Walter Payton 1954-1999

Great athletes touch the lives of millions of people. While I never met Walter Payton, there is no question about him being a great football player. The statistics tell the story.

His former coach, Mike Ditka, said he was the best he’d ever seen and then added, “and one of the best people I’ve ever met.” Mr. Payton was one man who lived his dash well.

Michael Wilborn, a sportswriter for the Washington Post, said: “It’s a risky thing,

coming face-to-face with people you idolize. . . . But I was lucky that the player I blindly worshiped as a boy was worthy of my enduring admiration as a man.” Now, that’s a pretty powerful validation of the importance of human decency.

After learning about his terminal illness eight months ago, people everywhere acknowledged not only his sports records and moments but the contributions he made with his positive attitude and friendly disposition. Walter Payton was a person worth emulating. Even knowing his final destination he thanked the people that made his life better and said “Life is just like football. You never know when or what your last play is going to be. You just play it and play it because you love it. You live life because you love it.”

– Unknown