The lawsuit says that when they tried to order, the manager told them to go to Happy's Southfield location because "they would be more at home there." [15], In October 1968, Farr was named by the AP as the NFL offensive player of the week after totaling 210 yards (138 rushing, 72 receiving) and scoring three touchdowns in a 28-10 victory over the Chicago Bears. [22], Farr and teammate Lem Barney recorded background vocals on Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On", released in January 1971. Then there was the Vikings who were just our nemesis, they had a 14-game win streak on us. Sherrie Handrinos, a corporate spokeswomanfor the Farmington Hills-based pizza chain, said the Commerce Township location turned away the Barneys because it was not officially open after the store closed in July for remodeling. Acho took issue with the alleged Southfield comment. ", " Then he told me to go to Southfield?". Farr totaled 1,001 yards from scrimmage (821 rushing and 180 receiving) and eight touchdowns. And finally after coach Forzano became head coach for the Detroit Lions out of Navy we broke the streak. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. [36][37] There were legal problems surrounding Farr's On-Time Device,[38] which prevented drivers of leased vehicles from starting the car if they missed payments. Why not West Bloomfield?" Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The man told her he was cooking for a big party. He called for the company to release security footage from the day. That's when the manager informed him of the soft opening and the restaurant not being open to the public, the report stated. Lem Barney. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) and played for the Lions as a cornerback, return specialist, and punter from 1967 to 1977. He was selected as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1967, played in seven Pro Bowls, and was selected as a first-team All-NFL player in 1968 and 1969. Barney described his parents as culinary scientists, per the Pro Football Hall of Fames official website, Barney told Saylor in his fourth NFL season with the Detroit Lions in 1970, Barney told The Grueling Truth podcast in the fall of 2016, who presented Barney in his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction in 1992, David said as he presented Barney in Canton, OH in the summer of 1992, Lem Barney became an ordained minister in 1975, He has a daughter, LaTrece, and a son, Lem III, Barney told Yahoo Sports Radios Travis Rodgers (via Yahoo! According to the deputy'sreport, the pizza shop wasn't open to the public until the following week as the manager relayed to him and was only doing a soft opening for employees and the corporation to test the new systems. He then sustained a hairline fracture in his left arm at the end of August 1964. It ended up being the New York Giants because I could watch them on television and I would root for the guys in the black jerseys during the black and white TV days and it ended up being the New York Giants. All rights reserved. Help us build our profile of Lem Barney! FAVORITE FOOD: FAVORITE NFL STADIUM OTHER THAN TIGER STADIUM OR THE PONTIAC SILVERDOME: ProFootballHistory.com. My wrists would be taped Id tape my left wrist then my right wrist and I would dress the same way. DETROIT (AP) Former Detroit Lions Hall of Famer Lem Barney and his wife are suing a Detroit-area pizza chain for racial discrimination after being refused service. He said that while the Happy's Pizza corporation "may have a certain philosophy" about social justice and fairness,that doesn't mean that it's adhered to"in a rural setting like Commerce Township. I see the evolution of the game being a bigger, stronger, faster and quicker game merely because of the advantage that they have to study the game today. Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile, BS Health and Science, Jackson State University (1967), Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile. After speaking with employees at the location, Handrinos said she was told thatno one recommended that customers go to the Southfield store. [2] He graduated from Hebert High School, a segregated school in Beaumont, Texas, in 1963, where he lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and track. DETROIT (AP) Former Detroit Lions Hall of Famer Lem Barney and his wife are suing a Detroit-area pizza chain for racial discrimination after being refused service. Being a former gold recorder with Motown and Marvin Gaye, Ive gotten away from the hard music as I call it today and in my latter years Ive gone to the softer. A tall, younger man appeared from behind the counter and towered over her. John Brodie another great guy, and Sonny Jurgenson. Collect, curate and comment on your files. FamousBirthdays.com - use subject to the practices disclosed in our privacy policy. He said, 'Go to Southfield. "I advised Barney that (that) was probably the reason she did not receive service. She said that other customers were referred to locations in Farmington Hills and Pontiac, but that no one at the pizza shop recalled suggesting anyone go to Southfield. FAVORITE NFL TEAM AS A CHILD: It wasnt just one it was two, Lem and Berdell Barney. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. We would love to give them a gift card or delivery to their house.". They "immortalize" the greatest players, coaches, and contributors that this game has produced. Detroit Former Detroit Lions Hall-of-Famer Lem Barney and his wife are suing a Metro Detroit pizza chain, alleging they were refused service for racial reasons. off the great gulf and sea foods like shrimps and lobsters and crabs and things of that nature and a lot of vegetables. Barney and his wife, Jacqueline, explained to the manager that they live in Commerce Township and wanted to order food in a closer and more convenient location. By Barneys [35], Farr specialized in the subprime market, expanded into the used car market, and offered credit at rates up to 25 percent. Lem Barney recalls his favorite NFL moment. The Barneys' attorney says this is what they're hoping for - "a strong message sent by a judge or jury," Acho said. The stories arent consistent.". It's over 12 miles away.". COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, Mich. Former Detroit Lions Hall of Famer Lem Barney and his wife are suing a Detroit-area pizza chain for racial discrimination after being refused service. My wife and I are from both the waters. He was Well I will not stand for it. Who is Lem Barney dating? After retiring from football, Farr acquired a Ford Motor Company dealership in 1975, eventually expanding his business to 11 dealerships in five states. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1992. I don't know if certain people feel emboldened today. You're more at home there,' " said attorney James Acho,who plans on seeking security footage of the visit. In a race discrimination lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Detroit, Lemuel and Jacqueline Barney allege Happy's Pizzaexhibited unlawful and "outrageous conduct"by "refusing to serve them and telling them to instead go to a predominantlyAfrican-American city. WebFormer Detroit Lion Lem Barney poses on red carpet with his wife at Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center during the 18th Annual Ford Freedom Lem Barney, cornerback for Outside of the moneythe game is still a mans game. The lawsuit filed in federal court Monday says Lem and Jacqueline Barney went to Happys Pizza in Commerce Township Nov. 2. He was a 7-time Pro Bowl selection and recorded 56 interceptions in his 11 NFL seasons. Former Detroit Lions Hall of Famer Lem Barney and his wife are suing a Detroit-area pizza chain for racial discrimination after being refused service. Farr was born in Beaumont, Texas, in 1944,[1] the son of a truck driver and a domestic worker. I just don't think it should be tolerated in a civilized society.". Happy's Pizza said no one at the Commerce Township store recalls anyone telling the Barneys to go to Southfield. Sports Frank Schwab) in the fall of 2013, Detroit authorities arrested Lem Barney in the spring of 1993, a local jury cleared Barney of drug charges, The Life And Career Of Charlie Sanders (Story), The Life And Career Of Rodney Peete (Story), The Life And Career Of Billy Sims (Story), The Life And Career Of Calvin Johnson (Story), The Life And Career Of Wayne Fontes (Story), The Life And Career Of Barry Sanders (Complete Story), The Life And Career Of Jack Christiansen (Story), The Life And Career Of Jason Hanson (Story), The Life And Career Of Herman Moore (Complete Story), The Life And Tragic Career Of Mike Utley (Story), The Life And Career Of Alex Karras (Complete Story), What Happened To Joey Harrington? Police in Commerce Township could not be reached for comment. DETROIT (AP) Former Detroit Lions Hall of Famer Lem Barney and his wife are suing a Detroit-area pizza chain for racial discrimination after being refused service. Ive always loved gospel and jazz because Im a former drummer. [4], Farr began his college football career at Santa Monica City College before transferring to UCLA in 1964. I know I was.". [3] His older brother, Miller Farr, played nine seasons as a defensive back in the NFL from 1965 to 1973. Former Detroit Lions star and NFL Hall of Famer Lem Barney says a pizza joint turned him and his wife away because they are African-Americanand that a police officer agreed with that conclusion. 2023 www.detroitnews.com. I still love tennis and golf and with those four things I feel like Im on top of the world. Both sons went on to play football at UCLA, and then professional football in the NFL. Discover Lem Barney's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. I guess The Longest Yard going back to my days of football I enjoyed that. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992 and received his Hall ofFame ring in 2015 at Ford Field in a game against the Chicago Bears. No, I had some other presenting choices, but I think my whole game was solidified by the teaching and training of the great late Jimmy David, the Hatchet we called him. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items. He was selected to play in his second Pro Bowl after the 1970 season. The door was open. [9][10], In 1966, Farr was the starting halfback for the UCLA Bruins team that compiled a 91 record and was ranked No. [1], In 1970, Farr returned from his second knee surgery and totaled 930 yards from scrimmage, 717 rushing and 213 receiving. 100s: Black CEOs Who Redefined and Conquered American Business (John Wiley & Sons 1999), Meredith, Robyn - Auto Dealer Has an Offer for Drivers With Bad Credit, but There's a Catch. As the lawsuit notes, Southfield is 70 percent African-American. So, how much is Lem Barney worth at the age of 77 years old? "I told my husband, 'Lem, let's go.' "Happy's Pizza never turns a customer away. