MAKE A BETTER WORLD FOR EVERYBODY.
I THINK IT'S VERY FITTING THAT HERE ON THE FIRST DAY OF HOLY WEEK THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE THIS HOMEGOING PROGRAM, GEORGE FOREMAN LOVED JESUS.
HE WAS A, A GREAT REBORN CHRISTIAN.
UH, UH, I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE REMIND THAT GEORGE REMINDED ME MOST OF.
AND OF COURSE, WE CAN ALL LOOK TO THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THINK ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF S SAMSON, THE LEADERSHIP OF MOSES TAKING, UM, THE DOWNTRODDEN OUT OF BONDAGE, OUT OF THE WILDERNESS.
I GIVE YOU A LITTLE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT.
LOOK IN YOUR NEW TESTAMENT AND READ A BIT ABOUT BARNABAS.
'CAUSE BARN BUS REMINDS ME OF GEORGE AND PARK, OBVIOUSLY.
ALSO, UH, WE'VE GOTTA THINK IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ABOUT LAZARUS BECAUSE IF ANYBODY EVER HAD A NEAR DEATH AND IN HIS OWN ESTIMATION, A DEATH AND RETURN FROM DEATH EXPERIENCE, IT WAS GEORGE.
UH, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT, UH, HAVE, HAVE BEEN HERE IN OUR WORLD IN THE PAST, UH, UH, SAY 75 YEARS OR MORE, THAT INFLUENCED GEORGE THAT HE, UH, UH, REMINDS ME OF, SUCH AS STARTING BACK WITH FDR FRANKLIN, DELANO ROOSEVELT, MOVING UP TO LYNDON B JOHNSON, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
UH, THERE WERE SO, SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO HELP THE SHORTCHANGED, THE DOWNTRODDEN BY PERHAPS MOVING THAT JAR OF JAM TO A LOWER CHEF, WHERE THE, THE LITTLE PERSON COULD HAVE A TASTE AND BE, UH, GET THE INSPIRATION FOR PERHAPS WORKING TO SEEK WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO HAVE THAT FOR HIMSELF OR HERSELF.
INDEED, GEORGE IMPLEMENTED THAT DURING HIS LIFETIME.
[00:25:01]
YEARS OLD THAT HIS COURSE, UH, UH, WAS NOT THE STRAIGHT AND THERE IT SHOULD BE, AND HE COULDN'T SEEM TO CHANGE IT.HE GRADUATED FROM CHEAP WINE TO CHEAP GIN AND BEATING UP PEOPLE IN THE BLOODY FIFTH WARD ROBBING HIM OF MONEY.
IT BROKE HIS MOTHER, NANCY'S HEART.
BUT THEY SAT DOWN TOGETHER AFTER SEEING, GOING BACK AGAIN TO LYNDON JOHNSON, WHO STARTED A PROGRAM, UH, HERE IN THESE UNITED STATES FOR SUCH DOWNTRODDEN PEOPLE WANTING A SECOND CHANCE, CALLED IT THE JOB CORPS.
HIS MAMA SIGNED HIM UP FOR THAT, AND THAT BEGAN THE TURNAROUND.
UM, HE WENT THE FIRST TIME HE HADN'T SEEN UP CLOSE AN AIRPLANE, MUCH LESS BEEN ON ONE, AND THEY FLEW.
THEY FLEW HIM TO OREGON TO BEGIN THAT PROGRAM.
HE HAD FINALLY MADE UP HIS MIND WHEN HIS HERO, THE GREAT FOOTBALL PLAYER FIRST FOR SYRACUSE IN COLLEGE AND THEN FOR CLEAVER BROWNS.
JIM BROWN, UH, GOT ON TV AND HE SAW THE AD AND SAID, IF YOU NEED A SECOND CHANCE, THIS IS IT.
GEORGE REALIZED HE COULDN'T DO IT ON HIS OWN, BUT THAT HE WANTED TO DO THAT THE FAMILY WAS BEHIND HIM, AND HE PROMISED HIS MOTHER THAT HE WOULD NEVER DISAPPOINT HER AGAIN IF HE WAS ABLE INDEED, UH, TO, UH, COME OUT OF THAT ABBY, IN WHICH HE'D BEEN CAST.
GEORGE WENT ON, AS WE KNOW, TO IN 1968, BECOME THE OLYMPIC HEAVYWEIGHT, EXCUSE ME, THE OLYMPIC, YES, HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, UH, WON THE, UH, THE GOLD MEDAL, DEFEATED THEM, HIGHLY VAUNTED AND MUCH FAVORED.
WENT ON TO, UH, OF COURSE, UH, BECOME THE HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION.
AND LATER ON SOME YEARS, UH, UH, DO SO AGAIN AT THE OLDEST AGE ANYONE EVER HAD.
