George Foreman was remembered Monday in a memorial service in his hometown of Houston for his legendary boxing career as well as for his love of God, family, horses and cheeseburgers and for his desire to help his fellow man. "He preached love all the time. That's what this life is all about. It's all about love and George was pure because George lived and believed what he preached," said James Douglas, a longtime friend and former president of Texas Southern University in Houston. During a nearly 1½ hour memorial service, Foreman's family and friends recalled anecdotes about a man who was a two-time boxing heavyweight champion but who was also a pastor who delivered life affirming sermons at his church in northeast Houston and a savvy businessman best known for the George Foreman Grill. Foreman even addressed the crowd posthumously at the Wortham Theater Center, a performing arts center that hosted the memorial, with audio messages recorded previously.

"Winning and losing can never assure a lasting smile. But saying to the face you see daily, I did my best,' can," Foreman said on the recording. Many of the people who spoke at the memorial, including George Foreman IV, one of five sons of the boxing legend, highlighted the importance of faith in the elder Foreman's life and how God guided his efforts to help others.  "How well do I remember how Jesus brought me through? I prayed, I walked a night or two. I said, Lord, why don't you take and use me? That's all that I can do. I give my life to Jesus, what about you?