The Savannah Quarterback Club held their 75th Annual Bowl Party at The Kehoe Ironworks, Saturday, January 29th.
Accepting SQC's Past Captain David Dewitt's invitation to attend one of the most prestigious sports awards ceremonies in Savannah, I arrive at the historic Kehoe Ironworks Metal Building to find what has to be every graduate from Benedictine Military School waiting outside.
After hugging BC's fearless leader Father Frank Ziemkiewicz, I pause to snap pics of brothers Larry and Lloyd Saunders with Savannah's favorite son, Jimmy Ray. Next to them, Morgan Derst, Will Green and Jeff Stodghill pose with Jason Ford who tells me that his midtown restaurant Oak 36 will reopen soon after a fire caused damage two weeks ago.
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Moving inside, I trot down the stairs and find red jacketed Mike Flynn aka Mr. Quarterback chatting with David Fennell, yet another Savannah native and BC grad. Glancing around the room I see red jackets everywhere. Knowing that these past captains have five years of service and leadership in graduation levels, I am on the lookout for the oldest red jacketed guy in the room.
I may have found him! Tom Hansen proudly states, "I'm 86, a BC grad from '54 and I gotta admit - The goal is to be the longest living cadet." Having joined the Savannah Quarterback Club in 1967, Tom has been a member as long as I have been alive and tells me that he is honored to be asked to pose for a pic with United States Marine Kenny Grant Jr.
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Waving me over is Norman Heidt. It's been too many years since I saw the golf lover and it makes my heart happy to see so many familiar faces like Stratton Leopold, Robert Hale and one of my closest guy friends, David McQueen. Possibly the nicest guy in the room, David grabs me a Sprite while making sure the six 65 inch televisions are ready to go.
Introducing David to Robert Hickox, I explain that the SQC '93 Captain is one of my daddy's breakfast buddies when he makes the trip up to Jefferson County. With Robert is his son Philip, a wicked cool coach from Woodward Academy and his grandson Alexander, a psychology student, ROTC cadet and active National Guard soldier along with his son-in-law Anthony Hunt and his twin sons, eighteen year old Logan and Dylan.
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
As the room fills up with 300 plus sharp dressed men, I weave past red headed Patrick McCarthy and his father-in-law Joe Thigpen who shares, "I was a redhead. My daughter Emily is a redhead who married a redhead and I now have two redheaded grandkids." Admitting that I have both a redheaded brother named Butch and a best friend, I may be slightly partial to all the gingers in the world.
Next up Mr. Personality, SQC Sheriff and Statistician Nino Aliotta, poses with Ray Randall and David Hoover. Barry Zeigler smiles with Louie Poole and Bob Egan then Al Kennickell pauses for a pic with Mike Bazemore. Wishing I could chat with all these legendary characters, I push through to find seriously tall Stan Sparks chatting with Rusty Fredrich, Cliff Berger and Bob Jarman.
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Across the room I see Charlie Russo working the room like a skilled diplomat/comedian, Mark Grainger arrives late with his brother Joey and SQC's Dr. John Paletta waves me over for a photo with two of tonight's award recipients, Holden Sapp and Justin Thomas.
Somehow I make it over to see world traveler Mark Revenew and Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie. With 19 and half years under his belt as Sheriff, I learn that the avid animal lover is making plans for one more term. Promising to slow down in his county, I ease back into the crowd to stalk the seriously talented rifleman yet always photo reluctant Dan Smart.
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
It's showtime! Making my way back over to sit with Mr. Robert, I met Dave Capallo Sr. and Jr., then listen to Team of the Year Benedictine Military School head football coach Danny Britt talk about a "foggy field in Atlanta" and their new motto is #next level.
Founded in 1947, the Savannah Quarterback Club has awarded scholarships to deserving young men. Generations of local families like the Templeton and the Moore’s have a continual lineage of fathers and sons who come together for 10 weeks during the college football season.
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Credit: Bunny Ware / For Savannah Morning News
Seeing generations celebrate the game of football and the life lessons learned from it gives me yet another reason to love this city. With the common goal to raise money for deserving athletes, I look out across this room and marvel at the camaraderie and the obvious close relationships and hope that I get that same phone call from David Dewitt next year!
Invite Bunny Ware to your gathering, gala or other social event. Contact her at 912-844-1122 or email at bunnyware@aol.com. See more columns by Bunny at SavannahNow.com/Lifestyle/.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah Quarterback Club celebrates Benedictine football stars at 75th Annual Bowl Party
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