We miss you Tony … terribly
The last few days I’ve tried to sit down and write this column, but just couldn’t bring myself to it.
You see like many of you, I’m still numb and trying to cope the best I can, which right now isn’t very well.
I guess that’s to be expected when you lose someone like our near and dear friend Tony “The Boss” Ross.
I can’t believe he’s gone.
Just a week ago Tony and I had a rare Friday night off – we planned it that way months ago – so we could go down to our alma mater, tailgate at the one-and-only Vessel, and go to the Purdue-Oregon game.
We rode down to West Lafayette together, talking the entire 90-minute ride, and believe it or not it wasn’t all about sports.
Once we got on campus, we immediately headed over to our BFF’s second-to-none tailgate at the incomparable Vessel. For years Mark Lindsey and Co. have entertained fellow Boilermakers as well as fans from the opposing teams. As always, Tony had a GREAT time. Everyone always does at The Vessel.
After indulging in the outstanding food spread for a couple of hours, we made the short trek to the stadium.
It wasn’t much of a game so we left at halftime. That worked out well because Tony had an early morning wake-up call as he always did on Saturdays to do the Saturday Morning Coaches’ Show on MAX 98.3 FM. Dedication was Tony’s middle name.
The drive back to Plymouth was filled with laughs and our usual friendly jabs at one another. The trip seemed to last five minutes. Tony had a knack for talking, talking and talking some more.
He dropped me off in front of the MAX studios where my car was parked around midnight. I thanked him for driving and we said our goodbyes.
It was a GREAT day, one I will remember forever.
Little did I know that was the last time I would talk to my close friend and see him alive.
On Monday our world was turned upside down.
I found Tony unresponsive in his apartment. Thank God Mark Lindsey was by my side shortly thereafter.
Mark was magnificent and so were the first responders.
They were deeply touched, too.
I’ll never forget one of the fireman walking up to a policeman, who just arrived on scene, saying “It’s Tony Ross.”
Everyone knew Tony and Tony knew everyone.
He was the mayor of Plymouth, of Bourbon, of Lakeville, of Culver, of Argos, of Walkerton, of anywhere he went in our area.
I loved it and I loved how he made each and everyone of us feel when we saw him in passing. Whether it was that smile, his magnificent voice greeting us or one of his awesome bear hugs.
He meant so much to so many, and he meant the world to our small town community.
It just won’t be the same without The Boss.
Tonight our broadcast crew was supposed to call LaVille’s first sectional game.
It will be the first sectional game we haven’t done in years.
You don’t know what I’d give to hear Tony bellow just one more time “Live from beautiful LaVille High School” or one of his patented lines like “he stopped on a dime and gave five cents change.”
Tony often downplayed the impact he had on young peoples’ lives. Don’t worry, I reminded him often just what he meant to them.
Around Christmas last year we were at Culver Academy broadcasting a basketball game and across the gym I saw Iowa starting defensive lineman Deontae Craig arrive. Once the 6-foot-3, 266-pounder saw Tony was in attendance, without hesitating he walked over and gave him a big hug.
Tony stayed in contact with Deontae after his high school playing days were over. He stayed in touch with a lot of athletes in our area.
Tony and crew followed Culver’s journey to a boys basketball state championship, and did the same for Bremen when the Lions won the softball title.
Along those many memorable journeys, Tony formed a special bond with the teams, coaches, players and fans. He did that through the years with all the teams he covered regardless of what their records were.
For the longest time, I didn’t know Tony was even a Knox graduate. In my eyes he acted like a Triton, Glenn, Bremen, Plymouth, LaVille, Culver Community, Culver Academies and Argos graduate. Tony was all those schools’ biggest fan and supporter, just like he was with so many community endeavors he tackled with his entire being whether it was the Blueberry Festival, the United Way or a breakfast fundraiser somewhere.
Every time he was behind the mic, the event/game/program/show was Tony Ross’ Super Bowl and he made every coach, player and MAX guest feel that way.
Boy, was he special!
Yes, the games will go on, but they won’t be the same.
On Sunday hundreds will gather in Plymouth High School’s gym to pay their respects to a one-of-a-kind treasure.
Our daughter, Abbie, is flying in from New York to be with us. She loved, loved, loved Tony like we all did. Heck, he might as well have been her uncle.
Time will never heal this wound.
We miss you terribly Tony. Our hearts are broken and won’t ever completely heal because Tony Ross was one of a kind. When the man upstairs made Tony’s mold, he made just one.
God bless you and thank you for all the incredible things you did on Earth. You have no idea the impact your life had on so many of us.
Until we meet again my friend.
