May 22, 2009
MR. JOHN TRIPP
By late Saturday morning or shortly thereafter, most of us received the terrible news of the untimely death of our friend John Tripp. John’s death at the age of 58 (his 59th birthday would have been on Thursday) is not only a loss to his family and our service club but to our entire community – which he so loved. Where do you even begin when you speak of what John Tripp has meant to this club during the 31 years of membership? No one person has ever made a greater impact. In many ways, John was larger than life. The stories he told and the manner in which he told them were priceless. From the Golden Deeds Award keynote addresses to the eulogies of fellow club members to the Freedom Shrine dedications to his two decades of work on the Exchangite to his perfection of The News to tail twisting, no one did it better. While we mourn his loss, how blessed are we to have known him? Most of you know that John was from New York. Somehow he found and attended Culver-Stockton College (Harvard on the Hill as he was fond of saying) in Canton Missouri. While there, he met and later married the love of his life, Barb. The two moved to Quincy and began their family (daughters Sara and Meredith). Wherever he went, John made friends and truly influenced people. A few short months ago while delivering the eulogy for Bill Hageman John spoke of the steak fry Bill was probably putting together in heaven. Is there any doubt in your mind that John is now helping Bill and then emceeing the banquet to follow? No doubt he is making new friends and influencing others. I extend my personal condolence to Barb, Sara, Meredith, and all Exchangite, who like me, are hurting. God Bless you, John!
Visitation will be in Hansen-Spear Funeral Home from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday. The Exchange Club Service will take place at 5:00 p.m. John’s service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday on the campus of Culver-Stockton College in Canton MO.
THIS FRIDAY
Join us Friday to kick off the 2009 Gus Macker 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament. Plenty to do yet so if you don’t have a job, please come Friday and find one. While the sting of John’s death puts a cloud over this weekend, it certainly does not diminish the hard work and leadership of Co-Chairmen Steve Green and Doug Greenwell. Great job, men! President Art Awerkamp will be addressing this on Friday so I don’t want to steal his thunder BUT, there will be a number of Exchangites, rightfully so, who will be attending the service in Canton MO on Saturday. We will need some new folks to step up for (primarily in the grilling/cooking) us during this time. Even if you hadn’t planned on assisting, please reconsider with the circumstances. Thanks!
FRIDAY LAST
We honored our Bud Willar Award recipient and a few Character of Champions. Due to space (and a shortage of time and information), I’ll address both of these issues in more detail next week.
VIP DATES
5/20 – Tim & Kim Muehring celebrate their 20th anniversary
5/21 – Marty Bell celebrates a birthday and Frank & Jan Gianfriddo celebrate their ? anniversary
5/22 – Jim Whitfield and Tim Atchley both celebrate birthdays (45th for Jim) and Art & Cindy Awerkamp celebrate their 16th anniversary
5/23 – Your Editor celebrates a birthday, Dr. Tom & Barb Klincar celebrate their 29th anniversary, Mike & Janet Llewellyn celebrate their 17th anniversary, and MACKER
5/24 – Eric Schultz celebrates a birthday, Ted & Tena Awerkamp celebrate their 29th anniversary, Mark & Cathy Aleman celebrate their 12th anniversary, and MACKER
5/25 – Andy & Sally Blaesing celebrate their 34th anniversary
5/26 – Skip & Barb Reuter celebrate their 47th anniversary
6/8 – June Board Meeting @ The Pier and then later in the evening, Planning Meeting for 2009/2010 Year
6/17 – Flag Day Concert/Family Picnic
6/25-28 – District Convention in Fairview Heights
6/26 – Induction of New Officers/Exchangite of the Year
7/13 – July Board Meeting @ The Pier
9/11 & 12 – Smoke on the River
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“John Tripp was my friend and I will miss him dearly.” Perhaps the thought of any number of Exchangites this week.
THIS & THAT
Sorry I missed last Friday and didn’t get many notes. I’ll do some investigation this week and have details on the Bud Willar Award recipient and Character of Champions next week… When John Tripp passed away on Saturday, May 16th, it was exactly one year ago to that date that we presented John with his well deserved life membership… That's all for now, 'til next time, may God’s love, grace, and peace be with you and the ones you love.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Mr. John Tripp. May 21, 1950 – May 19, 2009 (Photo taken 1/14/00)