HE MET WITH THE GENTLEMAN OVER HERE, THE VERY GREAT PERSON AND CHAMPION OF MICHAEL MOORE AT THAT TIME.
UH, FUNNY STORY, UH, LATER ON, EVEN WHEN HE WAS OLDER, 55, HE AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT, HEY, GEORGE.
GOT TO THINK, WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE STILL.
I MIGHT TRY FOR A THIRD COMEBACK.
AT AGE 55, JOAN CUT OUR EYES AT HIM AND DID THIS.
WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, UH, WE CAN BUILD IT UP.
YOU CAN GET ON THE ROAD AGAIN.
YOU CAN START PULLING THE JEEP BEHIND YOU AND YOU CAN START CHOPPING TREES AND YOU CAN GET IN THAT GOOD SHAPE AGAIN.
AND WE'LL ADVERTISE YOU ON TV.
IS HOW MANY PUSHUPS CAN YOU DO IN 10 MINUTES WITHOUT STOPPING GEORGE NOW? NO, NO.
IT'LL SELL BETTER IF WE GET ON THERE AND SAY, HOW MANY CHEESEBURGERS CAN I PUSH DOWN IN 30 MINUTES WITHOUT STOPPING? GEORGE LOVED CHEESEBURGERS.
HE HAD A HUNGER FIXATION EVERY SETS BACK WHEN HE WAS A KID.
AND I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT CHEESEBURGER IN A MINUTE.
PERHAPS EVERY SATURDAY BEFORE LUNCH, WE WOULD HAVE A, A TELEPHONE CALL AND WE'D START OFF TALKING ABOUT HORSES.
I DON'T REMEMBER WHETHER IT WAS WILL ROGERS OR MIGHT HAVE BEEN TEDDY ROOSEVELT OR OR WINSTON CHURCHILL, BUT ONE OF THEM IS GIVEN CREDIT FOR SAYING THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT THE OUTSIDE OF A HORSE FOR THE INSIDE OF A PERSON.
AND GEORGE SUBSCRIBED TO THAT.
HE HAD LIPPY HONORS, HE HAD THOROUGHBRED SADDLEBRED, STANDARD BREAD, TENNESSEE WALKING HORSES.
THAT'S THE WAY WE BECAME, UH, FRIENDS AND KNEW EACH OTHER, UH, OVER A QUARTER CENTURY AGO, WAS BY VIRTUE OF OUR COMMON INTEREST IN THE HORSES.
OUR PHONE CONVERSATION WOULD THEN EVOLVED TO OLD POCKET KNIVES.
HE LOVED POCKET KNIVES AND OLD POCKET WATCHES.
THEN HE'D ALWAYS GIVE ME A, A LESSON, A A BIBLE VERSE OR ASK ME WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS OR THAT.
UM, THIS PARTICULAR SEASON HE ALWAYS LOVED.
WE'D BE TALKING ABOUT US GETTING TIME FOR A TRAIL RIDE.
WE ALWAYS HAD UP AT OUR PROPERTY UP IN EAST TEXAS AND NACODOCHES A, A TRAIL RIDE FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY, UH, ABOUT EASTER TIME.
AND IN OCTOBER, HE LOVED EASTER FOR THE OBVIOUS REASON THAT IT WAS THE TIME OF THE CRUCIFIXION AND THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
UH, GEORGE LOOKED AT IT TO THE, UH, UH, IN THE MANNER THAT HE FELT THAT THE LORD HAD COMPLETED HIS EARTHLY EXPERIENCE.
HIS ASSIGNMENT WAS READY TO GO ON TO HEAVEN, AND HE HAD AN ACRONYM THAT HE LIKED CALLED JOY, THE ACRONYM, THE FIRST LETTER J HE SAID, SHOULD ALWAYS BE JESUS, THE SECOND LETTER O FOR OTHERS, THE THIRD
[00:30:01]
Y FOR YOURSELF.AND THAT'S THE ORDER HE WANTED EVERYTHING TO BE IN.
AND I THINK THAT THAT IS THE WAY HE LIVED HIS LIFE.
HIS OTHER GREAT, ONE OF HIS OTHER GREAT HEROES WAS ROY ROGERS, WHO, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW IF YOU'RE ANYWHERE NEAR MY ADVANTAGE, WAS THE KING OF THE KEY TV COWBOYS.
AND HE HAD A, A SONG THAT HE LOVED TO SING.
HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU AND HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU, GEORGE.
UH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK JOAN AND THE FAMILY FOR ALLOWING ME TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT GEORGE.
GEORGE WAS BOXING WHEN I MET HIM, BUT I NEVER KNEW GEORGE THE BOXER.
I ONLY KNEW GEORGE AS THE MAN.
PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK ME, HOW DID YOU MEET GEORGE? WE GREW UP IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD, SO MOST, OH, YOU GREW UP WITH NO, GEORGE, FIVE YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME.
HE WAS A LITTLE BOY WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.
BUT WHEN I MET GEORGE, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND THAT GEORGE WAS PURE A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND EVEN HE SAYS WHEN HE WAS YOUNG, HE WAS A BAD BOY.
BUT I REALIZED GEORGE WAS NEVER A BAD BOY.
WHEN HE WAS YOUNG, HE WAS A GOOD BOY WHO DID BAD THINGS.
HE SAYS HE WAS CONVERTED, HE WAS NEVER CONVERTED.
HE JUST LEARNED WHO HE REALLY WAS.
HOW DID I MEET GEORGE? GEORGE STARTED GIVING ME MONEY WHEN I WAS DEAN OF LAW SCHOOL.
DIDN'T KNOW HIM, NEVER MET HIM.
WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENT, GEORGE GAVE ME A LARGE CONTRIBUTION TO THE UNIVERSITY.
I CALLED NANCY, THE PERSON THAT I'D BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH ALL THESE YEARS.
AND I SAID, NANCY, I HAVE TO MEET GEORGE.
I HAVE HAVE TO TALK TO GEORGE.
I HAVE TO PERSONALLY THANK HIM FOR ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS HE'S MADE TO TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
AND SHE SAID, THE ONLY WAY GEORGE WILL MEET YOU IF YOU COME TO CHURCH, IF YOU COME TO CHURCH, HE WILL TALK TO YOU AFTERWARDS.
AT THAT TIME, NANCY DIDN'T KNOW THAT I MADE A CONTRACT WITH MYSELF.
AT 19 YEARS OLD, I WALKED OUT OF THE CHURCH.
SO FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, I HAD TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE I DIDN'T LEAVE GOD.
I LEFT THE CHURCH BECAUSE I COULDN'T DEAL WITH ALL THE HYPOCRISY IN THE CHURCH.
BUT I WENT TO GEORGE SERMON, WENT TO THIS CHURCH, HEARD HIM PREACH.
AND SO I WENT BACK THE NEXT SUNDAY, ANOTHER VERY, VERY MOVING SERMON FOR ME.
SO THAT WEDNESDAY MY SECRETARY BUZZED ME.
SHE SAID, GEORGE FOREMAN IS HERE TO SEE YOU.
SAID GEORGE CAME IN AND I SAID, GEORGE, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT ALWAYS IN MY OFFICE.
I SAID, IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M HERE, IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA IF YOU MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
HE SAID, YOU DIDN'T MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WHEN YOU CAME TO CHURCH,
SO THAT'S HOW OUR FRIENDSHIP STARTED.
FIRST, I WANT TO READ SOMETHING SCRIPTURE FROM THE BIBLE.
I KNOW IT'S NOT CHURCH, BUT THIS IS WHAT BROUGHT GEORGE AND I TOGETHER.
NOW, THIS ENCOUNTER THAT JESUS HAD WITH THE PHARISEES IS THAT MATTHEW, LUKE, AND JOHN.
ALRIGHT? I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE MY NAME IS JAMES MATTHEW DUCKY.
[00:35:01]
IN MATTHEW.AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA READ IN 22ND CHAPTER, MATTHEW 36 THROUGH THE 40TH VERSE.
AND ONE OF THE PHARISEES SAID TO JOHN, I MEAN TO JESUS MASTER, WHICH IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT IN THE LORD, JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, THY SHALL LOVE THE LORD, THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL.
THIS IS THE FIRST OF THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS.
AND THE SECOND IS LIKENED TO IT.
THOU SHALL LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS AND ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.
THAT'S HOW GEORGE LIVED HIS LIFE.
AND I REALIZED THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH SAID, WHY DID THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY START JUST COMING TO OUR CHURCH? I STARTED COMING TO THE CHURCH BECAUSE I FINALLY FOUND SOMEBODY WHO BELIEVED LIKE ME.
RELIGION AND CHRISTIANITY SHOULDN'T BE COMPLEX.
LOVE GOD AND LOVE THAT FELLOW MAN.
I KNOW MICHAEL HARRIS ALWAYS TALK ABOUT GEORGE BEING THE THE LOVE MAN BECAUSE HE PREACHED LOVE ALL THE TIME.
THAT'S WHAT THIS LIFE IS ALL ABOUT.
AND GEORGE WAS PURE BECAUSE GEORGE LIVED AND BELIEVED WHAT HE PREACHED.
SO THAT'S HOW GEORGE AND I BECAME FRIENDS.
GEORGE WAS ALWAYS VOLUNTEERING ME TO DO THINGS.
