Sooner Born Sooner Bred
1/26/2006, 10:43 AM
Posted on the football board, but in case you don't look there. This broght tears to my eyes.
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Some people might have heard this story already, but it shows the truly positive side of college athletics and how former SOONERS realize how important it is to give back.
The purpose of these OU Houston Update e-mails is to provide Houston Area Sooners with information about OU activities in this area, so you can be aware of and attend some of the listed events. Occasionally I deviate from this objective. Here is such a case. Because this is such a personal story, I had reservations about sharing it with a larger audience. However, the family of the person involved is so grateful of what occurred that they not only gave permission to tell the story but also to use their names. I feel this important story should be shared with the Houston OU Community.
In today's world rarely can we pick up a newspaper or turn on television without hearing of some athlete's misbehavior. The following involves four of OU's greatest football players and an unselfish act of kindness that should set a positive example for all former and current athletes. As I said above, I strongly believe this story should be shared with the Sooner Family.
Late last week I received a phone call from the Lynn Balint, who is an OU graduate and a teacher living in Sugar Land. Lynn explained to me that a fellow teacher in Sugar Land and also an OU graduate, was suffering from Lou Gherig's disease (ALS). As many of you know, this disease is always fatal, unfortunately destroying the body but leaving the mind unaffected. The person Lynn was calling about was Marian Renee (Doublin) Wallace who was only 57 years old. Her 58 birthday would have been on February 1. Renee's condition had so deteriorated that she would probably not live to see her birthday.
Renee, who was born in Tulsa, was a huge OU fan. She cheered the Sooners in all sports, but was especially enthusiastic and knowledgeable about OU Football. On Friday, January 13, the family and a few friends were planning a final get together at Renee's bedside to celebrate her birthday and her life. Even though this would be a special moment for the family, Renee was such a fan that the family believed that if a former player could come by it would be appropriate because of Renee's love of the Sooners. Lynn had heard that there were several former OU football players living in Houston, and she was told to call me to see if possibly a former player could be present at the family's final get together with Renee. I told her I would check with several players and get back to her as soon as possible.
Like a miracle, five minutes after speaking with Lynn, Billy Sims called me from Dallas to remind me of a luncheon he would be attending in Houston for the Can Academy on Friday. I told the story to Billy and asked if he could stay over Friday afternoon and visit Renee in Sugar Land. Billy not only agreed to change his scheduled return flight to Dallas, but also told me "How important it is for players to give something back to their fans". After talking with Billy and receiving his positive response, I decided to phone Spencer Tillman, Daryl Hunt, and George Cumby, three other great Sooner All Americans living in the Houston Area. All three showed the same enthusiasm as Billy and agreed to visit with Renee. Daryl Hunt added "this is what it is all about".
Late Friday afternoon, Jerry Sheets ( a former OU Club of Houston President) and I drove Billy to Sugar Land, where we met Marilyn Turner, a Sugar Land resident and OU Club of Houston Director, Daryl, Spencer and George. Spencer also brought his young daughter. Lynn then escorted us to Renee's condominium home.
When we entered her home, we were warmly greeted by Renee's mother Mina, her sister, daughter, son, and about 10 other family members and friends. As soon as we walked in the living room we knew that we were in a Sooner home, as there were OU pictures and memorabilia everywhere. Renee was in her bedroom which was located directly off the living room. Each of the players then took turns going into her bedroom, where they introduced themselves and spent time visiting with her at her bedside. It was an emotional experience for everyone, but the players handled it very well. After each player had spent time with Renee, George Cumby, who is a minister, suggested we form a circle around her bed where he led us in a special prayer. Shakespeare could not have written a more beautiful and appropriate prayer, as George spoke that this should not be a room of sadness, as this gatheri
After the prayer, the family and players moved into the small living room where the players gave them a copy of the book What it Means to be a Sooner signed by each of the players as well as a signed copy of the DVD of The OU Club of Houston's Switzer Weekend. There were hugs all around as the family and friends thanked the players for taking time off from their busy schedules to spend a few precious moments with a complete stranger who was a tremendous OU fan who happened to have her life shorten by a terrible disease.
Several hours after the visit by the players, Renee went into a coma and she passed away four days later. At a standing room-only memorial service held for her this past weekend in Sugar land, her mother identified the players for their unselfish act in being with her daughter during her last few conscious moments. She continued that the family was so grateful because she knew how much this meeting meant to Renee.
During the past few days, the OU Alumni Office in Norman has received a number of e-mails from Renee's friends, fellow teachers and former students, one from as far away as Georgia thanking the University for the actions of these players. Non of them were from people who attended OU, but they all knew what this meant to Renee.
My reason for sharing this with the OU Community was not for any publicity associated with the players' visit, but to show the character of these four former Sooner athletes. While Billy, Spencer, Daryl and George were great heroes on the playing field, their act of kindness that day made them even greater heroes when it comes to what is really important in life. Their visit with a fan, unknown to them, also proves that a strong Sooner Family Spirit continues. Their actions should be held up as a role model for all athletes-former, current and future. Billy, Spencer, Daryl and George have made me even more proud to be a Sooner.
