Looking back at a hero - Joe Delaney

[Darren J.]

Although Joe was a football player, the moral of this story has absolutely nothing to do with sports. His story should be shared and never forgotten.

"If this just saves one child…..it will all be worth it.”

It’s been stated a thousand times, usually as rhetoric with no substance. I know a substantive story where one child was saved, at a cost most would not be willing to bear.

A bit over 19 years ago, a young 24-year old man had everything going for him. His career had taken off, he had a loving wife and three children and his future was mapped out in the National Football League.

On June 29, 1983 that all changed with three children’s cries for help. At Chennault Park in Monroe, Louisiana this young NFL athlete answered a call to be extraordinary.

Joe Delaney had beaten all the odds for his entire life. Discouraged by his father to pursue his dreams of playing football, Joe went on to star at the small college of Northwestern State University. He was noticed by the Kansas City Chiefs and selected in the second round of the 1981 draft.

He rewarded the Chiefs franchise, then at a lowly state throughout the league, with a record setting performance. He gained over 1,100 yards, played in the Pro Bowl, and was named the team MVP. In 1982, the strike-shortened season interrupted what was surely to be Delaney’s second season of many successful campaigns in the NFL.

The strike was settled and the Chiefs held hope for 1983, with plans for Delaney to return as the team’s star running back. Then fate stepped in.

On that fateful June day in 1983, much of the hope for the Chiefs as a team was squelched. At the same time, much of the hope for mankind was lifted up, squarely on the shoulders of Joe Delaney. The scenario began when three kids had wandered into a “pond” and had gotten themselves into a life-threatening situation.

The children were screaming for help. Joe was at that park and became an extraordinary hero in the blink of an eye. Reports are that Joe instructed others nearby to call for help, while he acted. You see Joe Delaney could not swim, but he knew without his intervention these children would surely perish in that pond of water in the park.

Joe waded into the water and managed to get one of the boys to the bank of the body of water. That child was saved. Then as extraordinary heroes do, Joe went back for the other two children. He would never return from the water alive. The other two children he attempted to save also perished on this June day in 1983.

The term hero was properly redefined last September after being over used for trivial accomplishments for many years. This was not a trivial feat that Joe Delaney performed. He gave his life in an attempt to save three children that he did not know.

His selfless act produced more results than he could have ever delivered on any football field. He managed to save one child’s life at an extraordinary cost. His three children would grow up without a father and his young wife would be widowed. In this instance Joe Delaney’s sacrifice saved one child and in his selfless thought process, it was worth it.

He was and is a hero and should not have been forgotten.

http://www.plattecountylandmark.com/cchatter81.htm

[browneyes106]

Thanks for posting that Darren. Joe was truly a hero for saving those children that he didn't know. There is no greater love. RIP JOE #37.

[Darren J.]

1 response for a man like Joe Delaney is absolutely shameful.

[browneyes106]

I'm surprised that there weren't a lot of responses in this thread.

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

I've never heard about this before, but what he did was an amazing thing. It takes an amazing person to do what he did. RIP.

[InspectorExstead]

wow. i had never heard about that either. but it was a touching story. joe delaney was a brave man who should be remembered for this selfless act. what a man. rip.

[Chocoholic]

I never heard about that before, but that is an amiazing story.