I SAID, NATALIE, I'M BUGGING YOU BECAUSE YOUR FATHER SOMEHOW TOLD EVERYBODY, IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME, YOU GOTTA GO THROUGH DOUGLAS FIRST.
SO EVERYBODY BLOWS ME UP EVERY TIME THEY WANTED SOMETHING FROM GEORGE.
BUT THOSE OF YOU OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN AIDS WAS REALLY BIG, WHEN AIDS FIRST STARTED, IT WAS REALLY RAVISHING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
BUT BECAUSE AIDS WAS FIRST IDENTIFIED AS A GAY DISEASE, MOST AFRICAN AMERICANS STAYED AWAY FROM IT.
SO GEORGE CAME TO ME AND HE SAID, LOOK, HE SAID, I WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE NAACP.
HE SAID, I'M MAKING A LOT OF MONEY AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE OTHER ATHLETES.
I KNOW THAT I'M MAKING A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE, UH, PEOPLE LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING AND THE NAACP.
AND SO I WANT TO CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING TO THE, TO THE NAACP.
SO GEORGE ENDED UP CONTRIBUTING $200,000.
AND AT THE MEETING HE ASKED ME TO READ THIS, AND I'M GONNA READ YOU WHAT HE ASKED ME TO READ.
UH, BUT IT SHOWS WHAT GEORGE WAS ALL ABOUT.
AND IT SAYS, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE STRUGGLE WITH THE USHERING END OF A NEW MILLENNIUM AND CENTURY.
THE EASIEST THING FOR SUCCESSFUL MAN TO SAY IS, LOOK WHAT I HAVE DONE AS IF WE ACCOMPLISHED EVERYTHING BY OURSELF.
AND FOR THE MOST PART, HISTORY IS LIKE THAT.
I TOO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT.
BUT WITH THE HELP OF GOD, MY FELLOW MAN, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WITH THE AID OF THE NAACP, NAACP, ARE AMONG THE BRAVEST OF THEM.
ALL THOSE WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON HOLD, THEIR FAMILY'S IN DANGER AND THEIR LOVE OF AMERICAN FREEDOM FIRST.
SO THAT I, AND SO MANY OTHER YOUNGER BLACK AMERICANS CAN SAY, LOOK WHAT I HAVE DONE TO THE NAACP.
GEORGE GAVE MONEY TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
BUT THE THING THAT BROUGHT ME TO GEORGE WAS HIS LOVE FOR GOD AND HIS LOVE FOR EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH.
[00:40:15]
GOOD MORNING.UM, I'M MADE, AND ANDREAS, AND I'M BEING YOUR FRIEND, UM, HONORABLE MAJOR JOHN WITH MEYER, UH, OFFICERS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THEY'RE MARRIED, YOUR CHILDREN, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS.
GEORGE, LEAVE BY JESUS' COMMANDMENT THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.
GEORGE ABIDED, BY JESUS' DEFINITION OF A FRIEND, GREATER LOVE HAD NO MAN THAN THIS.
THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIEND GEORGE LOVE US AND WAS READY TO GIVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS, FOR YOU ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.
I MET YOURS DURING THE ACE CRISIS AND ACE PATIENCE WERE HIS FRIENDS.
IN JESUS' SENSE OF FRIENDSHIP, HE WAS READY TO GIVE HIS LIFE FOR THEM.
HE ASKED ME ONE DAY, HE SAID, DOC, WHERE DO THEY GET FOOD, WHERE THEY CANNOT WORK? FOOD WAS IMPORTANT FOR GEORGE.
I SAID, IN THE USUAL PLACES, GEORGE BOUGHT LAND AND CREATED THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FOOD BANK FOR AIDS PATIENTS.
WHEN HE HAD THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP, THE REFUSAL FOR A REMATCH GAVE HIM A MILLION DOLLAR IN COURT.
THE NEXT DAY, THE NEXT DAY HE WENT TO MD ANDERSON AND GAVE 1,000,007 DONATED FOR THE ADOLESCENT UNIT IN THE ICU FOR ADOLESCENT PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH CANCER.
AND SOMEBODY ASKED AT THE TIME, GEORGE, WHY SEVEN? HIS ANSWER WAS WHO HE WAS.
HE SAID, STARS GIVE ROUND NUMBERS.
THE GEORGE FOREMAN ADOLESCENT UNIT OF MD ANDERSON WAS BLOOD AND SWEAT GIVEN IN THE SPIRIT OF JESUS' FRIENDSHIP.
OVER THE YEARS, GEORGE TALKED TO THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS, THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS.
HOW DO I KNOW I PLACE THE CAUSE? ANYTIME, ANY DAY.
AND HE ALWAYS BROUGHT HOPE, FAITH, AND LOVE.
