Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 17 December 1998 — Page 16

The Muncie Times, December 17,1998, Page 16

BIOGRAPHIES

David Duerson

Samuel Lee Drummer

David Duerson

Career Highlights: 1998-1999 Nominee NFL Hall of Fame. Third round draft pick for the Chicago Bears in 1983. He was the starting free safety for the 1986 Super Bowl champions. In 1986 Duerson received another Super Bowl ring as a member of the New York Giants. He has also played with the Phoenix Cardinals and was the named to the Pro Bowl team four consecutive years. Duerson was named Man of the Year by the NFL in 1988 with recognition of his off-field work on behalf of numerous charities. For eight years, during his career, he ran a football camp in Muncie in memory of Mark Hays, a former high school friend and teammate. Today, Duerson is the owner-president of Fair Oaks Farms. His company supplies a variety of sausages to McDonalds”, Burger King, White Castle and the Merriott Hotel. He employs 150 to 200 workers at the Kenosha, Wisconsin plant. The company has recently expanded to a second facility located in Oakland, Iowa. Duerson produces Fair Oaks Farms and now Double D pork sausage. The company has also introduced a chorizo sausage patty, Italian sausage patty, lemon chicken patty, and a natural turkey burger. Education: 1979 graduate of Northside High School. 1983 bachelor’s degree in economics Notre Dame University. Personal Comments: “I owe so much to my two wonderful parents. They are my mentors. My dad is my hero. They are the reason I am where I am today,” said Duerson. “My father always taught us responsibility and accountability.” “He told us to live within tbe law and so many other vital life lessons.” “I can remember growing up and dad would

take us as children to help migrant farm workers, providing clothing and assisting in their labor,” said Duerson. Duerson’s mother recalls how he started catching passes, playing with his brother at age two. “David always like sports and he always had a goal,” said Mrs. Julia Duerson. “From the time he was eight years old he said he’d do great things.” “David told me that the Lord told him he had a future when he was only eight years old and he made it plain,” she said. “My son gives all the praise for his success to the Lord. He always puts God first.” Growing up he was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. Family Information: Bom to Arthur Jr. and Julia Duerson on Nov. 28, 1960 the family resided at 1807 E. Hines St. His siblings are Arthur III (Muncie), Michael, (Gurnee, Illinois), and Viola Boyd (Muncie). He and his wife Alicia have four children; Chase 14, Tregg 13, Brock 10, and Taylor 2.

Career Highlights: Northside High School’s First Indiana All- Star, National Junior College Player of the Year, Player on the world renowned Harlem Globetrotters Education: Northside High School, 1975, attended Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tenn., Dekalb Junior College, Atlanta, Ga., and Georgia Institute of Technology. Drummer completed 3 years of college but according to former Muncie Northside coach Myron Dickerson, was failed by a system which did not inform him of the importance of academics. Personal Comments: The life of Sam Drummer was ended far too early from a single gunshot wound to the heart. Hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of Munsonians remember the affable athlete as simply a guy who loved the game. He has been described as a player who had great ability and talent. A former teacher Francis Lafferty attended the February 1995 funeral of Drummer. He said, “I remember (that) Drummer had a burning desire to excel.” “He was also very courteous,” Drummer’s sister, Mel via Boyd, said as she shared these memories of her brother: Not one day has passed since his death that I haven’t thought about him. I can’t begin to explain how much I love my brother. It was not because of who he was or what he did that made me love him, but I loved him from the day he was bom. Although I was only 7 years old when he was bom, I had to take care of him like a mother. This was because our mother had to work in4toe cotton fields everyday from 6 to 6. I never had dolls to play with as a child. I had real babies. Sam was a different child from the very beginning. He wasn’t a fussy baby. I needed only to keep his diaper changed, his stomach full and he was happy. He learned to entertain himself at an early age and almost never played with other children. I don’t remember my

mother or me ever having to really discipline him. He hated to be yelled at even as an adult. Sam was a well mannered child. He was respectful, especially to older people. He was an honest, humble person and his first love was basketball.” His love for the game never ended. After returning to Muncie, due to the illness of his mother, Drummer became a custodian at Ball State University. At age 38, Drummer was described as being king of the city’s industrial leagues

Dee Harris, director of the South Madison New Multi Community Center, said, “I met Sam when he became involved with the Save Our Children Adult basketball league. He was chosen MVP in the league.” “I worked with him on a couple of other projects as well.’YT always found him to be cooperative and pleasant.” “ He helped the league out tremendously in participation and leadership.” Family Information: Sam was bom to George and Elizabeth Drummer on Feb. 27, 1956. His siblings are Mel via Boyd, George Ann Drummer Page (deceased), Emma Jean Drummer (deceased) and John L. Drummer of Muncie. He was bom in PertshfTe, Miss. But moved to Muncie at 9. The family lived in the Parkview Apartments. He was father to Tyson Montgomery Drummer, 21, Brandon Drummer, 19, Carol Drummer, 15, Santana Drummer, 14, and Jamie Drummer 6. He died on Feb. 5,1995.

Samuel Drummer