(Newswire.net — June 2, 2017) — Chicago, IL – On, Saturday, June 3rd, 2017, University of Texas football legend Freddie Steinmark will be inducted into the 2017 Sports Faith Hall of Fame through Sports Faith International, an organization dedicated to contributing to positive cultural change by showcasing the virtues and achievements of exemplary athletes, coaches, and teams.
Freddie was the starting safety, punt returner, and defensive signal caller for the 1969 National Champion Texas Longhorns. In “The Game of the Century” between No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Arkansas, Freddie played with a pain in his left leg. The doctor’s diagnosis was devastating: Freddie had a cancerous bone tumor just above his knee. Treatment required urgent amputation of his leg, at the hip. After surgery, Freddie vowed to be on the sideline with his teammates at the Cotton Bowl, where they would play Notre Dame. Doctors said it was impossible; the game was only 20 days away. Yet, with his little brother Sammy at his side, he was there, an inspiration to his teammates and millions watching the game. When it was over and Texas had won, he said, “This is the greatest day of my life.”
He lived another 17 months. In that time Freddie returned to school, coached the freshmen defensive backs, and traveled widely to speak and raise cancer awareness. He was President Nixon’s guest at the White House, and became the first spokesperson for the American Cancer Society. A devout Catholic, and ever gracious and humble, Freddie saw himself as a servant of God throughout his life. He changed the way we talk about and treat cancer, and was instrumental in inspiring Congress to write the National Cancer Act of 1971, and President Nixon to sign it into law, commencing America’s “War on Cancer.”
The induction ceremony will begin with 5:00 PM Mass at Church of St. Mary’s located at 175 East Illinois Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045. A dinner and Induction ceremony will immediately follow at the nearby at Conway Farms Golf Club, 425 Conway Farms Drive, Lake Forest, IL 60045.
Chicago Bears’ Patrick McCaskey serves as the chairman of Sports Faith International, and will be the host and emcee at this year’s induction ceremony. Sammy Steinmark, Freddie’s brother and consultant to the Movie, My All American, based on the life of Freddie, and Bower Yousse, friend of Freddie and Co-Author of Freddie Steinmark: Faith, Family, Football, will accept the award.
Past inductees into the Sports Faith Hall of Fame for Professionals include George “Papa Bear” Halas, New York Football Giants longtime owner, Well Mara, Pittsburgh Steelers’ Art Rooney, Arizona Cardinals’ Bill Bidwill, Philadelphia Phillies’ Jamie Moyer, and Oakland Raiders’ Dave Casper.
“I was blessed to have Freddie as my older brother and best friend,” said Sammy Steinmark, “He was not only an inspiration to me, but continues to be an inspiration that spans over generations, including today.”
“This award is so very meaningful, because Freddie’s strong faith guided everything he did–in and out of uniform,” said Bower Yousse.
“Freddie Steinmark was my kind of guy. He was born in 1949. He wanted to play football for the University of Notre Dame and the Chicago Bears. It will be an honor to have him inducted into the 2017 Sports Faith Hall of Fame,” said Patrick McCaskey.
For more information about Freddie Steinmark, please visit freddiejoesteinmark.com.
Media Contact:
Ashley Bernardi
Nardi Media LLC
202-316-3298
ashley@nardimedia.com
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About Sports Faith International
Sports Faith International is a Chicago-based initiative dedicated to inspiring and transforming our culture through the world of sports. It will utilize the best of new and traditional media to feature and encourage the powerful personal testimonies of outstanding athletes at all levels, who are living out their faith on and off the field. Sports Faith International is a division of BVM Helping Hands, a tax exempt organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Service Code .