One Illinois high school claims a super fan who’s not missed a single football game in nearly 80 years! That statistic earns Antioch Community High School, located about an hour northwest of Chicago, serious bragging rights! The 93-year-old football fanatic is Steve Young, and he spoke with CBS’s Steve Hartman about his love for hometown sports in 2022 and again in 2024.
Steve is one of Antioch’s most acclaimed record holders! Rain or shine, he has been in the stands or on the sidelines for every opening kickoff since 1946. Even a serious car accident didn’t keep Steve from attending a game.
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On one stormy summer evening, a traffic accident nearly killed Steve. He told Steve Hartman, “I had 11 broken bones, punctured left lung and while I was laying on the stretcher, I got hit by lightning. Knocked me off the stretcher. They got me in the hospital and one doctor says, ‘He’s not going to make it.’ And I said, ‘You guys don't know what you're talking about. I've got a game to go to!’” That’s precisely what Super-Fan Steve did—he was at the season opener just a few weeks later!
While many stay home more often as they age, that’s not the case for Steve Young. He’s constantly on the go because he isn’t just a football fan. Nope! Steve goes to nearly all the games for all the sports. He’s at basketball and softball games, volleyball, tennis, golf matches, and bowling tournaments. However, Steve isn’t just into athletics.
In addition to attending games for nearly 20 different sports, Steve attends plays and concerts as well! Three generations of Antioch alumni recall his presence at games and activities “no matter what.” For nearly eight decades, in bad or good weather, whether home or away, Steve has been consistently there, watching and rooting for the kids of his community.
For some students, he’s the only person watching. Steve shared, “I've had kids come up and say, ‘My parents never show up for anything.’ It kind of hits home.”
In 2022, after 76 years of always showing up, Mr. Young’s favorite school named him the Grand Marshal of the homecoming parade and honored him at a game. His years of cheering, encouraging, and supporting his hometown teams were rewarded with a big thanks. Two years later, Steve is still showing up, still cheering, and still in the stands!
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“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
h/t: CBS News
Photo Credit: YouTube/CBS Evening News
Hally is a freelance writer, blogger, and mental health advocate. A former school counselor, Hally works for a nonprofit that distributes tax dollars to mental health and prevention education providers that serve her county's kids and families. She's a contributor to a devotional and two essay collectives, and she shares resources and wisdom regarding parenting teens, mental health, faith, adoption, and more at http://www.hallyjwells.com where she strives to "Dig Deep and Reach High." She and her husband have three adult children and one rascally beagle pup. Hally loves travel, her book club sisters, personality tests, and a great glass of iced tea.