ALS is a debilitating disease characterized by progressive weakness and muscle atrophy in limbs and vital organs.  Recent research has linked the possible development of ALS with activities that have increased incidence of head trauma such as full contact athletics.  This post is an attempt to provide an unabridged list of coaches, athletes and former athletes, living or dead, that have suffered the effects of this monstrous disease.  It will be a living document that chronicles all diagnosed athletes across all types of professional, collegiate, or Olympic sports.  You are encouraged to Google, Wiki, or visit your local library to learn more about these icons and their contributions to sport.  Let their stories of strength touch your heart.

This list is very personal to me, as I am reminded of how my own father’s two and a half year ALS battle emotionally devastated my family.  This is for my Dad.

Lou Gehrig
Jun 19, 1903 – Jun 2, 1941
Professional Athlete (Baseball)

Jim “Catfish” Hunter
Apr 8, 1946 – Sep 9, 1999
Professional Athlete (Baseball)

Eric Scoggins
Jan 23, 1959 – Jan 9, 2009
Professional Athlete (Football)

Glenn Montgomery
Mar 13, 1967 – Jun 28, 1998
Professional Athlete (Football)

Jeff Julian
Jul 29, 1961 – Jul 16, 2004
Professional Athlete (Golf)

Ezzard Charles
Jul 7, 1921 – May 28, 1975
Professional Athlete (Boxing)

Charlie Wedemeyer
Feb 19, 1946 – Jun 3, 2010
Professional Athlete (Football)

George Yardley
Nov 3, 1928 – Aug 12, 2004
Professional Athlete (Basketball)

O.J. Brigance
Sep 29, 1969 – Present
Professional Athlete (Football)

Steve Gleason
Mar 19, 1977 – Present
Professional Athlete (Football)

Kevin Turner
Jun 12, 1969 – Present
Professional Athlete (Football)

Pete Duranko
Dec 15, 1943 – Jul 8, 2011
Professional Athlete (Football)

Steven Anthony Smith
(born August 30, 1964)
Professional Athlete (Football)

Donald George Revie – OBE,
(10 July 1927 – 26 May 1989),
was a football (soccer) player

Ronald Wayne Snidow
(December 30, 1941 – May 17, 2009)
Professional Athlete (Football)

John A. “Tony” Proudfoot
(10 September 1949 – 30 December 2010)
Professional Athlete (Football)

George Edward Banks
(September 24, 1938 – March 1, 1985)
Professional Athlete (Baseball)

David Randolph “Dave” Ames
(born January 16, 1937, died August 4, 2009)
Professional Athlete (Football)

Emory Dilworth Bellard
(December 17, 1927 – February 10, 2011)
Collegiate Coach (Football)

Jon Blais
(August 30, 1971 – May 27, 2007)
American Triathlete

Stefano Borgonovo
(17 March 1964 – 27 June 2013)
Italian Footballer (soccer)

Ed Buchanan
(July 16, 1934 – August 31, 1991)
Professional Athlete (Football)

Ian Crawley
(14 May 1962 – 8 July 2008)
English Footballer (soccer)

Jarrod Cunningham
(7 September 1968 – 22 July 2007)
New Zealand Rugby

Robert Dennis “Bob” Curtis
(25 January 1950 – 19 March 2010)
English Footballer

John Cushley
(21 January 1943 – 24 March 2008)
Scottish Footballer

Raymond E. Dorr
(November 2, 1941 – March 1, 2001)
Collegiate Coach

Jan Jacob Theodoor “Theo” Doyer
(December 29, 1955 – November 10, 2010)
Netherlands Feild Hockey

Brad Drewett
(19 July 1958 – 3 May 2013)
Australian Tennis Player

If you know of an athlete that is missing or have any suggestions regarding this list, please leave a comment below.