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Muhammad Ali: Champ's hometown of Louisville mourns local hero
PHOTO: Louisville residents pay tribute to Muhammad Ali at his childhood home. (ABC: Zoe Daniel)
In Louisville, Muhammad Ali was a friend, schoolmate and neighbour.
He may have been the Greatest Of All Time, but he started here running to school to race the school bus, babysitting neighbours' children, telling jokes and doing magic tricks.
His nickname was not Champ, but Gee Gee, because he loved amateur boxing's Golden Gloves contests.
"You have a community that knew him so well, so while the world mourns on one level, Louisville mourns on a personal level," Kentucky congressman for Louisville John Yarmuth said after the town hall's flags were lowered to half-mast.
In pouring rain, people placed flowers at makeshift shrines. Many had a link to Ali. He was a friend to many.
His message was motivational, says his old schoolmate Sonny Fishback, shadowboxing on the front lawn of his friend's childhood home.
"The message was to the world, 'oh yes I can, yes I'm the greatest, yes we can'," he says.
"That type of positive message, that's the only thing he came for."
PHOTO: Lawrence and Violet Montgomery live opposite Muhammad Ali's childhood home and knew him his whole life. (ABC: Zoe Daniel)
The front steps of the house are edged with piles of flowers, cards and balloons.
There's a steady stream of people delivering more tributes.
In a tribute to Ali's reach, the crowd is culturally and religiously diverse.
From the steps opposite, Lawrence and Violet Montgomery watch the comings and goings.
Both in their 80s, they knew Ali for his whole life, as neighbours and friends.
Lawrence explains the youngster's early devotion to fitness.
He would run every morning in the local park, and then he'd race the bus to school as well.
"The school bus would come by to pick him up for school, he wouldn't get on the bus — he would run along beside the bus," he says.
The couple show me an album full of snaps of family gatherings with the man who grew into a champion before their very eyes, and became more than just a boxer.
For many, it was his stance on civil rights and religious freedom that turned him into what he became.
"I think he's a hero," Violet tells me.
"Yes ma'am, I most certainly do. People all over the world love Muhammad Ali. It's just amazing how that came about, but yes to me he is a hero, and I think he's a hero to a lot of people."
PHOTO: An undated photo of Lawrence Montgomery with his friend Muhammad Ali. (Supplied)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-05/muhammad-ali-louisville-mourns-favourite-son/7478966
PHOTO: Louisville residents pay tribute to Muhammad Ali at his childhood home. (ABC: Zoe Daniel)
In Louisville, Muhammad Ali was a friend, schoolmate and neighbour.
He may have been the Greatest Of All Time, but he started here running to school to race the school bus, babysitting neighbours' children, telling jokes and doing magic tricks.
His nickname was not Champ, but Gee Gee, because he loved amateur boxing's Golden Gloves contests.
"You have a community that knew him so well, so while the world mourns on one level, Louisville mourns on a personal level," Kentucky congressman for Louisville John Yarmuth said after the town hall's flags were lowered to half-mast.
In pouring rain, people placed flowers at makeshift shrines. Many had a link to Ali. He was a friend to many.
His message was motivational, says his old schoolmate Sonny Fishback, shadowboxing on the front lawn of his friend's childhood home.
"The message was to the world, 'oh yes I can, yes I'm the greatest, yes we can'," he says.
"That type of positive message, that's the only thing he came for."
PHOTO: Lawrence and Violet Montgomery live opposite Muhammad Ali's childhood home and knew him his whole life. (ABC: Zoe Daniel)
The front steps of the house are edged with piles of flowers, cards and balloons.
There's a steady stream of people delivering more tributes.
In a tribute to Ali's reach, the crowd is culturally and religiously diverse.
From the steps opposite, Lawrence and Violet Montgomery watch the comings and goings.
Both in their 80s, they knew Ali for his whole life, as neighbours and friends.
Lawrence explains the youngster's early devotion to fitness.
He would run every morning in the local park, and then he'd race the bus to school as well.
"The school bus would come by to pick him up for school, he wouldn't get on the bus — he would run along beside the bus," he says.
The couple show me an album full of snaps of family gatherings with the man who grew into a champion before their very eyes, and became more than just a boxer.
For many, it was his stance on civil rights and religious freedom that turned him into what he became.
"I think he's a hero," Violet tells me.
"Yes ma'am, I most certainly do. People all over the world love Muhammad Ali. It's just amazing how that came about, but yes to me he is a hero, and I think he's a hero to a lot of people."
PHOTO: An undated photo of Lawrence Montgomery with his friend Muhammad Ali. (Supplied)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-05/muhammad-ali-louisville-mourns-favourite-son/7478966
Im old enough to remember when Ali was healthy. It was so sad to see his vitality and wit fade like that. Rest in peace The Greatest.