Touching Story Showing OU Football Players Class Reply (http://www.soonerfans.com/forums/('compose.asp?sid=895&fid=429&style=2&rid=67442210&tid=67442210&Reset=-1');")
Some people might have heard this story already, but it shows the truly positive side of college athletics and how former SOONERS realize how important it is to give back.
The purpose of these OU Houston Update e-mails is to provide Houston Area Sooners with information about OU activities in this area, so you can be aware of and attend some of the listed events. Occasionally I deviate from this objective. Here is such a case. Because this is such a personal story, I had reservations about sharing it with a larger audience. However, the family of the person involved is so grateful of what occurred that they not only gave permission to tell the story but also to use their names. I feel this important story should be shared with the Houston OU Community.
In today's world rarely can we pick up a newspaper or turn on television without hearing of some athlete's misbehavior. The following involves four of OU's greatest football players and an unselfish act of kindness that should set a positive example for all former and current athletes. As I said above, I strongly believe this story should be shared with the Sooner Family.
Late last week I received a phone call from the Lynn Balint, who is an OU graduate and a teacher living in Sugar Land. Lynn explained to me that a fellow teacher in Sugar Land and also an OU graduate, was suffering from Lou Gherig's disease (ALS). As many of you know, this disease is always fatal, unfortunately destroying the body but leaving the mind unaffected. The person Lynn was calling about was Marian Renee (Doublin) Wallace who was only 57 years old. Her 58 birthday would have been on February 1. Renee's condition had so deteriorated that she would probably not live to see her birthday.
Renee, who was born in Tulsa, was a huge OU fan. She cheered the Sooners in all sports, but was especially enthusiastic and knowledgeable about OU Football. On Friday, January 13, the family and a few friends were planning a final get together at Renee's bedside to celebrate her birthday and her life. Even though this would be a special moment for the family, Renee was such a fan that the family believed that if a former player could come by it would be appropriate because of Renee's love of the Sooners. Lynn had heard that there were several former OU football players living in Houston, and she was told to call me to see if possibly a former player could be present at the family's final get together with Renee. I told her I would check with several players and get back to her as soon as possible.
Like a miracle, five minutes after speaking with Lynn, Billy Sims called me from Dallas to remind me of a luncheon he would be attending in Houston for the Can Academy on Friday. I told the story to Billy and asked if he could stay over Friday afternoon and visit Renee in Sugar Land. Billy not only agreed to change his scheduled return flight to Dallas, but also told me "How important it is for players to give something back to their fans". After talking with Billy and receiving his positive response, I decided to phone Spencer Tillman, Daryl Hunt, and George Cumby, three other great Sooner All Americans living in the Houston Area. All three showed the same enthusiasm as Billy and agreed to visit with Renee. Daryl Hunt added "this is what it is all about".
Late Friday afternoon, Jerry Sheets ( a former OU Club of Houston President) and I drove Billy to Sugar Land, where we met Marilyn Turner, a Sugar Land resident and OU Club of Houston Director, Daryl, Spencer and George. Spencer also brought his young daughter. Lynn then escorted us to Renee's condominium home.
When we entered her home, we were warmly greeted by Renee's mother Mina, her sister, daughter, son, and about 10 other family members and friends. As soon as we walked in the living room we knew that we were in a Sooner home, as there were OU pictures and memorabilia everywhere. Renee was in her bedroom which was located directly off the living room. Each of the players then took turns going into her bedroom, where they introduced themselves and spent time visiting with her at her bedside. It was an emotional experience for everyone, but the players handled it very well. After each player had spent time with Renee, George Cumby, who is a minister, suggested we form a circle around her bed where he led us in a special prayer. Shakespeare could not have written a more beautiful and appropriate prayer, as George spoke that this should not be a room of sadness, as this gatheri
After the prayer, the family and players moved into the small living room where the players gave them a copy of the book What it Means to be a Sooner signed by each of the players as well as a signed copy of the DVD of The OU Club of Houston's Switzer Weekend. There were hugs all around as the family and friends thanked the players for taking time off from their busy schedules to spend a few precious moments with a complete stranger who was a tremendous OU fan who happened to have her life shorten by a terrible disease.
Several hours after the visit by the players, Renee went into a coma and she passed away four days later. At a standing room-only memorial service held for her this past weekend in Sugar land, her mother identified the players for their unselfish act in being with her daughter during her last few conscious moments. She continued that the family was so grateful because she knew how much this meeting meant to Renee.
During the past few days, the OU Alumni Office in Norman has received a number of e-mails from Renee's friends, fellow teachers and former students, one from as far away as Georgia thanking the University for the actions of these players. Non of them were from people who attended OU, but they all knew what this meant to Renee.
My reason for sharing this with the OU Community was not for any publicity associated with the players' visit, but to show the character of these four former Sooner athletes. While Billy, Spencer, Daryl and George were great heroes on the playing field, their act of kindness that day made them even greater heroes when it comes to what is really important in life. Their visit with a fan, unknown to them, also proves that a strong Sooner Family Spirit continues. Their actions should be held up as a role model for all athletes-former, current and future. Billy, Spencer, Daryl and George have made me even more proud to be a Sooner.