Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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WHERE HAVE YOU GONE? … to make it happen," Huarte said. "I did a lot of basic work to develop the fundamental skills, and then was very fortunate to have Ara come along. For- tune in sports is strange. A lot of it is being at the right place at the right time." His timing was right in the pros, too — despite playing behind fellow rookie Joe Namath with the New York Jets. Huarte never played a minute in his one season at New York — but his greatest transaction was made there when he met Eileen Marie Devine during an elevator ride in Shea Sta- dium. They too will have a golden anniversary coming up soon. Huarte remained a journeyman in the NFL before retiring from the soon to be de- funct World Football League in 1975. John and Eileen started their own business, Arizona Tile, in 1977, first opening in San Diego. Before his sons took over, he was the CEO of more than 1,000 employees as the company expanded to become the largest im- porter of granite in North America, with the primary product line includ- ing tile, marble and granite counter tops. The family business, has ex- panded on an international scale into South America, Europe and China. The father of five and grandfather of beyond twice that number, Huarte is involved with several philanthropic organizations and is a member of the Board of Trustees for St. John's Health Foundation in Santa Monica, Calif. The Heisman Trophy win in 1964 represented only one year of football. Since then, Huarte has lived a Heis- man-like life. ✦ Notre Dame honored Huarte (second from the right) during this year's Michigan game to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his winning the Heisman Trophy. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS