My favorite memory had to do with one former Bill. Fred Smerlas. I was but a wee lad, maybe 7 or 8 when my mom came home from work one cold, snowy afternoon. She had heard that the big guy was coming to Batavia for a meet and greet at the tiny mall there.
We got there on time and there were maybe 100-150 people already there. Time came for him to show up...no Fred. Half hour later...no Fred. People were getting frustrated and the atmosphere was tense. It was getting loud and people were being obnoxious.
Suddenly the crowd just got dead silent and I looked up to see a mountain of a man walk past. No joke (to an 8 year old) this was the biggest man alive. He walked up to the front and said in his loud voice..."Yea, got stuck in the snow. It happens."
He stayed way past his allotted time to make sure everyone got an autograph. I still remember being in awe when it was my turn, he signed my Melton's Smerlas sweatshirt, a football card and asked me who my favorite player on the team was. I panicked and said it was Joe Theisman.