AT THE LAST FIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CELEBRATION, A HAND PULLED THE HEAD OF GEORGE TO THE SIDE AND PLANTED A KISS, A GENTLE KISS OF HIS HEAD.
THAT PICTURE TELLS THE STORY, THE BEAUTIFUL STORY OF THESE TWO CHAMPIONS AND WHO THEY ARE.
HE LOVED MY COUNTRY, PANAMA, WALKING OUT OF THE NURSING ROOM, HE HAD THE PRESENCE OF MINE OF OF TELLING ME.
THE REASON I ASKED YOU TO WEAR THAT T-SHIRT IS BECAUSE I WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW
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THAT A MAN FROM PANAMA WAS IN MY CORNER ON AN INTERVIEW LAST YEAR.SOMEBODY SAID, GEORGE, CAN YOU SEND A MESSAGE TO PANAMA AND HIS BEAUTIFUL VOICE? HE SAID, HELLO, PANAMA, THIS IS GEORGE FOREMAN.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH THAT I CAN FEEL YOUR HEARTBEAT.
OH MY GOD, WHEN THAT TAKE GOT TO PANAMA.
EVERYBODY SAID GEORGE, FOR PRESIDENT
THAT WAS GEORGE FOR THE WORLD AND FOR EACH OF YOU.
NOW I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE A MULTIPLE DIVISION WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.
WE HAVE MORE TITLE BELTS IN THIS ROOM.
WELL, I WILL FOREVER BE CONNECTED TO GEORGE FOREMAN.
WE WENT FROM BEING COMPETITORS IN 1994 TO HAVING A RELATIONSHIP BUILT ON RESPECT FOR OVER 30 YEARS, GEORGE IS BOXING ROYALTY, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST, AND A TWO TIME HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION AND ALSO AN INDUCTING INTO THE INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME.
THIS MAN FOUGHT COMPETITIVELY IN FOUR SEPARATE DECADES.
THE OLDER GEORGE SMILED ALL THE TIME.
WE REMEMBER THAT SMILE RIGHT? DO NOT BE FOOLED WHEN THAT BELL RUNG.
WHAT'S SO FUNNY FOR REAL? OH, I'M JOKING.
GEORGE THEN INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO ANOTHER GENERATION OF BOXERS AND FANS.
AS AN ANALYST FOR HBO BOXING, GEORGE WAS A CHAMPION IN LIFE.
HIS FAITH TRANSFORMED A SHY COUNTRY BOY FROM TEXAS TO A, A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN AND A VOICE FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE.
HIS CAPACITY TO REINVENT HIMSELF, LEARN FROM THE PAST, AND REENGAGE WITH THE WORLD SHAPE BOXING AND THE PUBLIC.
FOR OVER 50 YEARS, WE SHOULD ALL LEARN FROM THE LIFE OF GEORGE THAT WE SHOULD ALL LEARN FROM THE LIFE THAT GEORGE LED REST.
NOW IS THE TIME TO SAY TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FANS.
I FOUND THAT OLD SAYING, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE IF YOU ONLY BELIEVE.
HAVING TO LOOK UP ONE DAY SEVERELY OVERWEIGHT, FINANCIALLY DEVASTATED, AND WITH THE HOST OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO SUPPORT, I WAS FAITH WITH THE IMPOSSIBLE.
YOU SEE, MOST OF MY LIFE I HAD BEEN TOLD, YOU CAN'T, YOU CANNOT GET AN EDUCATION.
YOU CANNOT PLAY CERTAIN SPORTS.
YOU CAN'T GET A JOB AND YOU CAN NEVER BE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD.
WELL, IN LIFE, AS HARD AS IT WAS, SOMETIMES I WAS ABLE TO PROVE OTHERWISE.
BUT THERE WERE SOME THINGS EVEN I HAD TO LET GO BECAUSE I HAD HEARD TOO MANY OTHERS SAY, I COULD NOT.
I WAS ORDAINED A PREACHER IN 1978 AT THE CHURCH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
I STARTED PREACHING TO ALL ABOUT THE GREAT LOVE OF GOD.
HOW HE HAD ALWAYS COME TO THE RESCUE OF SO MANY IN OLD TIMES.
AND TODAY AS ALWAYS, HE IS HERE FOR US.
BUT NOW, HAVING TOLD SO MANY WOMEN WHO HAVE TO LONG MARRIAGES AND LOST LOVED ONES, SURE YOU HAVE LOST YOUR LOVED ONES, BUT GOD IS THERE.
GOD IS THERE TO HELP YOU KEEP LIVING.
YOU SEE, AS A PREACHER, YOU MUST SAIL AND SAIL EVERY DAY.
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OLD AND PENNILESS.IT WAS I WHO HAD TO BUY THE PRODUCT I HAD BEEN SELLING FOR YEARS.
