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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services, April 18 Medford police seek new rules to stop sales of stolen goods Struggling to stay on track Central Point considers new fees for parks, school police People in Business Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, April 18 Jurors see shocking conditions of accused serial killer's farm Emergency services Argument over stolen guns led to first shooting, Monica says Monica takes rare opportunity to cross-examine a witness in her double-murder trial Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Gov. Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Former state Senate President Brady Adams dies Education Official hopeful whooping cough case at John Muir contained Crater dropout says graduating high school would've saved him time and money New Medford middle school would offer Montessori approach Mae Richardson Elementary turns 50 Prepping before 9th grade Environment Jackson County's wildlife services agent seen as both killer and savior Biomass technology: Creating products out of former waste Sugar Pine Mine co-owner: "Please stop calling the BLM and threatening their personnel" Oath Keepers say they'll defend contested mining claim on BLM land Central Point's Arbor Day project will provide shade along Mingus Creek State News Governor Brown says Oregon 'back on track' in State of the State address Ex-Daimler Portland engineer files $2 million discrimination suit Mannix-backed measure targets taxes Oregon committee hears bill preventing child access to guns Water shortage hits riverfront city Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Gloria Ruth Pelett Allsup Tobi Andrews (Sherri M. 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Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Erickson shores up business with three contracts Lithia Motors shares break the $100 mark Agriculture New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Broth maker leaves San Diego for Medford Opinion Latest Other Views: State Board of Education dragging its feet over Native American mascots Matthew T. Mangino: Mass incarceration enters the national consciousness Our View: Impeachment should be an option Letters to the Editor, April 17 Michael Gerson: Obama is desperately seeking a legacy Editorials Other Views: State Board of Education dragging its feet over Native American mascots Our View: Impeachment should be an option Our View: Gun background check bill is worth passing Our View: Don't expect a fix for I-5 viaduct through Medford anytime soon Our View: Minimum wage boost is no panacea Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, April 17 Letters to the Editor, April 16 Letters to the Editor, April 15 Letters to the Editor, April 14 Letters to the Editor, April 13 Columns Matthew T. Mangino: Mass incarceration enters the national consciousness Michael Gerson: Obama is desperately seeking a legacy Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Memories of Oklahoma City bombing still fresh 20 years later George Will: Sustainability gone wild Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Guest Opinion: Conversion therapy on LGBT youth is child abuse Guest Opinion: Pot opponents have good reason for concern Guest Opinion: If Courtney kills bill, $15 minimum wage will go to the ballot Guest Opinion: Phoenix embraces Bee City USA designation Lifestyle Latest stories Official hopeful whooping cough case at John Muir contained 6 trout to know App Finder: Best Earth Day apps Health Watch: How to avoid the dreaded weight-loss plateau Fishing Report: Friday, April 17 Food Tammy Kelly: Soft-shell crab is in season Community blog: Orange-blossom water enhances honey syrup High on flavor, low on calories: Cookbook offers tasty options for people trying to eat healthier Prudence Hilburn: Test-kitchen products become ‘secret’ specialties Community blog: Leave fruits whole for crumbles in a time crunch Home and Garden Carol Link: Tea olive shrubs can be propagated from new growth 12 ways ceiling fans keep you comfortable and save cash Dear Monty: Profiting with adaptive re-use Paul Rogers: Schedule your time wisely Home Help: 3 upgrades to help give your bathroom spa-like panache Health Official hopeful whooping cough case at John Muir contained Health Watch: How to avoid the dreaded weight-loss plateau Book Notes: A big body is not a bad body Go get physical Community blog: Better Living By Design: A Symposium You Must Not Miss Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Religion briefs: Friday, April 3 Religion briefs: Friday, March 27 Milestones and Achievements Charlesworth-Murphy Drizzle doesn't dampen Pear Blossom Parade spirit New Arrivals: Sunday, April 12 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Five picks for entertainment this week L.A. rockers The Relationship play Howiee's Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship Rogue Valley Symphony and 3 Leg Torso mingle classical with modern chamber music Third Fridays celebrates poetry, student art Theater Ashland New Plays Festival chooses new artistic director A tale of two plays at OSF Oregon Cabaret Theatre's "The Musical!" delivers five clever Broadway parodies in Ashland OCT stages 'The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)' Auditions for youth musical set at Camelot Music Alex de Grassi and Andrew York play SOU Live Music in Local Clubs L.A. rockers The Relationship play Howiee's Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship Rogue Valley Symphony and 3 Leg Torso mingle classical with modern chamber music Community Events Third Fridays celebrates poetry, student art 'BRAND,' 'Western' among Ashland Independent Film Festival award winners Ashland Co-Dependent Film Festival 2015 Pear Blossom Festival kicks off in Medford Ashland Independent Film Festival announces 2015 lineup Dining Siam Cafe offers 'mild' to 'very spicy' Thai cuisine Restaurant inspections, April 12, 2015 La Tapatia offers authentically delicious cuisine RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS: Sunday, April 5 The Laughing Clam in Grants Pass offers seafood-heavy menu Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Jurors see shocking