A congratulatory letter written May 16, 1984 by then President Ronald Reagan, congratulates legendary boxing champion George Foreman and Marshall native on his honor as grand marshal of the town’s Stagecoach Days Parade. The letter is part of the Harrison County Historical Museum's archives. (Robin Y. Richardson/Marshall News Messenger)

In wake of the passing of East Texas’ own, the legendary George Foreman, Marshallites reflected on his rich legacy as not only a powerhouse world boxing champion, but a gentle giant who loved his family, loved humanity and always remembered home.

“I believe his love and devotion to Marshall as his hometown spoke directly to the kind of heart he had and the kind of man he was — big, humble, kind and generous,” said Gucci Cevik, former owner of the Marshall IHOP where Foreman would frequent whenever he was in town.

“He never forgot where he came from, and that is important,” said Cevik. “Whenever he was visiting IHOP, he was always kind and courteous, and he was constantly joking with the staff and other patrons; he was very generous and friendly with all he came in contact with. He was a regular, and our staff and I were always pleased to see him.”

The renowned two-time world heavyweight boxing champion and Olympic gold medalist died Friday, March 21. He was 76.

Foreman will be missed by the entire community, as many remember the times he returned to his hometown to not only visit home but partake in special occasions, such as the 2019 Greater Marshall Chamber of Commerce Centennial Anniversary Banquet, where he not only graciously served as the special keynote speaker, but also took the time to visit with fans and honor each with a picture.

“Beyond his legendary status and entrepreneurial skills, beyond his wit and humor, it was clear that he was truly a great and God-fearing man,” said Chamber Executive Director Stacia Runnels. “Not only did Mr. Foreman take time to visit and pose with every guest who wanted a photo, but he intentionally waited until the very end of the evening to allow the wait staff and event center employees to interact with him.”

“It wasn’t just an obligatory photo op… he genuinely expressed a love for Harrison County and its residents,” said Runnels. “We are grateful for his local contributions, and extend our deepest sympathies to the family.”

Love for Family

Foreman’s first cousin Shirley Williams Houston said she and his entire Moorehead family in Marshall will miss him dearly.

“It hurt me (to learn of his passing),” said Houston. “George was dear to me, but I think he was dear to all of us.”

Houston’s mother, Verdie Lee Moorehead, and Foreman’s biological father, Leroy Moorehead, are siblings. Houston said she would keep in touch with her cousin regularly.

“He would call me periodically and he was always joking with me,” she said, fondly reminiscing how he’d affectionately greet her as “Baby Girl.” “He was a funny guy. He loved everybody. He loved everybody with a pure heart. And he just had a genuine heart. Everybody loved him.”

Houston said the family has always been proud of Foreman, and amazed at his iconic feat of becoming the world heavyweight champion.

“It was a joy to me,” said Houston. “I wasn’t into his money or how much money he made or what he was doing with it; all I wanted to be was around George, because he was dear to me. He was dear to my heart.”

It was always thrilling, she said, to watch him in his element, boxing. Houston teased she would always know when he was about to go in for the win.

“I used to tell him: ‘George, every time you get ready to knock somebody out, you know how I knew that they were about to fall?’ I said: “It’s because that vein up in your head would pop out and when you reared your fist back, whoop…that was all she wrote for,’” Houston chuckled. “He would say: ‘How did you know that when I didn’t know it?’

“I said: ‘Well, I know every time it happens, you knock ‘em down,’” Houston beamed.

Houston said she always enjoyed conversing with her cousin whenever he was around.

“I don’t care where I would be sitting, he would always come and sit by me,” she reminisced. “We would always talk and talk, and talk. We talked about everything. And I enjoyed his spirit.”

Houston said she would never forget the love shown to her, her late son, and their entire family. She’ll miss their periodical phone chats and the annual family reunions, held frequently at Foreman’s family ranch in Marshall.

“We had family reunions every third weekend in October, every year, on George’s ranch, up until COVID hit,” said Houston. “It was awesome. He was GOOD to us. He did everything for us, and he made sure we had everything.”

She said the family reunions were complete with barbecue, fish and all the trimmings. She said the family reunion at the Foreman ranch was also filled with games. She said Foreman also loved giving the children a tour of his exotic animals and enjoyed taking them joy riding on his buggy as well as fishing.

“We had a good time,” recalled Houston. “And that’s what makes me sad, because I know I’m going to miss that. He was awesome. We are going to miss him. Even when I didn’t know him like I know him now, he would always make sure that he would come around us and make his presence known to us.”

“I loved him a bunch,” she added. “With all my heart, I’m going to miss him.”