YOU CAN GEORGE, EVEN WHEN OTHERS SAID, YOU ARE GOING TO GET HURT, YOU ARE TOO OLD.
WELL, AT THE AGE OF 45, WITH THE HELP OF ALMIGHTY GOD, I BECAME THE OLDEST MAN TO BECOME HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD.
THE MOMENT IT HAPPENED, I FELL TO MY KNEES AND THANK GOD ABOVE.
I SAID, I THANK YOU JESUS FOR WHAT HE HAD DONE FOR ME.
NOW, AS YOU APPROACH LIFE AND THOSE IMMOVABLE WALLS THAT COMES WITH TIME, PLEASE REMEMBER ME, GEORGE FOREMAN.
REMEMBER THAT? I SAID, IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, YOU CAN DO IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT THEY SAY.
I WAS I NOT ONLY I, I I I JESUS CHRIST, MY THE LOVE.
I JESUS CHRIST FOR LOVE THAT HE ME,
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MANY PEOPLE, I JESUS CHRIST JESUS.SO JESUS CHRIST, MY JESUS, JESUS.
THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SET AND ACCOMPLISH MANY GOALS.
AS A TEENAGER, I WAS AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST.
IN THE SPAN OF 20 YEARS, I WAS TWICE THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD.
OFTEN I HAVE BEEN ASKED, WHERE DID YOU GET THE COURAGE, PHYSICAL STRENGTH, AND SPIRITUAL MOTIVATION TO ACHIEVE SO MUCH? TO BE A CHAMPION? THERE ARE THREE THINGS WE ALL NEED.
NUMBER ONE IS FAITH IN THE MAN UPSTAIRS.
BECAUSE WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN FOR ME THE FALLING DOWN ON MY KNEES, EVEN WITH ALL MY FEARS, REQUESTING HIS MERCY.
THAT BIG THING WE ALL HAVE TO LOOK IN MOST EVERY MORNING, WHETHER HALF ASLEEP ARE FULLY AWAKE, WE SEE THE PERSON WHO REALLY CONTROLS OUR DESTINY, KNOWING NO MATTER HOW OTHERS SEE US, WE'VE GOTTA BE CONTENT WITH THE FACE.
WINNING AND LOSING CAN NEVER ASSURE A LASTING SMILE.
BUT SAYING TO THE FACE, YOU SEE, DAILY, I DID MY BEST CAN, OF COURSE, LIKE ANY OTHER ATHLETE, I HAD TO PRACTICE AND PUSH MY BODY TO THE EXTREMES.
BUT TO BE ABLE TO GET OFF MY BACK, REACH FOR THE ROPE AND PULL MYSELF UP TIME AFTER TIME IN LIFE, I NEEDED WORDS.
WORDS THAT I COULD HEAR THROUGH MY LONELINESS.
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WHEN YOU REACH FOR THE STARS SO MANY TIMES, YOU ARE ALONE WITH HEART, DISAPPOINTMENT AND EVEN GRIEF.I NEEDED WORDS THAT WOULD RENEW, REFRESH, AND RESTORE MY VERY SOUL.
NOW WITH THESE SAME SPECIAL WORDS THAT HAVE HELPED ME THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, I HAVE WRITTEN SONGS, SONGS THAT IF YOU LISTEN, WILL HELP YOU AS WELL AS YOUR LOVED ONES.
IF I CAN SHOW HE IS WRONG, THEN MY LIVING SHALL NOT BE IN THE, IF I CAN DO MORE, DO AS A, IF I CAN BRING TO A, IF I CAN SPREAD THAT THE TAUGHT, THEN MY LIVING SHALL I.
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I MY LIVING SHALL, SHALL BE, SHALL NOT.HOW WELL DO I REMEMBER HOW JESUS BROUGHT ME THROUGH? I PRAYED.
I SAID, LORD, WHY DON'T YOU TAKE AND USE ME? THAT'S ALL THAT I CAN DO.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? THAT WAS A SONG MY GRANDMOTHER GAVE TO MY FATHER.
HE WAS GOING THROUGH A HARD TIME.
IT'S NOW I'VE GIVEN IT TO YOU.
MY DAD, DAD WAS, HE'S NOT JUST MY DAD.
HE WAS MY FRIEND AND MY MENTOR.
HE DIDN'T, UH, HE DIDN'T BUILD A, UH, CORPORATION, A TRUE CORPORATION WITH BOARD MEMBERS AND WHATNOT.
HE, HE GRABBED US ALL HIS BOYS, IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GET TO WORK.
I TURNED 16, SIMILAR TO ALL MY OTHER BROTHERS WHO COME OF AGE AND WE THINK LIKE MD ANDERSON OR LIKE TEXAS SOUTHERN.
