Oral Communication

Eulogy

Terry Bradshaw: September 2, 1948-September 2, 2018

Good morning everyone. I would just like to take a few moments to say a few words about my good friend Terry Bradshaw. Firstly, to his daughters Erin and Rachel, you meant the world to him. You two are the biggest accomplishments in his life. And for a man who accomplished it all, that says a great deal. Terry grew up a simple boy turned man, in Shreveport, Louisiana. The second of three sons of Bill and Novis, throughout his life, he was teased for the fact of where he came from. Some called him the “Bayou Bumpkin”. In the words of Terry, “I may be dumb, but I ain’t stupid. Those that knew Terry also knew that He was one of the most inspirational stories in sports and in life in general. Terry didn’t make millions as a NFL quarterback in the 70’s. In fact, he spent the off season as a used car salesman in Pittsburgh. He was smart, the hometown hero everyone wanted to buy a car from. No one had more fun late in life than Terry Bradshaw. Despite his constant headaches and dizziness from a life of getting knocked down, he still managed to get back up and live his life to the fullest. He even overcame clinical depression that he faced through much of his adult life. He once told me it was so bad that he couldn’t even enjoy his super bowls wins. But Terry being Terry, he bounced back, and became a poster child on how to live through and beat depression. I was lucky enough to accompany TB as I called him, on his many fishing trips. Terry didn’t care how big the fish was that he caught. As long as it was the biggest fish of the trip. I’m really going to miss all the great times, but more than anything I am going to miss his great advice.

Having been locker neighbors and left tackle for Terry’s entire career, I like to say I had his back. But truth is I know Terry had my back and the back of everyone in this room.

Standing in at 6’3’’, TB always looked over everyone, and that can be interpreted in more ways than one, while he was always looking over everyone physically he certainly was also literally. Terry was always concerned with how everyone around him was doing, and never was afraid to give meaningful advice.

Despite the fact that they didn’t like each other for obvious reasons, Terry was one of the first individuals to offer Ben Roethlisberger advice. He told Big Ben to park the motorcycle, and to stay out of the clubs. I’d say Terry knew what he was talking about…..

It’s safe to say that TB was one of the best NFL Quarterbacks to ever play the game. That was evident from the beginning when he was selected as the first player in the 1970 draft by the Pittsburg Steelers. Terry went on to win four Super Bowls and was selected to three Pro-Bowls for the Steelers.

In addition to his success on the field, TB also found great success off of the field. While he is highly known for his NFL commentary, which he has been doing for the last 25 years, Terry has many other business ventures. Those endeavors include a lukewarm, and let me stress LUKEWARM country music career, a very successful horse breeding farm, and even a stint as a NASCAR owner. Terry has even been doing acting for the last 25 years. Usually doing small parts in movies, but that changed a few years back when Terry stared in the movie Failure to Launch. Many of you may remember that movie as the one that we got to see Terry naked!
(Hold up photo) Although Terry was always proud of personal accomplishments, he always wanted to brag about his daughters. Erin and Rachel. I have to stress what I said earlier, Terry always said that the girls were his greatest accomplishment in his long life. Erin, he always bragged about your exceptional gift with raising horses. He went as far as to call you the horse whisperer. And Rachel, your music career has flourished. You’re a country music superstar now. Most people don’t even know you’re the daughter of Terry, and that’s just the way he liked it, no freebies, no gimmies, you got there on your own. Let me wrap it up by saying that the world won’t be without Terry, but as someone who dealt with great sadness and sorrow, he wouldn’t want us to be upset over his departure. He was a man of God, and in his passing he knew he would see us all again. Let me finish by letting the entire city of Pittsburg join me in quoting none other than Terry himself, during the conclusion of his eulogy of former Steelers owner and our boss, Art Rooney. “Terry Bradshaw…….boy, I tell you…..I loved that man”

Works Cited

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Common Signs. Depressionsymptoms.net, 9 Mar. 2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2011.

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D, M. J. "Terry Bradshaw Spells It out for Ben Roethlisberger - Shutdown Corner -

NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports." Yahoo! Sports - Sports News, Scores, Rumors,

Fantasy Games, and More. Yahoo, 12 Apr. 10. Web. 20 Nov. 2011.

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Leahy, Sean. "Terry Bradshaw: Memory Loss Affecting Him in Fox TV Role." News,

Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World -

USATODAY.com. USA Today, 13 Apr. 2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2011.

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Pro Football Hall of Fame. Web. 20 Nov. 2011.

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" Terry Bradshaw." 2011. Biography.com 20 Nov 2011, 05:22

http://www.biography.com/people/terry-bradshaw-224915