I never met Rick Majerus. He was an assistant basketball coach at Marquette University in 1977 when they won the National NCAA championship under Al McGuire. He went on to become a great college basketball coach.
I did meet Ray Majerus (Rick’s Dad). Ray was V-P of the United Auto Workers union in southeast Wisconsin during the late 1960’s. When I was working in Sheboygan, our firm was negotiating a new 3 year contract and talks broke down. “Big Ray” was brought in by the UAW brotherhood to nudge negotiations along. His opening remark at the negotiating table was “you (the company) have the money and we want it”. The remark was followed by a deep provocative chuckle.
The Majerus family lived in Sheboygan Falls until 1970 when they moved to Milwaukee. When Rick became assistant coach at my alma mater, Marquette, I began to wonder who this “Majerus” guy was. Sure enought, he was the son of “Big Ray”. Ray must have weighed close to 400 pounds. When he put his arms on the negotiating table, he had a physical presence. He smoked big cigars and his appetite was legendary. Ray died at age 63.
Son Rick battled the same weight problems (and subsequent heart problems) as his dad. Rick reached a weight of 370 pounds and the resemblance to his dad was remarkable.
The stories about son Rick’s eating were legendary. Pizzas. Lots of pizzas. He would visit Schultz’s restaurant in Sheboygan when in town. He’d order 6 Johnsonville brats without the bun. That came with cups of ketchup and mustard. And sausage. Luedtkes Meat Market was located on North 15th street in Sheboygan. Rick would never leave Sheboygan without generous purchases of fresh cut sausage. Rick battled heart problems all his life and was waiting a potential heart transplantwhen he died. Amazing that he was 64 years old, approximately the same as his dad.
I followed Rick’s career because I knew his dad. I followed him because he was from Sheboygan. I followed him because he liked good Johnsonville sausage. I followed him when he led Utah University against Kentucky in a national college championship game.
There are people who enter our lives that make an impact. The Majerus family was like that. It was interesting that Rick could not avoid the same fate the met took his dad. But Rick did live. Oh my how he lived!
Love,
Dad