WE'RE GONNA GET OUR MILLION DOLLARS.
I WALKED IN WITH A BIG SMILE ON MY FACE.
GEORGE SAID TO ME, BOY, WHEN I WAS 16, THAT WAS TAKING CARE OF MY MOTHER.
YOU GONNA BE BATMAN OR BOY WONDER FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE? WALK MY WAY RIGHT OUT OF THERE AND BRING MYSELF TO MY ROOM.
HE CALLED US HIS YOUNG EXECUTIVES.
WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A CHOICE IN THAT.
WHETHER IT WAS DIGGING POST HOLES ON THE RANCH, TRYING TO CATCH RAIN IN AND, UH, TRAIN YOUNG 2-YEAR-OLD HORSES.
IF YOU EVER MET A 2-YEAR-OLD HORSE, MY GOODNESS, CRAIG, YOU KNOW, GEORGE WAS THE SON OF NANCY RE AND JD FOREMAN.
HIS LOVE FOR HIS PARENTS WAS LEGENDARY.
AS HE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH HE LOVED HIS MOTHER AND HIS LOVE FOR HIS FATHER.
WE AFFECTIONATELY CALLED HIM GRANDDADDY.
GRANDDADDY WOULD GRAB GEORGE BY THE HEAD AS A BOY AND SAY, HIT LIKE JACK JOHNSON, STRONGER THAN JACK DCY.
JUMPED BACK 10 FEET AND HIT YOU.
HE BRAGGED ON THEM THE FUTURE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD.
BORN IN POSSUM RIDGE IN MARSHALL, TEXAS.
HE WAS ONE OF SEVEN CHILDREN AND OFTEN TALKED ABOUT THE CHALLENGES HE AND HIS FAMILY FACED.
LIFE WAS A STRUGGLE AND HIS FAMILY MOVED TO HOUSTON FOR A BETTER OPPORTUNITY.
HE USED TO SAY, I WAS SO POOR.
WE COULDN'T EVEN AFFORD THE SECOND
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ORBUT DAD WAS SEARCHING FOR TROUBLE OR TROUBLE JUST SEEMED TO FIND HIM.
YOU ALL KNOW THE STORY OF HIM ROBBING PEOPLE ON THE STREETS IN FIFTH WARD.
BUT WHAT MANY DON'T KNOW IS HE OFTEN ROBBED PEOPLE TO GIVE A LITTLE SOMETHING TO HIS FAMILY, HELP HIS MOTHER OUT.
BUT IT WAS HIS MOTHER THAT SHAMED HIM FROM BEING A THIEF.
YOU KNOW, ONE THING ABOUT OUR FAMILY, WE NEVER HAD ANY THIEVES IN OUR FAMILY.
SHE WOULD SAY, AND GEORGIA LOOK AROUND, WHO'S, WHO'S, WHO TOLD ON ME HIS LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY IN PARTICULAR.
HIS MOTHER SET HIM ON A JOURNEY THAT WOULD TAKE HIM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
THE STORY GOES, HE GOT IN SO MUCH TROUBLE.
GRANDMA AND NANCY HAD HIM ENLISTED INTO THE JOB CORPS.
EVEN HAD THE GREAT DOC, BRODY SAY, GEORGE, YOU DOC, YOU NEED TO COME AND GET HIM.
HE'S DOWN HERE DRINKING AND FIGHTING.
AND DOC CAME AND PICKED GEORGE UP, TOOK HIM BACK TO THE JOB CORPS CENTER AND MADE A, AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST OUT OF HIM.
HE SAID HE GOT THE GOLD MEDAL AND WAS GONNA GO BACK AND GET TO WORK.
AND SOMEBODY SAID, YOU KNOW, GEORGE, YOU KEEP FIGHTING.
YOU CAN MAKE A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND IT WAS THAT LOVE FOR HIS BABY SISTER THAT ULTIMATELY LED HIM TO FINDING GOD OR GOD FINDING HIM.
HIS DEEP LOVE FOR HIS SISTER MARY.
AS YOU KNOW, WHEN HE LEARNED OF HIS SICK NEPHEW, GEORGE EDWARD NAMED AFTER HIM, THAT LED HIM TO A QUICK BRIEF TALK WITH GOD.
HE TOLD GOD, WHY WOULD YOU TAKE THIS KID? HE'S JUST A KID.
YOU GONNA TAKE A LITTLE KID OUTTA THE WORLD? TAKE ME.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? TAKE ME.
HE SAID TO GOD, BOLDLY, YOUR MAN HAD COURAGE.
GEORGE RAISED A LION AND A TIGER.
SO WHEN HE GOT INTO A FIGHT OR GOT INTO A RING, HE KNEW HOW TO STARE A MAN DOWN AND BE UNFLINCHING.
