WS Chronicle

Photos by Bud Dorsey, Louisville Defender

BY YVONNE COLEMAN BACH

LOUISVILLE DEFENDER EDITOR

LOUISVILLE, KY — Hearts were heavy in many of the citizens of Louisville when it was announced that their hometown hero, boxing great Muhammad Ali, had died at the age of 74 in a Phoenix, Arizona hospital Friday, June 3, from complications relating to Parkinson’s disease, bringing to a close his most challenging fight.

Although Ali was known and loved throughout the country and the world, there was a special bond that he shared with his hometown.  Louisville is the home of the Muhammad Ali Center and just recently, Ali’s childhood home was restored as a museum in his honor. The home is located in West Louisville, the heart of the African-American community.

Ali’s roots were in Louisville, every-one knew he would always return home. Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. – Muhammad Ali –The Greatest, made his final journey home Sunday, June 5, 2016 in a private plane that carried his body back to his home.  A motorcade led him to A. D. Porter & Sons Funeral Home—Southeast on Bardstown Road.  Louisville’s Hometown Hero is Home. Plans have been made for all to say their farewells to the Champ.

A Jenazah Service will be held at Freedom Hall at noon today, Thursday, June 9.

Ali’s funeral will be on Friday, June 10. The public ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. at the KFC YUM Center in Downtown Louisville.  Seating will be limited, with 15,000 tickets available. However, for those unable to attend, the service will be streamed live from www.alicenter.org.

Louisville Metro Mayor Greg Fischer issued a statement about his passing.

“The values of hard work, conviction and compassion that Muhammad Ali developed while growing up in Louisville helped him become a global icon. As a boxer, he became The Greatest, though his most lasting victories happened outside the ring. Muhammad leveraged his fame as a platform to promote peace, justice and humanitarian efforts around the world, while always keeping strong ties to his hometown. Today, Muhammad Ali’s fellow Louisvillians join the billions whose lives he touched worldwide in mourning his passing, celebrating his legacy, and committing to continue his fight to spread love and hope. Thank you Muhammad, for all you’ve given your city, your country and the world.”

To honor Ali’s life and work, flags at all Metro Government facilities were lowered to half-staff at 10 a.m. Saturday morn-ing when citizens joined the mayor in a special ceremony.

Kentucky U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth said, “The word ‘champion’ has never fit a man better. Muhammad Ali was a champion for peace, a champion for justice, and a champion for equality. He was a man who gained fame in a violent game, but immorality as a gentle and caring soul. In the ring, there was no one better, but his contributions to humanity managed to eclipse his boxing prowess.”

Yarmuth said he remembers watching every one of his championship fights. “I remember waiting for him at Standiford Field when he returned home after beating Liston, thinking to myself that I had never seen a more perfect human being. And I remember the loud-mouthed speedster by the name of Cassius Marcellus Clay, whose fights in and out of the ring would one day make him Muhammad Ali – a selfless giant who put principles over every-thing and never forgot the city he called home.”

He truly was the greatest, especially in his hometown.  Growing up in Louisville, many in his age group had the opportunity to attend high school with him, then known as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. at Central High School; he babysat for those that lived in his neighborhood on Grand Avenue. Even when Ali became the Heavyweight Champion of the World and moved away, he always returned to his hometown. He never forgot where he came from.

Ali’s popularity transcends age and race lines. Young children that were not even born when Ali achieved his greatness in the boxing ring know exactly who he is. Ali often times returned home to speak and interact with area youth from all races and walks of life.

It was in Louisville that Ali first learned of racism. As a small boy, his mother Odessa Grady Clay, a household domestic worker, took her son downtown to the five-and-dime store. She said her son was thirsty and he asked for a drink of water, but the store would not give it to him because of his color.  His mother said he started to cry and she calmed him down by taking him to a place where he could get some water. However, she said it really hurt him.

Young Cassius Clay’s bike was stolen when he was 12 years old. It was that incident that led him to take boxing lessons from retired Louisville Police Officer Joe Martin.

When he left Louisville, Ali’s family remained, including the mother that was dear to him.  She died August 20, 1994 at the age of 77 in Louisville and was eulogized by local minister Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby. “One of the greatest honors of my life was when Muhammad Ali asked me to preach the eulogy of his mother Odessa,” said Cosby.

Cosby said, “When I eulogized Ali’s mother, I said Odessa his mother was the root and Ali was the fruit. He (Muhammad Ali) stood on his feet! It was a great honor!”

Many more sent in their respects for Ali, such as Oprah Winfrey, President Barack Obama, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (a Kentucky Republican) and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (also a Kentucky Republican).

Before the Friday funeral service, there will be a procession throughout Louisville to allow the general public to pay their respects.  Starting at 9 a.m., the procession will travel northbound on Bardstown Road, westbound on the Watterson Expressway and then north on I-65 to westbound I-64, exiting on the 9th Street Ramp.  The procession will then travel west on Muhammad Ali Blvd. to 34th Street, left on 34th Street to Broadway, making a left on Broadway and then traveling to Cave Hill Cemetery.  The procession will proceed slowly to allow mourners to pay their respects.

Pallbearers for the funeral will include Will Smith, the actor who portrayed Ali in the movie ALI; John Grady, Ali’s cousin; Ibn Ali-Muhammad Ali’s nephew; Komawi Ali, former brother-in-law; Jerry Ellis, brother of Jimmy Ellis who was Ali’s former sparring partner and a former heavyweight champion of the world, also a Louisville native; Lennox Lewis, former heavy weight champion of the world; Jan Wadell, Ali’s first cousin; and John Ramsey, Ali family Friend.

Speakers at the funeral will include Lonnie Ali, Maryum Ali, Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby, Rabbi Joe Rapport, Actor/Comedian Billy Crystal, Bryant Gumbel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erogan, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Orrin Hatch, and Former President Bill Clinton, a representative of the Catholic Faith and a representative of the Buddhist Faith.

For more coverage of Ali’s passing, click here