Tuesday, September 29, 2020
I just now learned of Mack Yoho's passing. When I was a little boy in Buffalo, my father took me to a dinner at Temple Emanuel on the north side of town. The guest of honor was Mack Yoho of the Buffalo Bills. I remember him as a big, easygoing man who signed his autograph for me. I was thrilled, because that season -- it must have been 1962, give or take a year -- Mack Yoho handled the kickoffs for the Bills. Every time he lined up for the kickoff, the crowd at War Memorial Stadium would call out together in a low murmur "Yo...", continuing as he ran up to strike the ball, and at the moment he actually kicked it they would all loudly shout "Ho!" So "Yoooooo ... Ho!" was what we kids would call out every time we kicked off playing football on the street or in our backyards.
I'll always remember him fondly. May his memory be a blessing.