ERNIE HARWELL - MAN OF GOD

This week I drove down to Harwell Field in Detroit for the Public viewing of the late Ernie Harwell, I was joined by my brother Mark and nephew Nathan,
over 11,000 fans made the special trip downtown to remember a man that touched many, many souls.

Ernie was a man of God.  even the most cynical, hate filled people among us would have to admit that Ernie was not your typical, hypocritical Christian. 

Ernie Harwell like a fine wine got better with age, his Christian Faith grew, his love for people grew, his legend grew and most importantly his integrity and character grew.

His friends included Dr. Billy Graham and Paul Harvey two more giants of the Christian Faith who also maintained character and integrity.

The question is WHY ? what makes these three men so common in their Lives to present Jesus to their culture without a public moral failure for 90 years or more ?

here are a few of their Shared qualities:

STRONG FAITH AND MARRIAGE

Ernie Harwell was Married to Lulu Harwell for 67 years !  on the month of their 40th wedding anniversary Ernie was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

"Faith is the No. 1 thing, but that doesn't mean just going to church," Harwell says. "A lot of people who go to church every Sunday don't have a good relationship with Jesus. And that's the main thing with me." Exercise is a regular part of Harwell's routine as well. When he's home, he skips rope and works out on a trampoline. On the road, he takes brisk daily walks. "Well, I've exercised all my life," Harwell says. "I feel just as good now as I did 15 years ago." Harwell has missed only two broadcasts in his career -- once to be inducted into the National Sportscasters Hall of Fame and another to attend a brother's funeral. "He just loves baseball," Lulu Harwell says. "He's been that way as long as I've known him." (CBS SPORTSLINE)

Billy Graham was Married to the late Ruth Bell Graham for 65 years, Even though Billy's travel schedule often kept them apart, he and Ruth were able to keep their marriage strong.
 
Billy about Ruth's death: "I am so grateful to the Lord that He gave me Ruth, and especially for these last few years we've had in the mountains together. We've rekindled the romance of our youth, and my love for her continued to grow deeper every day. I will miss her terribly, and look forward even more to the day I can join her in Heaven."


Source: Mike Baker. "Billy Graham's Wife Ruth Dies." SFGate.com. 6/14/2007.
 
The Late Legendary Radio commentator Paul Harvey was Married to Lynne for nearly 68 years, They worked as a team most of their marriage. Lynne worked as Paul's inspiration, producer, director, editor, and writer. They were a smart couple -- they each had their own offices !
 
Paul proposed marriage on their first date while they sat in her parked car but Lynne didn't say yes until a year later.


"Under the pretext of needing a ride to the airport, he asked Lynne for a lift. She drove a snazzy white Nash Lafayette coupe with such speedy abandon that one of her nicknames was the "blond blizzard." The pair wound up on a dinner date that night. Before the entree arrived he was calling her Angel, a nickname she had had since childhood. After dinner, sitting in her car, he asked her to marry him."

Paul when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005: "This is the highest honor I have received since 60-some years ago, when Angel said 'I do.'"


Source: Aaron Katersky. "Paul Harvey's Wife Dies at Age 92" ABCNews.go.com. 5/03/2008.

BIRTH YEAR:

Ernie Harwell, January 25, 1918

Billy Graham, November 7th, 1918

Paul Harvey, September 4th, 1918

AWARDS:

Ernie Harwell was named by The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association  Michigan Sportscaster of the Year 19 times, and inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 1989. Harwell was also honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981 as the fifth broadcaster to receive its Ford C. Frick Award, and was elected to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and the Radio Hall of Fame in 1998, among many other honors. In 2001, Harwell was the recipient of the prestigious Ty Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting, awarded by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association (DSBA). In 2009, Harwell was named the first recipient of the DSBA's Ernie Harwell Lifetime Contribution Award. The award, called the Ernie Harwell Lifetime Contribution Award, is named after the Hall of Fame Detroit Tigers announcer. Harwell is the first winner of the award. The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame inducted Harwell in 2008. In 2010 Harwell was named as a recipient of the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award from Fordham University radio station WFUV. The press box at Detroit's Comerica Park was officially named the "Ernie Harwell Media Center" following his retirement from broadcasting. In 2004, the Detroit Public Library dedicated a room to Ernie Harwell and his wife, Lulu, which will house Harwell's collection of baseball memorabilia valued at over two million dollars. On April 26, 2008 Harwell was presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from The University of Michigan at their Spring Commencement ceremony. One week later, on May 3, 2008, he was presented with another Honorary Degree of Laws this time from Wayne State University.

Billy Graham has frequently been honored by surveys, including "Greatest Living American" and has consistently ranked among the most admired persons in the United States and the world. Between 1950 and 1990, he appeared most frequently on Gallup's list of most admired people. The United States Postal Service has said that Graham is one of the few Americans, along with the current President, who can be delivered mail that simply reads his name and the country: "Billy Graham, America." He has received the Congressional Gold Medal from the United States Congress and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Reagan, America's highest civilian honors. President Bill Clinton and Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole awarded Graham the Congressional Gold Medal in a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in 1996. In December 2001, he was presented with an honorary knighthood, Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE), for his international contributions to civic and religious life over 60 years. In 1971, Graham's hometown of Charlotte held "Billy Graham Day" at which President Nixon made an appearance. In 2000, former First Lady Nancy Reagan presented the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award to Graham. Graham has been a friend of the Reagans for years. Graham received the Big Brother of the Year Award for his work on behalf of children. He has been cited by the George Washington Carver Memorial Institute for his contributions to race relations. He has received the Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in Religion and the Sylvanus Thayer Award for his commitment to "Duty, Honor, Country". The "Billy Graham Children's Health Center" in Asheville is named after and funded by Graham.

Paul Harvey was named Salesman of the Year, Commentator of the Year, Person of the Year, Father of the Year, and American of the Year. He was elected to the National Association of Broadcasters Radio Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Hall of Fame, and appeared on the Gallup poll list of America's most admired men. In addition he received 11 Freedom Foundation Awards as well as the Horatio Alger Award. Paul Harvey was named to the DeMolay Hall of Fame, a Masonic youth organization, on June 25, 1993.

In 2005, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' most prestigious civilian award, by President George W. Bush. On May 18, 2007, he received an honorary degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

HUMBLE BOOK TITLES

Stories from My Life in Baseball -Ernie Harwell

Just As I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham

Paul Harvey's For What It's Worth

and they all Started and finished their careers ON THE RADIO!

Ernie Harwell signs a baseball at our Church event

Ernie Harwell & Frank Beckmann

two legendary play by play announcers talk shop.

Lorna in front of Ernie Harwell just outside the Tiger Stadium radio broadcast booth in 1997

Ernie Harwell and me on Ernie Harwell Weekend in Detroit,September 2002
at the WJR Studios for his Tribute.

My "Tuned to Baseball" book was included as part of the Comerica Park Viewing ceremony on May 6th, 2010