Museum Tribute

Tina McGuffin, Harrison County Museum director, said it is just an honor to be able to pay homage to Foreman through the museum’s permanent exhibit. She said Foreman, himself, recently visited a couple of months ago, to take his own tour of his exhibit again.

“He came on a Friday, checking out his exhibit,” said McGuffin. “He was still pleased with it.”

McGuffin said the museum was very honored to have had Foreman play an instrumental role in the opening of his exhibit, which includes artifacts such as one of Foreman’s own championship belts and championship rings.

“I’m so sorry that I missed meeting him because that was on my bucket list,” she shared.

Nevertheless, the museum is continuing to honor the legacy of Foreman with the addition of a tribute wreath to be on display at the museum.

“We’re putting a wreath up and we’re going to ask people on our Facebook page if they have memories or sentiments that they would like to include, if they would let us know,” said McGuffin. “So we’re going to collect those stories, and we’ll add those stories to what we have and then we’ll forward those stories to the family.”

She said the wreath is a pretty special project ongoing as a tribute to the beloved Marshall native.

“We want to be able to acknowledge him as a son of Harrison County, that he is,” she said. “We want to always acknowledge that, because he’s done a lot of good things for this community, he’s done a lot of good things through his youth organization, and he’s done a lot of good things by selling me a George Foreman grill. I still have mine,” she beamed.

Foreman’s love for Marshall also inspired many of his business ventures, such as the online George Foreman’s Butcher Shop, which was said to be inspired by his ranch life in Marshall where he raised everything from turkeys, ostriches, pigeons and birds.

Presidential Recognition

Foreman’s love for Marshall even caught the attention of former President Ronald Reagan, who wrote the heavyweight champion in May 16, 1984, congratulating him on his honor as grand marshal of the town’s Stagecoach Days Parade. In the letter, which is part of the county museum’s archive, the president recognizes it as a special occasion that presents a fine opportunity to bring additional recognition to Foreman’s many accomplishments as an athlete and a citizen. He praised him for being a role model to youth by displaying great dedication and character.

Reagan said Foreman’s life was a living example of what could be accomplished through hard work, determination, and a belief in one’s self and one’s country.

“You bring a renewed sense of hope for a better future to the lives of all who know you,” the president wrote as he congratulated Foreman again on his well-deserved tribute as grand marshal in Marshall’s 1984 Stagecoach Days parade.

Marshall meant so much to Foreman that he decided to host the Texas boxing debut of his son “Monk” here in July 2010. The proud father told the Marshall News Messenger, at that time, that he was happy to share the same platform with his son, and announce his debut in the very same building (the old Chamber of Commerce facility) where he himself announced his rematch fight with Joe Smith Frazier in 1976.

Genuine, Supportive Businessman

Foreman’s former attorney and Marshall resident Sam Moseley said the thing he respected the most about the professional boxer and businessman was his genuine, warm spirit.

“The thing I always think about is the first time I met him we shook hands and his hands were so soft and huge, it was like sticking your hand down in a big pillow,” Moseley fondly reminisced. “My hands just disappeared in his hands. That was the first memory I have of him, the first time we met.”

Moseley, along with his brother, the late Justice Bailey Moseley, represented Foreman when he was purchasing land for his farm. They always appreciated how humble he was.

“He was just a regular person. It wasn’t like dealing with some superstar… although he was one, he didn’t act like one when you think of someone famous,” recalled Moseley.

“You could sit and visit with him,” he said of Foreman. “I did a number of times, just shooting the breeze about people or the weather. He was just easy to sit and talk to and never seemed to be in a huge rush.”

“He never came to my office with any kind of an entourage or any assistance or anything,” added Moseley. Moseley said he always valued the fact that the heavyweight champion revered his hometown so much that he chose to support local businesses by hiring local professionals such as the Moseleys to handle some of his affairs.

Moseley said one of his favorite pictures is of him, his wife and Foreman together, after dinner.

“We just enjoyed a meal together and visited about stuff,” said Moseley. “You could talk to him about anything. He was just a regular person. He would talk about growing up here, and the things he did. He would also talk about an organization he put together down in Houston where kids would go and play athletics. He also had space for them to study and do their homework. He was such an important part of so many kids’ lives.”

Philanthropic Efforts

In addition to supporting local businesses, Foreman, who was also once a Goodwill ambassador for Marshall, always paid homage to his hometown through many philanthropic efforts. He was a generous and devoted supporter of Marshall’s Wiley University, which posted on its Facebook page that Foreman was “an icon whose legacy extended far beyond the boxing ring.”

