Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy, Leigh Anne Tuohy, the matriarch of the Tuohy family who provided inspiration for the popular book and movie "The Blind Side," spoke to an overflow crowd at the Montgomery Quarterback Club on Tuesday.
Tuohy was portrayed by Sandra Bullock, who won a best actress Oscar in 2009.
It was ladies night at the Quarterback Club, and Tuohy's bubbling presence and passionate personality delighted those in attendance.
Tuohy shared the story of how her life intersected with Michael Oher. She described their initial encounter: "My husband, Sean, and I were riding down a street in Memphis. I looked out the window and saw Michael walking on the sidewalk in a bad neighborhood and inappropriately dressed for the cold weather."They drove back to where Michael was standing. She jumped out of the car and offered assistance, but Oher only asked for a lift to a bus stop.
Tuohy stopped by Oher's school next day hoping to take him shopping for clothes. She was advised by someone in the school's front office not to get involved, which Tuohy said only made her all the more determined to make a difference.
She soon learned Oher was one of 12 children. His mother was an alcoholic and cocaine addict. His father had been in and out of prison. Oher had attended 11 different schools during his first nine years as a student. He had repeated both the first and second grades. By the time he was 16, Oher had spent most of his childhood in foster homes. But then he was invited to become a part of the Tuohy family.
Life with the Tuohys transformed Oher. He began to excel both in academics and athletics in high school, eventually signing to play football at Ole Miss, where became an All-America talent. A first-round draft choice of the Baltimore Ravens, Oher became a starting offensive tackle and won the Super Bowl with Baltimore in 2013. Oher now plays for the Tennessee Titans, closer to his "adopted parents" in Memphis.
Tuohy told the audience that her family "changed for the better more than Michael did. Each of us can make a difference, one life at a time."
Tuohy challenged each audience member: "When you walk out the door tonight, 'turn around' and get involved in your community. Get out of your comfort zone. Take the opportunity to offer love and hope."
Also during the program, trophies were presented to private school player of the week Robert Adams of Trinity and public school player of the week Thomas Nichols of Billingsley.
