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Mo-Fo, hometown hero, dead at 32

 
Morris Foreman, one of Farmville Central's all-time greatest athletes and a football star at East Carolina from 1992-95, passed away suddenly on Thursday. A fan favorite with multiple on-field talents, Foreman was instrumental in helping the Pirates gain back-to-back Liberty Bowl berths in 1994-95. (Photo: ECU Media Relations)
 

Soft-spoken hero did his talking with his deeds

In her grief, Renée Jacobs Foreman wanted to share a story about her husband. A few years ago, Morris and Renée found themselves in a financial crunch. Morris saw his hours being cut down sharply at Collins & Aikman and with a new house to be paid for, the short term solution was that Renée would pick up a part-time extra job to help make ends meet while Morris transitioned to a new job. Down the street, there was a corner bar… More from Ron Cherubini...

 

By Al Myatt
©2005 Bonesville.net

One of East Carolina's homegrown legends, Morris Foreman, has died of an apparent heart attack.

Farmville Central High School football coach Dixon Sauls said he learned of his former star's passing via a phone call at 1:30 a.m. on Thursday.

"He was a folk hero in the era he played in Farmville," Sauls said. "He united this community with his character and success. He walked the walk. It's rare when your most talented athlete is also your hardest worker but he wanted to make everyone around him better.

"He was Michael Vick before Michael Vick was Michael Vick."

Foreman quarterbacked Farmville to a conference championship in football in 1990 and played point guard on the Jaguars' 2-A state title basketball teams in 1989 and 1990.

Foreman, nicknamed Mo-Fo, was recruited by programs including Michigan, North Carolina, N.C. State and ECU. He appeared headed for N.C. State but reversed field and became a Pirate after a year of prep school at Fork Union. That choice became a trendsetter for ECU as former coach Steve Logan was able to keep other talented players close to home in recruiting.

Not long after Foreman finished his stellar career with the Pirates, Logan said, "He contributed to the program practically from the time he walked on the field as a freshman."

Foreman played outside linebacker and was a return man at ECU. He was in on 254 career tackles and had seven interceptions. He averaged 28.7 yards on kickoff returns and 10.4 yards on punt returns.

Foreman was a tri-captain as a senior on the 1995 ECU team that topped Stanford 19-13 in the Liberty Bowl to finish 9-3.

A virtual lock to be enshrined in the East Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame at some point, Foreman wore jersey No. 7.

Foreman, 32, was living in Farmville and working at a correctional facility in Vanceboro, according to Sauls.

Foreman's son, Demetrius Staton, is a sophomore linebacker/tackle for Farmville. The Jaguars meet Plymouth in their season opener tonight.

Memorial arrangements were pending as Foreman's brothers, Jerry and Willie, were returning from Georgia. A service at Farmville Central has been discussed as a possibility.

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02/23/2007 12:33:24 AM
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