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992 and received his Hall of Fame ring in 2015 at Ford Field in a game against the Chicago Bears. Chicken and seafood. Instead, she said, customers were directed tothe two geographically closest locations that were openin Farmington Hills and Pontiac. WHATS YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT OFF THE FOOTBALL FIELD? See what happens when Teams of Hall of Fame, He was selected as a consensus first-team All-American in 1966, gained over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in both 1965 and 1966, and was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988. [31] In November 1975, after retiring from the NFL, Farr invested his savings to purchase a boarded-up Ford dealership in Oak Park, Michigan. [26] Farr totaled 216 rushing yards on 62 carries for the 1972 season. When they tried to order, the suit alleges, the manager told them to go to Happys Southfield location because they would be more at home there.. [1][21] Having missed the Lions' Thanksgiving Day games in 1968 and 1969, Farr rushed for 121 yards and caught two long passes in the Lions' 1970 Thanksgiving Day game. There is not a day that doesnt go by that I dont remember them fondly in prayers and ask the lord to allow their souls to forever rest in peace. [17] He led the NFL with 490 rushing yards through the first six games of the 1968 season,[18] but he was injured on the third play of the game against the San Francisco 49ers, missed five games, and underwent surgery on his left knee. [6], During the 1965 and 1966 seasons, Farr and Gary Beban were the core of a UCLA backfield dubbed the "dream backfield" in Sports Illustrated. On the day that the Barneys visited, Handrinos said, the pizza shop was testing food and equipment for the future opening,but that no food was sold to anyone. [41], Farr was married to his first wife, Mae Rutha (Forbes) Farr, in the mid-1960s. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. asked Acho, whoadded that he'sknown Barney a long time and that "he doesn't need to sue Happy's Pizza for attention.". [39] The franchises were sold in April 2002 and subsequently closed. The Barneys said they called the Commerce Township Police and reported the incident. He never said a word. Farr died at his home in Detroit on August 3, 2015 at age 70 of a massive heart attack. You don't want blacks in your store?' My wife and I are from both the waters. Handrinos said the manager spoke with police on the phone. The lawsuit filed in Detroits federal court Monday says Lem and Jacqueline Barney went to Happys Pizza in Commerce Township Nov. 2. "And then we'll know. Shame on them, Jacqueline "Jacci" Barney said in a statement emailed to the Free Press. WebFamily Life Married his first wife in 1967 and got remarried thirty-two years later to Jacci Barney. She added that Happy's Pizza, a Detroit-born brand, has supported many foundations and causes of organizations and professional athletes in Detroit. But instead of getting food, theygot the cold shoulder from a manager who, the suit claims, told them to drive to Southfield "because they would be more at home there.". The report also notes that the deputy handled theBarney'scomplaint over the phone the lawsuit says he went to the restaurant. "So then I said,'What is it? "The days of slavery are over but some people feel they can treat black people like second-class citizens. "He's the one who suggested that I file a discrimination lawsuit," said Jacqueline Barney, 70, referring to the sheriff's deputy who responded to what she described as a heart-wrenching ordeal. MT: So 45 years later, Marvin and What's Going On are still relevant and still as poignant as ever. I didnt pick 20. Only 267 bronze busts reside in the Hall of Fame Gallery inside the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Farr was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round, seventh overall pick, of the 1967 NFL Draft and played seven years as a running back for the Lions. He was a major character inGeorge Plimpton's book 'Paper Lion.'. Himself, Do you know something we don't? [19] He finished the 1968 season with 972 yards from scrimmage, 597 rushing and 375 receiving. 20? His business failed in 2002 following adverse publicity and lawsuits relating to sales and finance practices. Chicken and seafood. The lawsuit WHATS BETTER ABOUT THE NFL TODAY THAN WHEN YOU PLAYED? (AP Photo/Jose Juarez), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. is 6'(1.83m) . Were pretty healthy eaters. Chicago was as cold as asphalt, Detroit; Tiger Stadium was asphalt I mean it was just so hard. A third time they were preparing for a corporate event. "I advised thatthis incident was a civil matter and she agreed with me.". Theyve got a lot of big guys today bigger, stronger, faster and quicker. [39], In January 2002, Farr was in discussions to sell his franchises in Oak Park and Waterford Township, Michigan, to Ford Motor Company, who had outstanding liens with Farr. Detroit Former Detroit Lions Hall-of-Famer Lem Barney and his wife are suing a Metro Detroit pizza chain, alleging they were refused service for racial reasons. [30][31][32] The Lions were owned by William Clay Ford Sr., the last surviving grandson of Henry Ford, and Farr worked for Ford Motor Company in the dealer development division during the off-season. He is not dating anyone. Once I talked it over with the wife there was no question about who I was going to get to present me into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.