THANKFUL THURSDAY = FAMILY

Unexpected, but well deserved, in my opinion---accolades for my hubby.

Tuesday 2/27/24 @ 3pm a zoom call from former racquetball team members, Andy & Kim Roberts & Toni Bevelock Delos Santos began the surprise announcement! A BIG,BIG THANKS TO DICK COCKRELL who nominated Larry!

https://twitter.com/theTSHF/status/1762916578025181503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Escreen-name%3AtheTSHF%7Ctwcon%5Es1

Yesterday, 2/28/24, the Memphis local news began announcing it.... we never saw it until our phones started "blowing up" with messages and calls. His sister Susan and Sandra M. from Somerville were the first of many on my phone! LOTS more  on his. So grateful for family and the many friends reaching out with congratulations laced with "well-deserved" comments!

Love & thanks to all......most who have been friends for 50+ years!!

*Info sent to us---putting it here so we won't lose it. 

Honors/Awards  (List incomplete at this time)

§  College of Education Hall of Fame Award - University of Memphis College of Education - 2012

§  Hall of Fame for Coaching U of M Racquetball Team - Memphis Ameteur Sports - 2009

§  Inducted into National Hall of Fame - United States Racquetball Association - 2009

§  Faces In The Crowd - Sports Illustrated - 1987

§  Head Coach - United States Racquetball Team U.S.O.C. - 1987-90

§  Coached - US Team to Gold Medal n Hamburg world Championship and a Gold Medal in the Pan American Games - 1988

§  World Championship - In The 40+ Singles Competition Hamburg, Germany - 1988

§  Doubles Champion - United States National 30+ and 40+ Racquetball - 1981-91

§  Silver "M" Award - University of Memphis letterman's Club - 1989

§  Developmental Coach of the Year - United States Olympic Committee Racquetball - 1996

§  Collegiate Coach of the Year - United States Racquetball Association - 2000

§  National Men's Champions - National Collegiate Racquetball - 2001

§  NYSP Compliance Award - NCAA/NYSP - 2002-03 & 2005

§ The United States Racquetball Association Hall of Fame - United States Racquetball - 2002

§  National Men's Champions - National Collegiate Racquetball - 2003

 Creative Activities

§  European Goodwill Tour promoting Racquetball - 1987 - Paris, Brussels, Netherlands, Hamburg, and Zurich - IOC

§  United Kingdom Racquetball Team Training, Belfast, Northern Ireland -1992- Dr. Liam McCarthy, President of the Racquetball Association of Northern ireland

FELLOWS' FELLOWSHIP

Gals have friends. Childhood friends, college friends, garden club friends, Bible study friends & neighbors.

Guys, not so much.
Unless you are Larry Liles and Charlie Mazzone.

Larry and Charlie in their Starsky and Hutch years in the 70s.
From lots of hair, even facial hair, to "glow in the dark" white hair and less hair!

Friends from the "get-go." From the competitiveness in sports at arch-enemy high schools---to ping- pong and cork ball duels at Memphis State/UM. Games of fervor!
Fellow coaches from the university supporting each other's chosen sport. Handball & Racquetball-- even being doubles partners in senior racquetball tourneys. Traveling to Las Vegas, Colorado, Houston and to Jacksonville or just across town to Redbird's stadium to "be there" for encouragement as well as celebrating awards. UM Silver M Club. Memphis Amateur Sports Hall of Fame.
So many stories. Heartwarming to hilarious!

"Ranger Years" at Shelby Farms. "Ranger Down. Ranger Down!" Oh the stories they tell! (Most not appropriate for this public blog.) From the saddle of a horse to the cold, wet seats of a fishing boat, or under water with their scuba gear at Lake Ouachita & breakfast around a campfire--a terrific twosome having fun.
Sharing the winnings on the floor at Circus Circus, in the earlier years, to sharing the load of care when each has had turns in the hospital in more recent years. They are there for each other.

A comic duo of sorts.  Think, Laurel and Hardy. "And what will you have Stanley? I'll have Tutti-Fruiti!" Being in the car with them as one tells the other how to drive is also a "road rage event" with Charlie threatening to get out of the car.

A friendship that has spanned the decades---and matured from friendship to fellowship, "walking in the light as He is the light." (1 John 1:7)
A friend loveth at all times (Proverbs 17:17) and the friendship/fellowship of these two exemplifies just that!!
All genders could learn the value of friendship topped off with true fellowship from this dynamic duo!