conditions of accused serial killer's farm ... Monica claims she never acted on murderous thoughts ... Governor Brown says Oregon 'back on track' in State of the State address ... Jurors see shocking conditions of accused serial killer's farm ... Monica claims she never acted on murderous thoughts ... Governor Brown says Oregon 'back on track' in State of the State address ... BOXING Foreman turned life around as teen in GP He will receive honor at Job Corps 50th gala Comment By Jeff Duewel Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Jeff Duewel Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Apr. 17, 2015 at 8:17 PM By Jeff Duewel Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Apr. 17, 2015 at 8:17 PM » Social News It's been 50 years since a 16-year-old kid from the streets of Houston landed at the Job Corps site west of Grants Pass. George Foreman spent six months here, and in his autobiography "By George," the former heavyweight champion boxer turned preacher, entrepreneur and author says he was "reborn" in Grants Pass. He said it again in an interview with the Daily Courier in 2006. "When you hear me say 'Grants Pass, Oregon' it was like the beginning of me," Foreman said in 2006. Foreman, now 66 and living in Texas, is one of 10 Job Corps Graduate Heroes to be honored as part of the program's 50th anniversary, with a celebration and dinner on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Established by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 with the Economic Opportunity Act, the Job Corps was created to provide opportunity and training for disadvantaged youths regardless of "race, creed or color." Foreman was a little more than two years removed from Grants Pass when he won the Olympic gold medal in Mexico City in 1968, which set in motion of life of success that included a reign as heavyweight champ in 1973-74. After becoming a Christian preacher in 1977, he came out of retirement in 1994 to become the oldest heavyweight champ in history when he knocked out 27-year-old Michael Moorer at the age of 45. He said he was headed for a life of crime when he noticed a television ad with football legends Jim Brown and Johnny Unitas touting the Job Corps. "I would have been dead in three years," he said, but for the Job Corps. The Fort Vannoy Job Corps site, which was later transformed into the Redwood campus of Rogue Community College, opened in August 1965, and Foreman arrived shortly thereafter, said Mike Sparlin, a Grants Pass native and standout athlete who was a P.E. teacher at the Job Corps. Sparlin, who coached and taught for many years at high schools in Oregon and Arizona, is currently visiting family in Grants Pass. Sparlin, now 74, remembers a tough kid who was mature for his age. Sparlin coached Foreman in flag football, basketball, rowing, softball and a few other sports. "I never had to discipline George Foreman," he said. "He was a good guy. Easy to coach." Foreman may have gotten along well with Sparlin, but in his own memoirs, entitled "God in My Corner: A Spiritual Memoir," the future heavyweight champ contends he was a bully when he showed up in Grants Pass, not afraid to "coldcock" anyone. Sparlin does remember a compelling scene outside the local roller skating rink on Rogue River Highway. Earlier some local teens took issue with the Job Corps trainees, nearly all of whom were black. Sparlin said some local girls were helping them stay on their skates. "They couldn't skate a lick," he said. Outside, a local boy grabbed one of the trainees by the upper arm, and Foreman smacked him in the upper chest or neck, Sparlin said. "He backed that guy right off. I just said 'Get on the bus, get on the bus.' That was the only fisticuffs I ever saw George Foreman get into." Like Foreman himself, Sparlin disputes the local legend that Foreman learned to box in Grants Pass from former Sheriff George Eckstein, a former pro boxer himself. However, other local residents including Eckstein family members and at least one Job Corps employee, said in 2006 interviews that it did, indeed, happen. Sparlin said they did not want the Job Corps trainees fighting, and there were no boxing gloves. Sparlin does remember being with Foreman and a group of youths listening on the radio to the Muhammad Ali-Floyd Patterson heavyweight fight on Nov. 22, 1965. "Everyone was rooting against Clay because he was such a loudmouth," Sparlin said, referring to Ali, who had only recently changed his name from Cassius Clay. "Then later on, I saw George getting ready to fight Clay." Foreman said that listening to that fight got him interested in boxing, taking on the challenge from one of the other kids, he said in the 2006 interview. Foreman headed off to another Job Corps site in Pleasanton, Calif., in February 1966, where he learned to fight under Robert "Doc" Broadus. "I never picked up the gloves until I got to Pleasanton," Foreman said. Well, he did have to put on the work gloves. Besides recreation, the Job Corps trainees had to work outside, building fences, planting trees, digging holes and other chores. Foreman said Jim Stoop, director of the camp, had him dig a hole 4 feet wide and 4 feet deep for the base of the flagpole. "It took me days to dig that hole. I've never seen ground like that. That was a the beginning of my love affair with the American flag." Foreman hoisted that flag after winning the gold medal in 1968, the breakthrough moment in a long, successful life that was nurtured here in Grants Pass. "Sometimes I get up and have tears in my eyes because of Grants Pass," said Foreman during a 2006 interview with the Daily Courier. By Jeff Duewel Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Jeff Duewel Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Apr. 17, 2015 at 8:17 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football 2015 Fantasy Outlook for Chargers' Stars Apr. 17, 2015 at 6:15 am Fantasy Outlook for Dolphins Stars Apr. 14, 2015 at 6:37 am Biggest Fantasy Winners, Losers in Free Agency Apr. 8, 2015 at 2:45 am Fantasy Football Outlook for Bears Stars Apr. 7, 2015 at 1:09 am RBs Ready to Break Out on New Teams Apr. 2, 2015 at 10:21 am Who Will Be QB1s with New Teams in 2015? 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