'I owe everything I accomplished to him,' Deacon Jones says
BY MIKE BENNETT
Richmond (Ind.) Palladium-Item
March 3, 2007
They were equals.
Together as teammates, as partners, as family.
Together through eternity.
The Fearsome Foursome joined again on Friday night to toast Lamar Lundy and to tell heartwarming and humorous tales about the man they loved, the man they will say goodbye to today.
Lundy died last Saturday morning.
His funeral starts at 11 a.m. today at Greater Second Baptist Church, 1371 N. G St.
"I owe everything I accomplished to him," said NFL hall-of-famer Deacon Jones as he sat around a table at Wellings Steakhouse.
Lundy helped calm the race-related bitterness in Jones, helped him focus his immense physical talents onto the football field, his mind onto being a pioneer for black players in the NFL.
"He was our hero," said Rosey Grier, a fellow defensive lineman with the Los Angeles Rams.
"Lamar showed me strength. I never heard him complain," Grier said, alluding to the life-threatening illnesses that Lundy had fought for four decades.
Jones and Grier all hope they have the chance to say a few words about Lundy today at his funeral.
"It's important for all of of us to be here," Grier said. "To let (people) know what he meant to us."
Roger Brown, who joined the foursome after Grier retired, said he cherishes the chance to salute Lundy and his hometown. "It's coming to a celebration of how he lived and how he died," Brown said.
It was obvious that Richmond meant a lot to Lundy, Grier said. "I am really proud to come here," he said. "He loved Richmond. "The people give a lot of love and support to athletics. I feel very comfortable coming here."
Merlin Olsen remembers Lundy for his calmness and his inclusiveness.
"I don't think I ever saw him angry," Olsen said. "His welcoming nature was great."
Olsen also was a hall-of-fame defensive lineman.
Jones said the group will continue to ask for a share of card signings and other Foursome-related events to go to Lundy, possibly into a foundation in his honor.
"It's everybody equal. His name will be in the hat," Jones said. "That's what togetherness is. That will never change."
A steady stream of people passed by Lundy during his calling on Friday. "We anticipated 800 or 900 or more came through," said Tracy Lewis, co-owner of Community Family Funeral Home.
"There was a constant flow of people, but it was never backed up."
Lundy will be buried at Earlham Cemetery. Some streets will be blocked for the funeral procession. "We won't map that out until the morning," Lewis said Friday night.
BY MIKE BENNETT
Richmond (Ind.) Palladium-Item
March 3, 2007
They were equals.
Together as teammates, as partners, as family.
Together through eternity.
The Fearsome Foursome joined again on Friday night to toast Lamar Lundy and to tell heartwarming and humorous tales about the man they loved, the man they will say goodbye to today.
Lundy died last Saturday morning.
His funeral starts at 11 a.m. today at Greater Second Baptist Church, 1371 N. G St.
"I owe everything I accomplished to him," said NFL hall-of-famer Deacon Jones as he sat around a table at Wellings Steakhouse.
Lundy helped calm the race-related bitterness in Jones, helped him focus his immense physical talents onto the football field, his mind onto being a pioneer for black players in the NFL.
"He was our hero," said Rosey Grier, a fellow defensive lineman with the Los Angeles Rams.
"Lamar showed me strength. I never heard him complain," Grier said, alluding to the life-threatening illnesses that Lundy had fought for four decades.
Jones and Grier all hope they have the chance to say a few words about Lundy today at his funeral.
"It's important for all of of us to be here," Grier said. "To let (people) know what he meant to us."
Roger Brown, who joined the foursome after Grier retired, said he cherishes the chance to salute Lundy and his hometown. "It's coming to a celebration of how he lived and how he died," Brown said.
It was obvious that Richmond meant a lot to Lundy, Grier said. "I am really proud to come here," he said. "He loved Richmond. "The people give a lot of love and support to athletics. I feel very comfortable coming here."
Merlin Olsen remembers Lundy for his calmness and his inclusiveness.
"I don't think I ever saw him angry," Olsen said. "His welcoming nature was great."
Olsen also was a hall-of-fame defensive lineman.
Jones said the group will continue to ask for a share of card signings and other Foursome-related events to go to Lundy, possibly into a foundation in his honor.
"It's everybody equal. His name will be in the hat," Jones said. "That's what togetherness is. That will never change."
A steady stream of people passed by Lundy during his calling on Friday. "We anticipated 800 or 900 or more came through," said Tracy Lewis, co-owner of Community Family Funeral Home.
"There was a constant flow of people, but it was never backed up."
Lundy will be buried at Earlham Cemetery. Some streets will be blocked for the funeral procession. "We won't map that out until the morning," Lewis said Friday night.
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