Born on January 10, 1949, in Marshall, Texas, Foreman grew up in Houston’s rough Fifth Ward district. A self-proclaimed thug, he dropped out of school in the ninth grade and ran with street gangs until he joined the Job Corps in 1965. The Job Corps provided Foreman with a connection to boxing trainer Doc Broaddus, who encouraged him to apply his fighting skills in the ring. Foreman adapted quickly enough that he was named to the U.S. Olympic boxing team for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, where he won the gold medal in the heavyweight boxing division with a second-round technical knockout of the Soviet Union’s Ionas Chepulis. He went pro shortly afterward.

Foreman was a fearsome ring presence who brutalized opponents with his raw power. He won his first 37 professional fights before earning a shot at heavyweight champion “Smokin’” Joe Frazier in 1973, in Kingston, Jamaica. Foreman was an underdog against Frazier, but he shockingly knocked the champ down six times over the course of two rounds to claim the heavyweight crown. At age 45, Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer in the 10th round of their title fight in 1994 to become the oldest heavyweight champ in history.  Ultimately, he finished with a professional record of 76 wins (68 by knockout) and five losses. Foreman was inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003. 

Foreman is a familiar commercial pitchman, most famously for the George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine which made its debut in 1994. These days Foreman tends to his ministry at The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ where he preaches four times a week. He also loves spending free time with his family on his ranch in Marshall, Texas. Foreman is a man of God and the father of 12 children.

Plan to attend the closing session and help us wrap up the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention and with the BQA Celebration of Excellence. The BQA Awards recognize the best of the beef industry with the winners will leaving you inspired, motivated and proud to be a part of our great industry. 

Drawing from personal experience, Joe Theismann knows how to deal with the challenge of change. On November 18, 1985, he was on top of his game—a two-time Pro Bowl player and the most productive quarterback in the history of the Washington Redskins. Later that evening, he found himself in a hospital bed with a compound fracture to his leg, shattering both his career and his boyhood dream. At age thirty-five, he was faced with starting over his personal life and professional career. Listen to Theismann’s story to learn how to tackle change by keeping a positive mental outlook and committing to a vision that guides you to the top.

Theismann graduated in 1971 from the University of Notre Dame, where he received All-American honors in both Football and Academics. A 12-year NFL veteran, Joe played in 163 consecutive games from 1974 to 1985 for the Washington Redskins and holds Redskins records for passing yardage (25,206), completions (2,044) and attempts (3,602). He also led the Washington Redskins to a 27-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII. Theismann was selected as the NFL’s Man of the Year in 1982 for his community service and dedication to the health and welfare of children. In 2003, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and in 2013 received the Walter Camp Football Foundation “Distinguished American” Award. 

Gather your team and challenge them to attend this motivating and high energy event!