WEST BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIP -- Muhammad Ali is being mourned around the world. His death at age 74 is especially painful for many people in Schuylkill County, where Ali trained for years.
When the champ came to Pennsylvania to focus on preparing for fights, he took time to bond with folks in Schuylkill County, especially young people.
A solitary bouquet of flowers sits outside the camp in Schuylkill County where Ali began training in the early 1970s.
Don Snowell of Pottsville recalls Ali came to Deer Lake determined to make a comeback after refusing to serve in the Vietnam War and being banned from boxing.
“He was in a transition time when he was moving up here. He was just getting back into the fight game, and he was suffering financially,” Snowell said.
At the time, Snowell was an 8 year old from Pottsville.
“As soon as he met us, he joked around. He boxed with us.”
Snowell remembers one Christmas his widowed mother got a generous check from the boxer.
“He was well grounded. Most of these athletes you see these big egos, Ali was not like that.”
Ali came to Schuylkill County to escape the limelight, but celebrities often made the trip. A photo shows a visit by Michael Jackson and his brothers. When the camera would show up, Ali would put on a show.
The men who came of age alongside The Champ felt a loss when Ali's training days were done. It’s something they are experiencing once again now that the legend they loved is gone.
“I mean, you are looking at Schuylkill County, Deer Lake Pennsylvania, Muhammad Ali, the biggest sports figure going. To lose that, it was crushing,” said Kevin Kennedy of Port Carbon.
Snowell said he is considering organizing some sort of memorial at the camp next weekend so people in the area can pay their respects.