Steven Cyril DeLong

DELONG, STEVEN CYRIL - age 67, of Knoxville, Tennessee passed away Wednesday morning, August 18, 2010 at Mercy Medical Center-St. Mary's. Steve was born in Norfolk, Virginia, July 3, 1943 to parents, Isabella Grace DeLong and the late Cyril Archer DeLong, of Chesapeake, Virginia. He graduated from Oscar Frommel Smith High School in Norfolk, Virginia and attended the University of Tennessee from 1962-1964. Steve had a very successful career as a football player at UT and in the NFL. Some of his athletic accomplishments included being selected as a two-time All-Southeastern Conference and All-American at Tennessee as a middle guard in 1963 and 1964. He was also winner of the Outland Trophy as the nation's best lineman. After completing his college career, Steve went on to be a first-round draft choice of the American Football League's San Diego Chargers in 1965, where he played for seven seasons before ending his career as a member of the National Football League's Chicago Bears in 1972. In 1987, Steve was inducted into the Hall of Fame of his high school alma mater, Oscar Frommel Smith High in Norfolk, along with his brother, Ken DeLong, former Tennessee lineman Ed Beard, and former UCLA and Seattle Seahawk player Kenny Easley. Delong was also elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993, and most recently honored with his induction into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in January of 2000. Steve spent many years as a resident of Newport, Tennessee where he had a community of friends who loved him well. After a life-changing accident in 2002 he went to reside at Hillcrest Healthcare-North where he developed and an extended family of friends, staff and residents who cared for him and whom he loved dearly. He is loved and survived by his daughter, Stephanie and her husband, Kile Hardesty; son, Keith and wife, Marla DeLong, all of Knoxville, Tennessee; his mother, Grace DeLong, of Chesapeake, Virginia; brother, Kenny and wife, Rene DeLong, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; grandchildren, Ally and Kile Hardesty and Jordan, Griffin and Emmersyn DeLong; and many extended family members. He was always surrounded by so many people who loved and cared for him during his years after his injury. The family will receive friends at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church Chapel on Sunday, July 22, 2010, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. followed by a brief Celebration of Life. Because of their amazing care and assistance during Steve's recovery from his accident the family is requesting in lieu of flowers donations be made to: The Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center C/O Fort Sanders Foundation, 280 Fort Sanders West Blvd., Building 4, Suite 100, Knoxville, TN 37922. Arrangements by Cremation Options, Inc. (865) 6WE-CARE (693-2273) www.cremationoptionsinc.com.