Belton, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is pleased to announce that the 2017 McLane Lecture will be delivered by Olympic gold medalist and two-time heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman. The lecture will be held Wednesday, March 22, at 11:00 a.m. in the arena of the Frank and Sue Mayborn Campus Center. This is event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not necessary, so seating will be first come, first served.
A native Texan, Foreman first gained global recognition as an amateur boxer when he won the gold medal in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Following that accomplishment, Foreman went professional and within three years had amassed a perfect 37-0 record, with 35 of those victories coming by way of knockout. In 1972, Foreman challenged heavyweight champion Joe Frazier for the title in Kingston, Jamaica. Foreman entered the bout as a 3:1 underdog, but he overwhelmed Frazier, knocking him down six times in two rounds before being declared the winner by technical knockout and new heavyweight champion.
In 1987, after not fighting for almost a decade, Foreman returned to the ring. In 1994, after having added 25 more wins to his record, Foreman was given the chance to challenge Michael Moorer for the world championship. Foreman, then 45 years old, was once again a substantial underdog entering the bout, and he trailed Moorer for nine straight rounds. However, in the tenth round he landed a knockout punch and was awarded the heavyweight title for the second time in 20 years.
Outside of fighting, Foreman has had great success making appearances in infomercials marketing the George Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine. To date, more than 120 million units have been sold worldwide.
Foreman became an ordained minister in 1978 and began preaching in his hometown of Houston, Texas. In 1984, he founded the George Foreman Youth and Community Center. Today he tends to his ministry at The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, where he preaches four times a week.
The McLane Lecture brings internationally recognized speakers to UMHB each year to share their experiences and insights about leadership, government, business, and faith. The annual lecture is offered through the generosity of Temple residents Elizabeth and Drayton McLane Jr.
