In Memoriam: Bart Starr
Today I wanted to give my tribute to Bart Starr and give all of you the chance to share your favorite Bart Starr stories.
Throughout the past week, many have given thoughtful remembrances and shared beautiful stories about Bart Starr and the player, the person, the family man and the humanitarian he was during his life. Bart may have been famous for being the legendary quarterback who led the Lombardi Packers to victories in Super Bowls I and II but a quick look into his life shows us that he was so much more than just a legendary quarterback.
These tributes put into perspective just what an amazing and influential man Bart Starr was and how much of an impact he had on the people he came in contact with during the course of his life. Bart was the epitome of class and dignity which is why he is revered by all who knew him up close and from a distance.
As a 29-year-old Packer fan from New Jersey, Bart Starr was a generational figure that I always heard my father and grandfather talk about. He was a mythical figure who ushered in the modern era of football and served as a link between three familial generations of my kin.
Bart Starr did this not only for our family but for Packer fans across the world. He served as the patriarch of one of the world's most famous franchises in professional sports and ushered in new eras of Packer football by passing the torch to the likes of Dickey, Majkowski, Favre, and Rodgers.
Bart Starr was the brother, father, grandfather, or great grandfather that many of us wish we had, and now that he is gone, a piece of us will forever be missing. If history is truly life's teacher, we should all further Bart Starr's legacy by following in his footsteps by making a positive impact in our communities and to our fellow man/woman.
In closing, I wanted to open up the floor to you the fans. As I said earlier, I am only 29 years old, and no matter how many highlights I have seen at the Packers Hall of Fame or how many Lombardi Packers I've talked to over the years (Boyd Dowler, Dave Robinson, and Donny Anderson), I could never paint as accurate of a portrait of Bart Starr as some of his most loyal fans can.
With that being said, I wanted to give you all the chance to share your favorite memory, story, or interaction with Bart Starr. I look forward to learning more about Bart Starr and celebrating his life through the eyes of some of his greatest fans.
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David Michalski is a staff writer for Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter @kilbas27dave
Comments (7)
jannesbjornson
May 29, 2019 at 07:44 pm
Bart was like a big brother to a lot of us kids watching Packer practices during the sixties and waiting in the autograph line. He was omnipresent in the Wisconsin psyche, appearing on television ads or promoting Rawhide Ranch in New London. We went to the Bart Starr Show as guests when we were playing HS Football in the immediate area. He was a lot of fun, but was serious when he demonstrated quarterbacking or football technique
with a volunteer chosen from the audience.
Since'61
May 29, 2019 at 07:48 pm
Nice article David. Know this about Bart, If more people would live their lives the same way that Bart Starr led his life this world would be a much, much better place. Thanks, Since ‘61
IceBowl
May 29, 2019 at 08:12 pm
OK, I've said it over and over, Bart was the best. A man, a leader, and the person you want to be.
I am not there yet.
Handsback
May 29, 2019 at 09:08 pm
Want to see a WCO pre-Bill Walsh ....look at the 66 Dallas/ Green Bay game on YouTube.
Starr was great and in a rare game of 300 passing yards.
golfnutzaz
May 30, 2019 at 07:50 pm
Growing up I was fortunate enough to attend at least one game per year in either Green Bay or Milwaukee to see Bart and the Pack play and watch Vince Lombardi at work on the sidelines. Finally, I had the opportunity to meet Bart Starr in the early 80's in Phoenix. What a thrill to meet and talk with a living legend who was as down to earth and polite as he was in all of the TV interviews he ever was in!
stormin
May 30, 2019 at 07:57 pm
A true legend and roll model, thanks for the memories Bart !
LASVEGAS-TOM
May 30, 2019 at 10:26 pm
This story has No Place in this column, but I tell it to remind the so called Packer Fans who were a part of it, if they are still alive. I went to many GB games at County Stadium. I saw Bart play many times. He along with Jim Taylor, Paul Honung, Max, & a number of others, including The Best Returner in NFL History, Travis Williams, Thrilled me many times. Those of us who were Fortunate enough to see these guys play, cannot tell the rest of you, what a Thrill it was to go to a Packer Game. These guy's were Hero's, Legends in their Time. We had a feeling, we were Heads & Shoulders above the rest, & for a long time, we were. I went to a game one Sunday at County Stadium. It was against Minn of all teams. I want to say 1969, but I just can't remember.Bart had a Bad Elbow, but he played. I don't know why Zeke wasn't in there. It got to the point where he could hardly throw. He got hit & hurt, & needed to be helped off the field, holding his Elbow. As hard as this is to say, the majority of fans, Boo'd him off the field. If any of you are alive today that were a part of that, I hope you Remember it. This had to be the Lowest part of GB Packer History.
LVT