A Testimony of God’s Faithfulness: Yvonne Pope, Elaine Lyda, and the Early Days of the One Yard at a Time Gala

In 2012, I was at the end of myself.

My marriage in Atlanta had collapsed under the weight of my own poor decisions. The consequences were swift and humbling. I was, for a season, without a home—sleeping on couches, in my truck, wherever night overtook me. I was spiritually dry, physically exhausted, and emotionally broken.

And yet—even in that valley—God had placed something in my heart.

In the aftermath of the 2011 tornadoes, the Lord had given me a vision called Lettermen of the USA. I didn’t fully understand it then. I only knew it would not let me go. Like Jeremiah said, it was “a fire shut up in my bones.”

One night, standing in a parking lot with nothing to show for my life but faith I was struggling to hold onto, a stranger—whose name I never learned—looked me straight in the eye and said, “Everything’s gonna be okay. God’s about to send His angels to help you build this thing.”

At the time, I barely had the strength to believe him.

But God remembered.

Fast forward to 2018. We were just months away from what would become the very first One Yard at a Time Gala.

Our honorees were worthy of excellence:
• Military Honoree: United States Marine Corps LtCol Dave Bonwit
• Athletic Honoree: My Alabama teammate, Cornelius “Biscuit” Bennett.

But the event company we hired was in over its head. The situation was unraveling fast. From a human standpoint, we were finished before we ever began.

Every morning, I sat at Salem’s Diner in Homewood eating eggs and praying the kind of prayers you pray when there is nowhere else to turn. Not polite prayers. Desperate ones.

That’s when Jack Granger—the best auctioneer in Alabama—looked at me and said, “I’ve got one person who can save this overnight. Her name is Yvonne Pope.”

Yvonne walked into the chaos, surveyed the situation, and honestly said, "Y’all are too far gone… but I’ll try.”

Ninety days later, ninety people walked through the doors of a gala that many believed would never happen.

When Lt. Col. Bonwit stepped off the stage, he grabbed me with a grin only a Marine can wear and said, “Darryl… you’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

God had done what only God could do.

Angel number one had arrived.

Then came 2020—and Gala #2.

• Military Honoree: United States Army Medal of Honor recipient, Captain Gary Michael Rose
• Athletic Honoree: Coach Bill Clark, a living legend at UAB

The standard wasn’t just raised—it was sanctified.

But now we faced another impossible obstacle. We needed the Birmingham media to tell our story, and I didn’t have a single relationship that could open one newsroom door.

Not one.

Someone finally said, “Call Elaine Lyda.”

We met at Demetris in Homewood over sweet tea. I told her about wounded veterans. About the 22 veterans a day lost to suicide. About honoring heroes who had never received a letter jacket—but had earned something far greater.

Somewhere in that conversation, the Holy Spirit took over. I wasn’t selling a vision anymore—I was bearing witness.

When I finished, Elaine had tears in her eyes and simply said, “I’m in.”

Angel number two had arrived.

Because of Yvonne Pope, we didn’t just survive—we learned how to soar.
 Because of Elaine Lyda, the entire state of Alabama began carrying our message.

Two women.
Two divine appointments.
Two moments when everything should have ended—but instead, God caused it to take flight.

They are living reminders that the words spoken by a stranger in a parking lot in 2012 were not empty encouragement—but the very voice of God, spoken ahead of time.

Lettermen of the USA is still standing—and growing—today because the Lord sent help exactly when a broken former Alabama football player needed a miracle no man could manufacture.

That is not coincidence.

That is grace.

That is redemption.

That is God keeping His promises.

And that is a story that must be told.

Roll Tide and God bless, 


Darryl Fuhrman
 

Former University of Alabama Football Player 


Founder & President, Lettermen of the USA

(Still standing—by nothing but the grace of God)

“I’ve got one person who can save this overnight. Her name is Yvonne Pope.” Yvonne walked into the chaos, surveyed the situation, and honestly said, "Y’all are too far gone… but I’ll try.” Ninety days later, ninety people walked through the doors of a gala that many believed would never happen. When Lt. Col. Bonwit stepped off the stage, he grabbed me with a grin only a Marine can wear and said, “Darryl… you’re gonna need a bigger boat.” God had done what only God could do. Angel number one had arrived.

Elaine Lyda and Yvonne Pope are nothing short of heaven-sent angels—true warriors of compassion and grace—who were divinely placed in my path to stand as my unwavering left and right arms in the sacred work of the Lettermen of the USA .

Someone finally said, “Call Elaine Lyda.” We met at Demetris in Homewood over sweet tea. I told her about wounded veterans. About the 22 veterans a day lost to suicide. About honoring heroes who had never received a letter jacket—but had earned something far greater. Somewhere in that conversation, the Holy Spirit took over. I wasn’t selling a vision anymore—I was bearing witness. When I finished, Elaine had tears in her eyes and simply said, “I’m in.” Angel number two had arrived. 

Lettermen of the USA (LotUSA.org) will host its sixth annual One Yard at a Time Gala in late February.