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WHEREAS, on September 9, 1937 in London, Ohio, Beulah Catherine and Robert Emerson LeBeau, Sr., and brother Robert E. LeBeau, Jr., welcomed Charles Richard "Dick" LeBeau into their family; and,
WHEREAS, with the loving support of his family and the community, Dick excelled in athletics. In 1954 he was named a High School All-American; he attended Ohio State University where he was coached by the legendary Woody Hayes, playing both offense and defense, and was a member of the 1957 NCAA National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes; and,
WHEREAS, after graduating from the university, he went on to play with the Detroit Lions for 14 seasons, wearing number 44, and is considered one of the greatest defensive backs in NFL history, with 62 career interceptions, three Pro Bowl appearances, and an NFL record-setting 171 consecutive appearances by a cornerback. In 2010, in recognition of his distinguished playing career with the Lions, Dick LeBeau was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio; and,
WHEREAS, following his playing career he immediately began coaching, again distinguishing himself in the sport he loves and eventually arriving to coach in Pittsburgh in 1992. As a brilliant Defensive Coordinator, Dick LeBeau has been a motivational force and innovator, the mastermind of the Zone Blitz, which left many a quarterback and opposing teams dazed and confused. He has coached on 6 AFC Championship winning teams and won 2 Super Bowls as the Defensive Coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers; and,
WHEREAS, while Dick LeBeau's accomplishments, honors, and trophies are well deserved and important, truly what makes him most admired is his love for his family, friends, teammates, and the young men he has coached and mentored over the course of 56 seasons to date in the NFL. Affectionately called "Coach Dad" by his Pittsburgh players, few people in this world have garnered such deep and abiding admiration of the People of Pittsburgh. We love hi...
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