In the seventeenth round of the NFL Draft in 1956, the Green Bay Packers drafted Bart Starr out of the University of Alabama. His playing time was limited during his first few years on the team, but the arrival of Vince Lombardi as the Packers coach in 1959 changed Bart Starr’s football career forever. Vince Lombardi found Starr an intelligent and capable player and with Lombardi’s encouragement, Starr acquired the self-confidence to become one of the NFL's great field leaders.

By 1960, Starr led the Green Bay Packers to the Western Division championship - the first in a long run of successes for the Packers. Starr used his astuteness and skill to lead the Packers to five NFL titles and two Super Bowl Championships. He was honored three times as Most Valuable Player - once as a Green Bay Packer MVP in 1966 and MVP of Super Bowls I and II in 1967 and 1977, respectively. Starr played for 15 years as quarterback and rose to become one the greatest players the NFL has ever seen.

Bart Starr’s legacy on the football field is matched by his charitable legacy. After Vince Lombardi passed away from colon cancer in 1970, Bart and Cherry Starr graciously accepted the role of Honorary Chairpersons of the first annual Vince Lombardi Memorial Golf Classic. Over 40 years later, they still tirelessly serve as Honorary Chairpersons of the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.

On behalf of the cancer patients who benefit from Bart and Cherry’s dedication and support, we humbly thank them.