Loved ones and admirers from all over the world are remembering Muhammad Ali following his passing, including two Kansas City men.
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"He never stopped being an advocate for humanity,” said George Jones.
“Sports is actually second, that was a vehicle to get him in front of the people. That's how he saw it,” added Hanif Khalil.
Khalil and Jones, both still friends today, were also friends with Ali throughout the 70s and 80s.
Like Ali, the two practice Islam and teamed up with Ali several times during his past trips to Kansas City.
"Ali would come here frequently to help with fundraising,” said Khalil.
Jones said the boxer’s philanthropy reached bounds the public was never aware of.
"[He] just wrote a check and paid their mortgage off, a lot of things we will never know,” he said regarding a church Ali once helped.
They also had fun reminiscing about Ali’s trips: shadow boxing at Crown Center with Kansas track star Jim Ryun, running exhibitions at Kemper Arena, going out on The Plaza. But the best memory came from those who didn’t believe “The Champ” would actually be in KC.
"We got Muhammad Ali in the car, he wants to come in the club. And the bouncer says, ‘Ya? And I'm Mickey Mouse," Jones recalled. "The guy sees Ali, so his eyes get big as a saucer. He's like 'oh champ!' and so Ali kinda bugs him and goes grrr, grrrr."
The two friends say they are proud to have known “The Greatest Of All Time.”
They said what made him so great was his dignity and compassion towards others, and they say that’s exactly how he would want to be remembered.
"Although we all know he was a champion in the ring, more importantly he was the people's champ,” said Khalil.
"I think he was transcendent because he never saw boundaries and never saw differences in the human family," said Jones. "You just really left him feeling that you were a better human being."
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Josh Helmuth can be reached at josh.helmuth@kshb.com
