Born August 15, 1941, in Pasadena, California, Dr. Conrad Worrill moved to Chicago on his ninth birthday, where athletics quickly became a defining part of his life. As a standout competitor in the Chicago Public League, he developed the discipline, focus, and teamwork that would guide him throughout his life's journey.

Sports shaped his sense of purpose, teaching him that determination and athletic discipline could translate into leadership on the world stage.

Ben Henry Ward’s name stands tall in Chicago’s athletic history—not only for his achievements as a player and coach, but for the integrity, discipline, and compassion he brought to every field, classroom, and athlete he touched.

From his early days at Marshall High School, where his family’s move to the West Side allowed him to pursue his dream of playing football, Ben showed the determination that would define his life. A standout guard on the gridiron and a fierce competitor in the shot put and discus, he went on to attend Eastern Illinois University, becoming both a star athlete and later a Hall of Fame inductee.