Johnny Lattner: Heisman Winner and Steeler Dies of Mesothelioma

Heisman Trophy winner and two-time college football All-American Johnny Lattner died of mesothelioma earlier this month, joining a growing list of famous people stricken by this rare and aggressive cancer. Another hero lost to the horror of asbestos. Lattner, who died at 83, won the Heisman in 1953 as a senior at the University of Notre Dame. He was featured that year on the cover of Time Magazine, which hailed him as a shining star. He played only one year in the National Football League with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was selected to the Pro Bowl, but then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he suffered a career-ending knee injury. The Notre Dame campus observed a moment of silence in his honor recently before a basketball game against the Louisville Cardinals. Lattner was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in September of 2014, later citing his summer jobs in college working with asbestos products as the cause of the cancer. His two years in the U.S. Air Force also exposed him to the toxic mineral. Mesothelioma's Well-Known Victims He was further proof that asbestos does not discriminate, touching all walks of life, ranging from the blue-collar working class to the rich and famous. Other well-known mesothelioma deaths have included: Steve McQueen, (1930-1980): Movie star known as the King of Cool who was once America's highest-paid actor. Ed Lauter, (1938-2013): Character actor who appeared in more than 200 film and television projects. ...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Celebrities Source Type: news