TUPATALK: Einar and Franco
You might never have heard of Einar Gustafson.
He was better known nationally as “Jimmy”, a 12-year-old boy that in 1948 atarted a nationwide awareness of cancer research.
As a result of his challenges the “Jimmy Fund” was started in New England — thanks largely to the efforts of baseball superstar Ted Williams.
The attention began wihen radio personality Ralph Edwards interviewed Einar while confined to a hospital bed.
That interview and the public response was the genesis for the “Jimmy Fund.” During the interview, Boston Braves players learned “Jimmy” wanted a television so he could watch their games. The tidal wave of donations began after that.
The fund attracted the attention of Boston Red Sox great Ted Williams as a spokesman and fundraiser. It hit home hard to Williams, whose adult brother had died from leukemia.
Williams had been ingrained to support charitable causes by his mother, who have been very active in the Salvation Army in San Diego, Calif.
Gustafson remained anonymous as the original “Jimmy” for 50 years.
He grew up on his family’s farm in northern Maine and lived in Massachusetts, while many people assumed “Jimmy” had died. But, he survived into the new millennium.
Between 1948 and 2001, when Einar died, the fund raised more than $500 million.
A moment in NFL history that has raised countless controversy — and is on the frontline of the pro football mind now due to the passing of Franco Harris and the 50th Anniversary of the event — is the ‘Immaculate Reception,’ in a game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders.
On the play, a deflected ball seemed to magically end up in the hands of Steelers’ running back Franco Harris, who went into the end zone for the winning score. Oakland coach John Madden protested the play, claiming the rest of his life officials never officially signaled it a touchdown.
TV football announcer Jack Fleming made the call on the play
Fleming died in 2001, but his excited voice survives on what is one of the most watched film clips in NFL history.
Harris passed away on Dec. 20. He played on all four Steeler Super Bowl championship teams in the 1970s and early 1980s.
His colorful personality, powerful running style and his family’s military background led to his growing legion of fans to be referred to as “Franco’s Army” or “Franco’s Italian Army.”
He was both the first African-American and Italian-American to be named as the Super Bowl MVP (1975). The Hall-of-Famer passed away at age 72.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: TupaTalk column
