Not a day goes by without me thinking of you. Each and every day new challenges and
opportunities come my way and I seize them all as you have taught me. Quite honestly the past year has been a great
challenge that mom, Lindsay and I have come together, stepped up to the plate,
and knocked it out of the park in our own ways.
We have all grown for the better, which I know you can see. At our core we still live by the same morals
our family has valued and each of us are keeping busy trying to follow our
dreams. I very much miss our daily talks
while I’m on my way to and from work and the occasional lunch break chat. I sometimes get mad at myself that I can’t
seem to keep up with the Pirates, Steelers, and Penguins like I would have had
I been talking to you each day. It is so
much tougher when I do not have the local news or you filling me in. It brings me to tears to think after all
these years that you preached to me that the Pirates would make a comeback
simply because you never stopped believing and they are having what seems to be
there best year in the past 17. I want
them to make the playoffs so bad.
As you know the NFL season is just
about to kickoff and I just drafted my fantasy football roster for the 13th
consecutive season. Of course I think my
team is the best just like ever other year but I got that optimism from you. To this day, I will never forget the fact
that our first ever fantasy football season we won the title and never looked
back. As for the Steelers, they are
looking like the Steelers we know… always a Super Bowl contender. It is crazy to think you helped move me to
Dallas 15 months ago! That was honestly one of the best decisions of
my life. Thank you for supporting my
decision to go so far away from home to go after my dreams. Dallas has been very good to me. I have surrounded myself with great people
just like you always did. Networking
here is so fun! There are so many people
with so many stories and knowledge to learn from. Each and every day I ask Adam and Carly, “can
it really get any better?” We have it so
good. My officiating career is sky
rocketing faster than even I could have imagined! I know you had your doubts behind scenes that
I could make this happen and make a living but I love a good challenge. Watch out, it will not be too long before I am
in the NBA Finals. I have so many
mentors down here that have specific characteristics that remind me of you. This group of mentors keep me grounded and
challenged every step of the way. If I
could have told you that in 15 month’s time in Dallas I could have accomplished
what I have accomplished you would have smiled and said “lets take a step back
for a moment and just get to Dallas first.”
Not only have I been extremely excited and happy about what I have done
for myself but I also am keeping busy helping others, which is what life is all
about. I have helped some of my friends
meet their personal health goals, build a house for Habitat for Humanity,
organized multiple sports teams, even a fantasy football league, and most
importantly shared my love with all my friends and neighbors like you were so
well remembered for doing.
On top of a great year, so many
people have come together to give back to the Clarion community by helping
bring awareness to the endowment we have built in your name at the Clarion
University. All your time spent growing
up at Keystone, then supporting all the Banner boys there, and doing the same
as Lindsay and I grew up at Clarion, all while running the boosters and even
coaching from time to time will never be forgotten. You were a dedicated loving man. Not to mention as Lindsay played volleyball
at Clarion University you transitioned into a relentless supporter of Clarion
University athletics. You and mom traveled
to all home and away matches which is a feet in itself, but you also supported
all the other teams and athletes as they were your own. You also continued to support the University,
as I was lucky enough to coach the Clarion University Woman’s Basketball
team. Oh and how could I forget, you
knew every single person on campus like they were your best friend because you
wanted to be more than just a copier salesman, you actually cared about the
people you did business with each and every day. The least we could do is create a Tony Banner
Memorial Invitational Tournament supported by Clarion University each and every
year. The inaugural tournament is
September 7th and 8th this year. My life is so much better for having you
around for the past 24 years but it goes ways beyond Lindsay, mom and I. This is our dedication to you because we know
this is something you have supported and will always support, thank you and
love you.
TO DONATE TO THE TONY BANNER
ENDOWMENT PLEASE CONTACT:
Shawn
Wood
Email:
swood@cuf-inc.org
Phone:
814.393.1832
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