The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page K16

16K 5,2016 The Courier-Journal I Muhammad last years, the graceful boxer who once floated in the ring merely shuffled when he walked. once-fiery, sometimes-poetic words ave way mostly to public silence. while his more han 30-year battle with disease trans- ormed Ali, it gave him something too respect as a different type of fighter, one who persevered and stayed visible despite his debilitating illness. such as lighting the Olympic orch with a shaking hand in 1996 inspired many others with to live their lives fully. One is John Baumann, a Louisville awyer who had always admired Ali as aboxer, and more than a decade ago got his autograph during a chance meeting at Louisville International Airport.

Then, like Ali, he was stricken with in 2003, in the rime of life. He decided to keep working as an attorney and teaching at the Univer- ity of Louisville, wrote a book published in 2011called and became a motivational speaker. said not going to stop my world. Muhammad Ali did that said Baumann. When times get difficult, focus or fold, as they say in football.

Muhammad Ali is a focus person. He complain. He give A status brought attention to and money for research a nd treatment. Along with actor Mic hael J. Fox, Ali became a public face of the progressive neurological condi- ion that affects up to 1.5 million Americans and about 12,000 Kentuckians.

The disease causes tremors, slow- ess of movement and problems with gait and balance, and eventually can trap functioning minds in failing bodies. Although not considered fatal, victims can succumb to complications, such as swallowing problems hat cause choking. sort of been the hidden disease for said Vicki Stanley, former xecutive director of the Louisville- based Parkinson Support Center of Kentuckiana. Ali and Michael J. Fox have made it OK to say you have John Swarts, who has and is a former president of the support board of directors, said determination to stay in the public eye, especially in the exhausting ate stages of the disease, took guts.

like a prize said Swarts, etired product manager for global roducts at General Electric who lives in Bardstown, Ky. (was) in a 15- ound fight for his role debated That fight began in the early 1980s. By the end of 1983, speech and gait had worsened, and he had developed tremors in his left hand, according to Ali: The Glory a 2002 book by Felix Dennis a nd Don Atyeo. But like other instances during A struggle, he and his family public immediately. An official statement saying he had mild symp- DOUG PRESS Muhammad Aliwatches the Olympic flame climb toward the caldron after he ignited it during the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Atlanta in July 1996.

STILL FIGHTING LAURA UNGAR THE COURIER-JOURNAL Ali helped put face on once-hidden disease Inever ask, for no ondition. so much good. been so blessed. God tries you. ome things are good.

Some things are bad. All of them are MUHAMMAD ALI in a Digest interview KENNETH On Capitol Hill, the boxing legend and actor Michael J. Fox joke around before the start of a Senate Labor, Health, Human Services and Education subcommittee hearing on disease on May 22, 2002. Continued on the next page.