Prayers Needed for Gordon Appleby

[PurpleArmy]

I'm not sure if this should be in this forum or not, but since it kind of pertains to football, I am pasting it here as well as in the General Forum to make sure everyone sees it. (Note: if a mod wants to move or delete it, no problem.)

Hey everyone. I just wanted to ask those of you who are religious to say a prayer for my uncle Gordy Appleby. He is a WHS (Class of '41) alumni and played center for the Tigers all through his high school years under Coach Brown and was a member of the 1940 National and State Championship Massillon Tigers. He then was recruited by Coach Brown at OSU and was Team Captain during the 1943 season, and was a member of their 1942 national Championship Team. (And has the ring from Coach Tressel to prove it!)

He was then drafted by the New York Giants after college, but was also offered a great job at Lincoln Electric by it's CEO (an OSU fan) that included profit sharing and stocks, and because he wanted to start a family, opted not to take the Giants up on their offer (Pro players only made about $5,000 per year back then and the other job was for more money). He is retired and resides in Bloomfield Hills, MI. (I know, I know......what the heck is he doing in Michigan of all places?!?!) He has been a lifetime season ticket holder for the Bucks and speaks at their Captains breakfast every year along with other OSU greats.

As some of you might know, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's two years ago and is currently not doing too well.

My family spoke with his wife Helen recently, and he has been getting progressively worse. He hasn't been able to drive a car since last year and he was not well enough last fall to attend any Tiger games (this was the first season he had missed for many, many years- he always comes back to Massillon for at least one game per season from Michigan). He sometimes doesn't recognize Helen or his children.

He was also recently diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and there are some other health issues that are too long to go into here, so I'll just end this by saying that if you are in a praying mood, please say one for a former Tiger, and OSU Buckeye Captain. He needs it.

He has always looked back at his time in Massillon with very fond memories and I know it would make him happy to know that people here are thinking of him during this time.

Thanks.

http://online.cutlerhomes.com/shared/fs/0005/000501039/obie2.GIFhttp://www.collegeflagsandbanners.com/images_products/9648_big.jpg

[Kamd50]

I remember you mentioning your uncle on several different occasions. How could anyone ignore a prayer request, especially that of one for a beloved former Tiger? :angel: My prayers and best wishes for your uncle and his family.

[Ron Halter]

I spoke to your uncle at several Ohio State games. He seemed to be loved by everyone. He is in my prayers.

[PurpleArmy]

Thanks to both of you guys for the prayers and posts. It's appreciated.



http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/2337/42bucksrp8.jpg

Gordy Appleby is #50 (second row on right side)
This was from his junior year at OSU when they were the Western Conference and the National Champions.
The next year, he was a Team Captain.

"1942: The Indiana Hoosiers came to the stadium with one of their greatest teams of all time, but Paul Brown and his Buckeyes were ready for them. The Bucks, led by three TDs by FB Gene Fekete, downed the Hoosiers 32-21. The game, which Coach Brown called "The greatest game I ever saw," set them on course to win their first ever national title. Fekete would go on to become the first Buckeye player to finish in the top ten for the Heisman voting."

[DAWGH8R]

Wow, such a sad story.

I lost my garndmother a few years ago, to the same illness. He had it for a LOT of years.

It's very disheartening to have someone that you have cheerished for decades, no longer recognize your face.

Many thoughts & prayers to your extended family.

http://www.letsrejoice.com/prayers.jpg

[casey]

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your uncle at this time.

[Smitty]

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Appleby at one of the Tiger tailgate parties @ 3-4 years ago.

I will pray for him. May God bless him & his entire family.

[obiefan]

Thoughts and Prayers for Gordon!

[CarlE]

I was at the same tailgate, Smitty. It was the Dover tailgate many a few years ago. I also met Mr. Appleby. Prayers to Mr. Appleby a true and real Tiger.

[PurpleArmy]

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Appleby at one of the Tiger tailgate parties @ 3-4 years ago.

I will pray for him. May God bless him & his entire family.

I was there and remember that.

And just out of curiosity, do you remember shaking his hands? If so, do you recall how HUGE they were? He wears a size 17 ring! Biggest hands I've ever seen in my life....lol

BTW- this is a good story:

I know his ring size because a few years ago, when OSU won the Fiesta Bowl and the National Championship, my uncle Gordy was there and was talking to Coach Tressel after the game. They got to talking about the Championship rings and Tressel asked to see Gordy's ring from 1942.

