Steve Tillman – A Memorable American Hero

Tillman led his team to an amazing 67-52 record and an appearance in the NCAA tournament during his second year as head coach, making an impactful statement about college basketball through his play. His jump shot was out-of-this-world.

Steve Tillman specializes in estate planning, family law and divorce law matters as well as real estate law in Louisville.

Early Life and Education

Tillman wrote his family in a letter explaining his decision to forgoing football and instead devote himself to serving his nation. On April 22, 2004, during a firefight with Taliban militants in Khost province of southeastern Afghanistan, Tillman died during what military authorities termed as a rescue operation. Since his death was widely recognized as heroic and his memorial decal began being flown over stadiums during games across North America.

At Leland High School in San Jose, California, Tillman excelled both on offense and defense. A highly popular player, he led his team in tackles, sacks and interceptions – earning a draft selection by Arizona Cardinals; however he eventually decided instead to join the Army in May 2002 instead of signing their three-year contract worth $3.6 Million.

Professional Career

Steve Tillman is an esteemed aerospace and manufacturing professional. With decades of experience ranging from quality inspection to lean manufacturing and aircraft management, he has held various roles at Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas including electrician, product line manager and executive director.

He is also an entrepreneur, owning a business that specializes in arcade machines. Together with his partners, TJ oversees wealth management; Adam LeRoy handles insurance; and Scott Goldsmith contributes marketing expertise and arcade knowledge for this venture.

He helped his high school basketball team capture a state championship and was chosen as a McDonald’s All American Player, eventually playing professionally throughout Europe and South America.

Achievement and Honors

Tillman led West Philadelphia High to victory at the inaugural McDonald’s All American Game and was honored as Player of the Year by City Council that same year.

Tillman went on to play professional baseball for both the Baltimore Orioles and their Triple-A affiliate Norfolk Tides; during one start with Norfolk Tides he pitched a no-hitter against Gwinnett Braves!

He currently holds the Plaenert-Bascom and Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorship of History, African American Studies, and American Indian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His work on white supremacy, slavery emancipation, black citizenship rights, and more gained numerous scholarly awards – with More Than Freedom: Fight for Black Citizenship in a White Republic 1829-1889 being selected as a New York Times Notable Book by critics and peers alike.

Personal Life

Tillman was an All-American running back who helped University of Oklahoma win the 1985 national title. Drafted by Houston Oilers and playing eight seasons in NFL.

He was also an accomplished basketball player, helping West Philadelphia High become the nation’s finest squad during his junior year in 1977. Additionally, he made history when participating in the inaugural McDonald’s All American Game played at Philadelphia Spectrum – East vs West matchup!

As his mobility began to decline in later life, his former teammates united together and created a GoFundMe page to raise money for him. They raised over $10,000 – enough for him to purchase an electric scooter that made life simpler for him. He was truly touched by their act of kindness.

Net Worth

Tillman played safety for the Arizona Cardinals for 12 seasons, amassing 340 tackles during that span. He rose to stardom when he decided to join the military eight months after 9/11 by turning down a three-year, $3 million contract and instead opt for military service enlistment instead. Many hailed Tillman as an extraordinary American hero.

He was selected in the 2nd Round (35th Overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft by Sacramento Kings and currently plays as Power Forward with Memphis Grizzlies of National Basketball Association (NBA).

Tillman’s salary and cap figure for 2021-22 season stands at an estimated total of $6,531,283, as determined by his annual wage and Memphis Grizzlies dead cap totaling to that amount. This amount will only increase with each passing season.