This week in West Orange County history.
Troy Polamalu born in Garden Grove on April 19, 1981
Troy Polamalu was born on April 19, 1981, in Garden Grove, California. He was the youngest of five children in a Samoan-American family. His father left the family shortly after his birth. Raised in Santa Ana, Polamalu faced challenges growing up. At age nine, he moved to Tenmile, Oregon, to live with his aunt and uncle. He attended Douglas High School in Winston, Oregon, where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball. Polamalu received a scholarship to play football at the University of Southern California (USC), where he earned consensus All-American honors in 2002. In 2003, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the NFL Draft. Polamalu played 12 seasons as a safety for the Steelers, winning two Super Bowls and earning eight Pro Bowl selections. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.