- Two-time heavyweight champion turned 100M-unit grill entrepreneur
- Ordained minister who founded Houston church in 1980
- Father of 12 including five sons named George
- Donated $1.7M+ to cancer/AIDS causes
Houston’s Wortham Theater Center echoed with heartfelt tributes this week as boxing icon George Foreman was memorialized through stories of spiritual devotion and surprising cheeseburger cravings. The Olympic gold medalist turned grill magnate, who passed at 76, left equal marks in sports history books and community development projects across Texas.
Foreman’s improbable comeback at age 45 against Michael Moorer in 1994 exemplified his tenacity. “That right hand wasn’t just boxing – it was 10 years of sermons made flesh,” recalled Pastor George Foreman IV during the service. The victory made Foreman the oldest heavyweight champion, a record that still stands three decades later.
Industry analysts note Foreman’s grill success (over 100M units sold) revolutionized athlete branding. “He transformed from feared puncher to everyone’s kitchen uncle,” said sports marketing expert Dr. Lila Torres. “The product worked because it mirrored his persona – simple, reliable, family-focused.”
Houston’s Fifth Ward saw Foreman’s quiet philanthropy firsthand. He converted 12 acres near Jensen Drive into a food distribution hub for AIDS patients during the 1990s crisis. “George didn’t just cut checks,” said Dr. Adan Rios. “He personally ensured our adolescent cancer wing had PlayStation consoles because ‘kids need joy to heal.’”
The memorial revealed lesser-known layers, like Foreman’s handwritten sermons discovered in his bible. One note read: “A knockout punch fades – but a grilled cheese sandwich shared with grandkids? That’s eternal.” His unique approach to fatherhood (five George-named sons) sparked both confusion and admiration. “We learned early to answer to middle initials,” joked George V during the service.
Foreman’s 1997 retirement blueprint offers lessons for modern athletes. Unlike peers who chased commentary roles, he invested in Texas ranches and youth boxing programs. “The grill money built six community centers,” confirmed Mayor Whitmire. “That’s the George I knew – always circling back to Fifth Ward.”
As attendees exited to Foreman’s archived voice saying “Do your best, then let God handle the rest,” food trucks served commemorative cheeseburgers – a nod to the champ’s unapologetic love for simple pleasures. His legacy sizzles on in every backyard barbecue where families gather, proving champions aren’t made by punches alone.
