Boxer, philanthropist, and social activist Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. He turned 70 this week.
We are all familiar with Ali's remarkable boxing history: He was loud, humorous, colorful, oftentimes obnoxious, but always loveable – and he was amazingly talented in the ring. He won the Olympic gold medal in 1960 and went on to become the heavyweight boxing champion of the world in 1964.
In 1967 the U.S. Department of Justice pursued a legal case against Ali, denying his claim for conscientious objector status. When he was found guilty of refusing to be inducted into the military, the boxing association took away his title and suspended him from the sport for three and a half years. After returning to boxing, Ali regained the title in 1974 by defeating George Foreman. He retired from boxing in 1981, and announced that he has Parkinson's disease, a degenerative neurological condition, in 1984.
In his retirement, Ali has devoted much of his time to philanthropy. Over the years, Ali has supported the Special Olympics and the Make a Wish Foundation among other organizations.
Of note:
Ali continues to live his live according to six core values: respect, confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, and spirituality.
In 1967 the U.S. Department of Justice pursued a legal case against Ali, denying his claim for conscientious objector status. When he was found guilty of refusing to be inducted into the military, the boxing association took away his title and suspended him from the sport for three and a half years. After returning to boxing, Ali regained the title in 1974 by defeating George Foreman. He retired from boxing in 1981, and announced that he has Parkinson's disease, a degenerative neurological condition, in 1984.
In his retirement, Ali has devoted much of his time to philanthropy. Over the years, Ali has supported the Special Olympics and the Make a Wish Foundation among other organizations.
Of note:
- In 1998, Ali was chosen to be a United Nations Messenger of Peace because of his work in developing countries.
- In 2005, Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush.
- In 2009, Ali received the President's Award from the NAACP for his public service efforts.
His legacy lives on several organizations, including: The Muhammad Ali Institute at the University of Louisville, which exists to advance the work, study and practice of peacemaking, social justice and violence prevention through the development of innovative educational programs, training, service and research; and the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute, which provides diagnostic and treatment services, research, and education for those whose lives have been touched by Parkinson’s disease.
My favorite Ali quote? When asked by David Frost how he would like to be remembered, Ali responded,“I'd like for them to say he took a few cups of love, he took one tablespoon of patience, one tablespoon or teaspoon of generosity, one pint of kindness. He took one quart of laughter, one pinch of concern, and then, he mixed willingness with happiness. He added lots of faith, and he stirred it up well. Then he spread it over his span of a lifetime, and he served it to each and every deserving person he met.”
Sources:
http://www.biography.com/people/muhammad-ali-9181165
http://www.alicenter.org/Pages/default.aspx
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