He replied that they didn't have the Championship rings back then, and they only got lapel pins.

Anyways, a few weeks later, Gordy's wife, Helen, got a call from Tressel's office asking what size ring that Gordy wore. She replied, "Size 17, I think".

A couple weeks after that, Gordy and Helen were invited by Coach Tressel to a dinner for the Buckeyes to celebrate their National Championship win. The current team members all got their rings and afterwards, Coach Tressel called up the 13 remaining survivors of the 1942 National Championship team, who had all been invited to the dinner, including Uncle Gordy.

Coach Tressel then presented all 13 men with the exact rings that the current Buckeyes received for their National Championship, but the year had been inscribed with "1942" instead of "2002" for the 1942 teammates. He also had their names and jersey numbers put on each of their rings for them, and each ring had a the same diamonds and ruby backing that the current Buckeyes received. (Similar to the one pictured below)

That ring is my uncle's most prized possession, and he loves showing it to people, and always tells them how Coach Tressel gave him that ring. He's incredibly proud of it. I was sitting with him a few years back at an opening season Massillon game (the same year that Smitty met him at the tailgate) and several people noticed his huge ring on his huge hands and asked to see it. They also asked for his autograph on their football programs after he was announced over the PA system at PBTS. he loved it and he told me several times that night how he was so happy that people in Massillon still remembered him.

It was a great night for him, and one I will never forget.

http://www.coachtressel.com/images/2007_BigTenChamps.jpg

[mike_da_man13]

I was there and remember that.

And just out of curiosity, do you remember shaking his hands? If so, do you recall how HUGE they were? He wears a size 17 ring! Biggest hands I've ever seen in my life....lol

BTW- this is a good story:

I know his ring size because a few years ago, when OSU won the Fiesta Bowl and the National Championship, my uncle Gordy was there and was talking to Coach Tressel after the game. They got to talking about the Championship rings and Tressel asked to see Gordy's ring from 1942.

He replied that they didn't have the Championship rings back then, and they only got lapel pins.

Anyways, a few weeks later, Gordy's wife, Helen, got a call from Tressel's office asking what size ring that Gordy wore. She replied, "Size 17, I think".

A couple weeks after that, Gordy and Helen were invited by Coach Tressel to a dinner for the Buckeyes to celebrate their National Championship win. The current team members all got their rings and afterwards, Coach Tressel called up the 13 remaining survivors of the 1942 National Championship team, who had all been invited to the dinner, including Uncle Gordy.

Coach Tressel then presented all 13 men with the exact rings that the current Buckeyes received for their National Championship, but the year had been inscribed with "1942" instead of "2002" for the 1942 teammates. He also had their names and jersey numbers put on each of their rings for them, and each ring had a the same diamonds and ruby backing that the current Buckeyes received. (Similar to the one pictured below)

That ring is my uncle's most prized possession, and he loves showing it to people, and always tells them how Coach Tressel gave him that ring. He's incredibly proud of it. I was sitting with him a few years back at an opening season Massillon game (the same year that Smitty met him at the tailgate) and several people noticed his huge ring on his huge hands and asked to see it. They also asked for his autograph on their football programs after he was announced over the PA system at PBTS. he loved it and he told me several times that night how he was so happy that people in Massillon still remembered him.

It was a great night for him, and one I will never forget.

http://www.coachtressel.com/images/2007_BigTenChamps.jpg
wow that really is a cool story i will keep him in my prayers

[obie7661]

He's in my prayers. My dad used to tell me what an outstanding person he was. I wish him and his family the best.

[Smitty]

... And just out of curiosity, do you remember shaking his hands? If so, do you recall how HUGE they were? He wears a size 17 ring! Biggest hands I've ever seen in my life....lol....

Yes, I do remember.

Personal testimony: I've met & shook hands with Tony Jones, Mark Rypien, Michael Dean Perry, and Gary Jeter, and all of whom are BIG men with BIG hands; and yes, Gordon's hands are bigger.

[TigerLily]

What a wonderful life story your uncle has. It is sad that he is so ill.

When you mentioned about the night at Tiger Stadium, I remembered it. That must have been a very memorable night for him, and one that you will always treasure.

I will pray for him in his physical struggle and for the family. Tigers Care for Tigers

http://www.angel-guide.com/images/angels-picture-angel-prayer-right.jpg

[football49]

our prayers go out to # 50.