Overview
Despite fathering a famous NFL wide receiver, Hines Ward Sr., an African-American U.S. Army veteran, remains mostly unknown. In the mid-1970s, he married Kim Young-hee in South Korea, but soon disappeared from public view. The story of his life is a half-told mythology, with early promise but little information after leaving the military.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ethnicity | African‑American |
| Military Branch | U.S. Army |
| Key Station | Seoul, South Korea (1975–1976) |
| Marriage | Kim Young‑hee (m. 1975; div. ca. 1977) |
| Child | Hines Edward Ward Jr. (b. Mar 8, 1976) |
| Post‑Service Residence | Shreveport, Louisiana (approx. 1980s) |
Early Military Years
Hines Ward Sr. joined the U.S. Army in early 1970s and finished basic training in 1974. At a Seoul garrison in 1975, American soldiers mixed with locals. At a military-town bar where Kim Young-hee worked as an accountant, Ward Sr. met the mother of his sole child.
| Year | Station | Notable Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Fort Bragg, North Carolina | Enlisted in U.S. Army |
| 1975 | Seoul, South Korea | Met Kim Young‑hee, married same year |
| 1976 | Seoul, South Korea | Birth of son, Hines Ward Jr. (Mar 8) |
| 1977 | Seoul → Fort McPherson | Transferred to Georgia; shortly divorced |
His service career resembles a typical Cold War soldier, with deployments in East Asia, rotational assignments to U.S. facilities, and transfer to West Germany. The archival trail ends after these postings. Military honours and civilian career movements have not been disclosed.
Family Formation and Divorce
The two-year marriage of Hines Ward Sr. and Kim Young-hee was brief. Seoul wedding vows from late 1975 dissolved in early 1977 due to cultural and linguistic issues. After Ward Sr. was transferred to West Germany, Kim, who spoke little English, struggled in a foreign nation, ending the marriage.
| Date | Event | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 1975 | Marriage ceremony in Seoul | Cultural union of U.S. soldier and Korean local |
| Mar 1976 | Birth of Hines Ward Jr. | Child raised initially in Atlanta area |
| Early 1977 | Divorce filing | Custody and language barrier conflicts |
| 1977 | Ward Sr. departs for West Germany | Mother deemed unfit; son placed with grandmother |
Due of Kim’s low language skills, a Georgia family court temporarily granted custody to his mother in Louisiana for Ward Sr. This decision isolated one-year-old Hines Jr. from his mother for six essential years.
Custody Battle and Impact on Hines Jr.
Hines Ward Jr. learnt English and southern customs from his paternal grandmother in Monroe, Louisiana, from years one to seven. Before regaining custody in 1983, Kim Young-hee worked three jobs simultaneously, including nightclub cleaning and restaurant service, to demonstrate stability. Kim’s endurance and these judicial battles shaped Ward Jr.’s upbringing.
| Age | Year | Living Arrangement | Key Influence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1977 | Paternal grandmother’s home, LA | Learned English; cultural shift |
| 7 | 1983 | Reunited with mother in Georgia | Exposure to Korean heritage restored |
| 15 | 1991 | Forest Park High School, GA | Athletic development begins |
| 18 | 1994 | University of Georgia | Football scholarship awarded |
The emotional consequences of his father’s biennial absence influenced Ward Jr.’s perseverance. Grit from his mother inspires his work ethic on and off the pitch.
Life After Service
Hines Ward Sr.’s 1980s settlement in Shreveport, Louisiana, followed his Army service. Caddo Parish records show Hines Ward moving to Shreveport in 1981, but no mentions remain by the early 1990s. Neighbours remember a quiet man who liked fishing and neighbourhood barbecues but rarely talked about his family.
| Period | Location | Occupation (Reported) | Public Visibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980–1985 | Shreveport, LA | Unknown; possible labor | Low |
| 1986–1990 | Shreveport, LA | Unknown | Minimal local report |
| 1991+ | Unknown | Unconfirmed | No public record |
His post-military career is not documented in professional directories or social media. Ward Sr. avoided the spotlight, unlike his son who became wealthy. He may have remarried and worked in construction, but no records exist.
Legacy and Public Perception
Most people view Hines Ward Sr. as a minor figure in his son’s legacy. However, court transcripts, newspaper blurbs, and anecdotal histories from two Southern towns suggest a man divided between duty abroad and domestic issues. A father whose absence spurred a son to success, his personal story remained untold.
| Aspect | Detail | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| Public Mentions | <10 news articles | Mostly in context of Hines Jr. |
| Media Appearances | None | Prefers privacy |
| Son’s References | Communicates biannually | “I respect his choices,” says Jr. |
| Cultural Impact | Indirect—via Ward Jr.’s advocacy | Symbol of absentee parent struggles |
He never wore a Steelers uniform, but his legacy lives on in Hines Ward Jr.’s humour and passion. In interviews, Jr. acknowledges his mother’s butcher-shop shifts, but has no animosity towards his father, indicating admiration for his struggles.
FAQ
Who is Hines Ward Sr.?
The African-American U.S. Army veteran fathered NFL great Hines Ward Jr. in 1975 while deployed in South Korea.
He served in the military when and where?
Served in the US. Army from the early 1970s, stationed in Seoul in 1975 and Fort McPherson, Georgia.
What happened to his marriage to Kim Young-hee?
They married late 1975, divorced early 1977, and split when he moved to West Germany.
Why was Hines Ward Jr. raised by his grandmother?
After a Georgia court deemed Kim incompetent due to her low English and money, Ward Jr. resided with his paternal grandmother from ages 1-7.
After the service, does Hines Ward Sr. have a public career?
He apparently lived in Shreveport in the 1980s with unknown jobs.
How often does Hines Ward Jr. contact his father?
The son says every two years.
Any updates on Hines Ward Sr.?
He has had a quiet profile since the late 1980s.
Which legacy did he leave his family?
The father’s early absence and ex-wife’s drive to rejoin impacted his son’s resilience and ideals.
