Dennis Grall photo Former Green Bay lineman Bob Skoronski, left, stands with quarterback Bart Starr at Lambeau Field during an alumni pre-game session several years ago. Starr, a promoter of Skoronski’s candidacy for the NFL Hall of Fame, died Sunday.

ESCANABA — Everyone knows Bart Starr was an exceptional football player. Many knew he was an outstanding individual.

The Hall of Fame quarterback died Sunday at age 85 after several years of major health issues. Earlier this week, there was an item that Starr was hoping to attend a football game at Lambeau Field, a couple of years after he was there when Brett Favre was honored following his selection to the Hall of Fame.

I’m not here to tell you Starr was a standout quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. We all know that.

I’m here to say he was even better as an individual, just a wonderful person who always made time for anyone who approached him.

As sports editor of the Daily Press, I was fortunate to meet Starr several times over the years and he always took time to say hello and chat.

The first time we met was when he spoke at Stephenson High School, about 1972. During our conversation, I mentioned my father-in-law was dying of cancer. Starr promptly asked for a piece of paper and wrote a get-well message and signed it.

Class act, but so typical of No. 15.

The following year I was at Lambeau Field and was doing a post-game solo interview with Starr. As he was replying to a question, he said “there is the guy you should talk to. He is going to be the next quarterback for the Packers.”

He was talking about Don Horn, who had just walked into the lockerroom. Horn never became a standout, but again it showed Starr’s class by talking about a young player while he was being interviewed for the umpteenth time.

I recall a halftime session at Lambeau several years ago when Starr, who was a so-so head coach of the Packers from 1975-83, was warmly greeted at mid-field by some of the players from his last couple of seasons.

Players like Paul Coffman and Lynn Dickey led the back-slapping group that hugged their former coach and thanked him for his leadership and coaching. Dickey led the group love-in by telling Starr he did a wonderful job and they appreciated everything he did for them.

Starr, who had no head coaching history when he took over the Packers, was in over his head in those early seasons but was starting to get it together when he was dismissed.

He has always been a hero to Green Bay fans who fondly remember his playing days but conveniently seemed to overlook his coaching days. Starr always received the loudest and warmest cheers when he attended the annual alumni game.

The last time I had a chance to chat with Starr was a few years ago, shortly after linebacker Dave Robinson had been selected to the Hall of Fame.

Starr was on the field awaiting pre-game player introductions and was just standing there, looking around with a big smile on his face. Suddenly he was alone and I walked up to him and immediately he saw me and said hello Denny.

After some brief comments, I said it was nice to see Robinson get into the Hall of Fame and asked him when is Jerry Kramer – who was finally selected last year – going to get the nod. He promptly said, “we’ve got to get Bob Skoronski in the Hall. He was our captain. See what you can do Denny to help him get in.”

Shocked to hear that response, I just said “Bart, I think you’ve got a lot more pull in the NFL. I hope you can get him in.”

Memories like these are special, but it is easy to understand because Bart Starr was special.