Ruth O’Connell and Son Story“When you gave your Pro Football Hall of Fame speech in 2007, my 22-year-old son Bob Bouck was in the hospital.

He had been diagnosed with Lymphoma that day. He had essentially been told by his doctors that there was nothing they could do for him. There was zero chance that we could fight the cancer.

That evening he saw your speech, and it became his mantra. “Never ever give up!”

I know you were not speaking to him, but he heard your message loud and clear.

He had always been an athlete and worked out and even ran while on chemo. The doctors had never seen anyone so determined. He won the fight, and finished college after cancer treatment. He thrives today.

Thank you, Mr. Irvin!

(As submitted by his mother, Ruth O’Connell)