THE MAN WHO LOVED TO STARE DOWN A LION AND A TIGER EVEN SWUNG ON A LION TO SAVE HIS BROTHER.
MY UNCLE SONNY BOY, LOVE, THAT'S THE POWER OF LOVE.
HE BROUGHT A WHOLE ROW OF HOUSES SO EVERY ONE OF HIS COUSINS COULD OWN A HOUSE EXACTLY WHERE THEY WANTED.
ON GAINOR,
HE LOVED HIS MOM AND DAD SO MUCH.
HE CONTINUED TO MOVE THEM AND HIS SISTER TO LIVE WITHIN BLOCKS FROM HIS HOME.
HE TRAVELED, EVEN THROUGH A FLOOD.
WALKED THROUGH A FLOOD ONE TIME HE SAID, I GOTTA FIGURE OUT HOW TO KINGWOOD WAS FLOODED, BECAME A RIVER.
I GOTTA GO GET MY MOM AND DAD AND MADE US WALK THROUGH A RIVER TO GO GET HIS MOTHER AND FATHER NOW.
AND WHILE WE WERE GOING THERE, HE KEPT THINKING, HOW AM I GONNA CARRY GRANDDADDY? 'CAUSE HE'S SO BIG WALK, I MEAN TREADING THROUGH FIRE.
ANTS TEARING ME UP, TREADING THROUGH THE WATER.
GO GET HIS MOTHER AND FATHER THROUGH THE STORM.
WE WERE IN DALLAS, TEXAS, A TERRIBLE HURRICANE AND HIT THE CITY, RIPPED IT TO PIECES AND GEORGE SAID, I CAN'T.
WE LEFT A NICE HOTEL IN DALLAS, CAME BACK TO HOUSTON, AND DEPUTY ROSEN GOT WITH US, OPENED UP THE CENTER, DEVASTATION IN THE CITY LIKE I'D NEVER SEEN.
AND GEORGE OPENED UP HIS BEAUTIFUL FACILITY, UNTOUCHED TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.
HE SHARED DAILY WITH MY SIBLINGS AND I, SO MANY STORIES OF HIS LIFE.
HE WAS A GREAT STORYTELLER, GREAT MUSICIAN.
DAILY STORIES, FULL OF WISDOM, HUMOR, AND GOD'S TRUTH.
HIS VIEW OF LIFE WAS ELEVATED.
HIS LOVE WAS BIGGER, HIS HEART WAS WIDER, DIFFERENT.
HIS LOVE WAS SO GREAT THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON, HE CHALLENGED EVERYONE TO BE KIND BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT WAS THE WAY.
AS MOMS, SIBLINGS, CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, COUSIN, NIECES, NEPHEWS, BROTHERS, SIT BEFORE ME.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU HAVE WITNESSED AND RECEIVED THE GREATEST LOVE, THE ONLY GREATER LOVE THAN THIS IS THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST.
HE'S SITTING NOW AT THE THRONE HAVING A TALK WITH HIS FRIEND JESUS, SEEING HIS
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LOVED ONES.HE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT LIVING RIGHT AND DOING RIGHT SO HE COULD SEE HIS MOTHER'S FACE.
I GUARANTEE THAT'S WHERE HE IS RIGHT NOW.
REST, WELL DAD, WE WILL CARRY YOUR LOVE WITH US.
ALWAYS TAKE ME I I TO THE HEAD PRECIOUS LOVE, AND LEAVE AND LEAVE ME PRECIOUS, LOW HOLD, HOLD MY AND LEAD ME.
GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR GIVING US A GUIDE, A GUIDE IN DISCOVERY OF HOW TO FIND MIRACLES, HOW TO FIND FORGIVENESS.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOW TO FIND LOVE.
WE ASK THAT YOU HELP US TO BECOME THE GUIDE FOR OTHERS.
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WE ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER US FROM HERE.OUR LEADERS, OUR FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES TO LEAVE FROM HERE, INSPIRE TO CARRY ON THE INSPIRATION THAT GEORGE GAVE TO US.
THE INSPIRATION OF LOVE AND INSPIRATION OF FAITH.
GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER US FROM HERE.
HELP US MOVE SAFELY ON EVERYONE REPRESENTED TO HERE, THE FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES.
WRAP THEM IN LOVE AND COMFORT.
BE BY THE WIFE, THE DAUGHTERS, THE SONS, THE BROTHERS, SISTERS, AND COUSINS OF GEORGE.
SHOW THEM THAT HIS LOVE IS THERE WAITING FOR THEM IN ETERNITY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TODAY.
PLEASE REMAIN IN YOUR SEATS WHILE WE ALLOW THE FAMILY TO EXIT THE THEATER.