“Mr. Foreman was a generous and devoted supporter of Wiley University,” Wiley officials stated. “His philanthropic contributions helped transform opportunities for our students, expand our programs, and inspire the next generation of leaders.”

“We are deeply grateful for his unwavering belief in the power of education and his commitment to our mission,” Wiley officials said. “His impact will be felt for years to come.”

Cherished Memories

Gucci Cevik, former owner of the local IHOP, said he highly respected Foreman and cherishes many fond memories of his visits to the Marshall restaurant.

“I knew him as a customer at IHOP, but as everyone knows, all my customers were my friends,” said Cevik.

Cevik noted he always admired how personable Foreman was with people, always taking out time to pause for a photo.

“He came in one day when my son Brandon was there, and was very gracious and accommodating when Brandon asked for a photo with him,” recalled Cevik “That photo is still a treasure to my son and I.”

Cevik said he too, was saddened to learn of Foreman’s death.

“He will be greatly missed by so many family and friends,” said Cevik. “I believe his humble spirit and kind nature made an impact on all he came in contact with. He was a fine man, very gentlemanly, quite generous, and by all accounts, spent his life passing on those traits and mentoring to so many others in so many ways.”

Local realtor and Marshall ISD board member Brad Burris recalled Foreman as an important figure he had the pleasure of encountering in his life, too.

“I was able to meet George several times over the years,” shared Burris. “The first time was in high school. I was working in the summer for Sammy’s Golf Carts. George had ordered a six-seater golf cart to use at his ranch here in town. He had started his boxing comeback and had just fought Tommy Morrison. Just a day or two after the fight, George pulls up to check out his new golf cart.”

“I will never forget it,” said Burris. “I had just watched him fight a few nights before and Big George pulls up to where I was working. I couldn’t believe it. He had sunglasses on, and you could still see the black around his eyes from the fight he had just been in. It is a moment I will never forget.”

Burris also remembers Foreman frequenting the former Jones Brothers Furniture store in Marshall, doing a little shopping for his home.

“Before I got into real estate, I worked at Jones Brothers Furniture. George and his wife Mary shopped there from time to time. Mary came in and bought a few small things one Christmas Eve,” Burris reminisced. “Our delivery guys were busy getting things delivered for Christmas and didn’t have time to deliver these few items to the Foremans that day. I gladly volunteered to take it to them.”

Burris said Foreman was so hospitable when he came to his Harrison County home.

“I pulled into the Foreman Ranch and drove up the house,” recalled Burris. “I knocked on the door, and Big George opened the door. He let me in, I dropped the stuff off and we talked for a few minutes. I asked him if they had big plans for Christmas and he said “No, not really.’”

“I remember thinking I guess everyday is like Christmas in the Foreman family,” Burris chuckled.

The last time Burris said he had the honor of seeing Foreman was at the 2019 Chamber banquet.

“He was the guest speaker and everyone was excited to meet him,” said Burris. “He talked about how special Marshall was and how proud he was to be from here. He stayed afterwards to take pictures and sign autographs for anyone that wanted one. He made jokes and smiled for every picture, showing off his infectious smile.”

Burris said his favorite memories of the champ, as it relates to his connection to Marshall, is hearing stories about the Marshall native’s fight against Ali and Frazier.

“He always spoke highly of Marshall and came here often to be at his ranch,” said Burris. “I have heard many stories over the years of people running into him or being invited to watch him train out at his house. Marshall was important to him, and he wanted people to know that this was his hometown.”

Burris said he was saddened to hear of Foreman’s death.

“I wasn’t expecting to hear that news,” he said, sharing how shocked he was. “I immediately told my wife, text several friends and my parents. I was really sad to hear that he was gone.”

“He was truly a larger than life figure,” added Burris. “His story of growing up poor and literally fighting his way out of poverty and to the top of the world is one of true perseverance.”

Burris said not only was Foreman a great boxer, but he was a great man.

“After his encounter with God in the late ‘70s, he was never the same again,” said Burris. “He took that experience and his platform in boxing to tell the world about Jesus. His rise to being the heavyweight champion again at the age of 45 is one of, if not, the greatest comeback stories of all time. All of that is why George Foreman will go down as one of the most well known figures in history.”

Burris said Foreman, affectionately known as “Big George” will be remembered as a fun loving, God-fearing family man from Marshall, Texas that just happened to win an Olympic Gold Medal and two Heavyweight Championships.

“I am honored to have shared in a small part of his life,” said Burris. “He is one of Marshall’s finest and he will be remembered forever.”