joyce thanks for letting the rest of us peak into your place and experience such happiness and joy. I’d expect nothing less from a person with joy in her name. Love ya.
“Matt”
What a wonderfully exciting time for you and your grandkids! Everything a Christmas should be…Here’s wishing you many, many more days filled with love, laughter, and joy with your grandchildren. They will cherish those memories at Gram’s house.
Joyce, as I read “Gram’s First Christmas,”’it was if I was there sharing the experience with you. I could identify with you because I too, have had that/those special Christmas’s with the grands and they are life long treasures. I hope you continue to share the blessings of being “Grams.”
I am with the Auburn Touchdown Club and wanted to see if you would be in town for the Black Alumni Weekend September 27-29 at Auburn. I wanted to see if you would make the trip from FWB (my hometown as I went to St Mary’s, Max Bruner Junior High and Fort Walton Beach HS before Auburn) a day earlier to speak to our club. We raise money for scholarships for Lee County students wanting to further their education at Auburn University. We meet at the AU Club at 6:00 pm on Wednesday September 25th. Please contact me if your schedule is available. Thanks and War Eagle,
Pat Sullivan was my childhood hero. My family gathered together thanksgiving night, 1971… The announcement for the Heisman Trophy was on live TV, from New York City… We were All bouncing off the walls waIting for the official word… John ott, of the downtown athletic club in New York, made the announcement… He was handed an envelope and I remember like it was yesterday… “ one name here… the winner is Pat Sullivan… Auburn Univerity,” we All screamed and jumped through the roof… this was big… it was real and Pat Sullivan is still my hero… he and Shug are what I though heroes looked and acted like. I still remember Pat’s acceptance speech when he accepted the actual Heisman Trophy… John Wayne was on one side and Shug Jordan on the other… Pat is everything we All wanted to be as kids and I still have my autographed #7 Jersey from 1970… It hangs in my kids room and one day it’ll hang in my grandkids room… I can’t help but think Pat Sullivan was able to watch or at least know that Auburn had won the Iron Bowl. I was lucky enough to meet Pat Sullivan in person a few times… Always humble and gracious… God Bless you Pat, your Legacy will live on forever because of the kind of Man you were. God has called home #7… Auburn will always be heaven on earth, because we believe in Auburn and love it… and because Men like Pat Sullivan called Auburn home. So take a moment today and look upward toward Heaven…and if you have faith in God above, you’ll take comfort in knowing old #7 is back together with Shug and The Sun will rise orange and the sky will always be blue… and Pat Sullivan will have the best seat in the house. God Bless and WDE
Thanks for the memories, Thom. Ken says the meeting at Chappy’s back booth this morning was super special with celebration of a football victory and thankfulness for Pat Sullivan’s life. 🦅. Joyce
Beautiful tribute to great teammate and friend. Pat was the personification of an Auburn man. If he was your friend, he was your friend for life. I enjoyed that relationship personally. I will miss his smile, his grace and his love, easily shared. His parents blessed us with the same grace. We wish God’s grace on Jean and his family. War Eagle, Pat, go with God my friend.
Great story. What a fantastic person Pat Sullivan was. And to have a great person like Tom Gossom write this makes it very special. War Eagle! Go John Carroll Cavaliers!
I was starting school at Auburn as Henry was finishing. I was a student assistant in Sports Information. I never knew his pain or social discomfort. I wish I could tell him I am sorry.
I needed this today. Next Sunday is my first Mother’s Day without my mom. My only sister and I ate not getting along and this is so very hard. I needed a story to refocus. Thanks so much.
For most of the 20th Century and into the early 21st Century, historians had been fighting a losing battle against U.S. flag myths and legends. And with all due respect, our elementary school teachers were largely to blame for mis-educating our school children. Our teachers didn’t know better because they were mis-educated themselves. Thankfully, the tide is finally turning. Thanks for setting the record straight! Earl P. Williams, Jr., U.S. flag historian (paleovexillologist)
joyce thanks for letting the rest of us peak into your place and experience such happiness and joy. I’d expect nothing less from a person with joy in her name. Love ya.
“Matt”
Love you back Matt! 😍
What a wonderfully exciting time for you and your grandkids! Everything a Christmas should be…Here’s wishing you many, many more days filled with love, laughter, and joy with your grandchildren. They will cherish those memories at Gram’s house.
😍😍
Joyce, as I read “Gram’s First Christmas,”’it was if I was there sharing the experience with you. I could identify with you because I too, have had that/those special Christmas’s with the grands and they are life long treasures. I hope you continue to share the blessings of being “Grams.”
Thanks, Gloria! It’s great being in the “Gram” club!!
Sounds like you all had a lovely holiday together joyce! Gram suits you well! Love you bunches!!!
It was! Thank you Buddy!!
joyce, I am so happy for all of you. I could feel what you wrote.
😘😍
I absolutely needed this today! As always joyce, your sage wisdom is much appreciated. xxoo
i like it. The challenges really show how competitive we are as a family.
What a beautiful blessing you have and are to your Daddy. This was a wonderful read. Thanks for sharing a bit of your Daddy with us, Thom!
What a joy to hear you speak of so much love for your dad. They never had to say, I love you son. We always knew it. They were so proud of us!
Hey Thom,
I am with the Auburn Touchdown Club and wanted to see if you would be in town for the Black Alumni Weekend September 27-29 at Auburn. I wanted to see if you would make the trip from FWB (my hometown as I went to St Mary’s, Max Bruner Junior High and Fort Walton Beach HS before Auburn) a day earlier to speak to our club. We raise money for scholarships for Lee County students wanting to further their education at Auburn University. We meet at the AU Club at 6:00 pm on Wednesday September 25th. Please contact me if your schedule is available. Thanks and War Eagle,
Thad McCormack
770-530-1585
Very well stated!!
A great man defining another great man. Two equals on and off the field. Go Cavs and War Eagle
Thom, once again your words move me, console me, and help me remember all we know is great about Pat – thank you
Pat was a great athlete but he was more he was a great man. A true Auburn man. My condolences to his family. Pat will live forever in Auburn history!
Greg article Thomas. I admire both you and Pat!
Pat Sullivan was my childhood hero. My family gathered together thanksgiving night, 1971… The announcement for the Heisman Trophy was on live TV, from New York City… We were All bouncing off the walls waIting for the official word… John ott, of the downtown athletic club in New York, made the announcement… He was handed an envelope and I remember like it was yesterday… “ one name here… the winner is Pat Sullivan… Auburn Univerity,” we All screamed and jumped through the roof… this was big… it was real and Pat Sullivan is still my hero… he and Shug are what I though heroes looked and acted like. I still remember Pat’s acceptance speech when he accepted the actual Heisman Trophy… John Wayne was on one side and Shug Jordan on the other… Pat is everything we All wanted to be as kids and I still have my autographed #7 Jersey from 1970… It hangs in my kids room and one day it’ll hang in my grandkids room… I can’t help but think Pat Sullivan was able to watch or at least know that Auburn had won the Iron Bowl. I was lucky enough to meet Pat Sullivan in person a few times… Always humble and gracious… God Bless you Pat, your Legacy will live on forever because of the kind of Man you were. God has called home #7… Auburn will always be heaven on earth, because we believe in Auburn and love it… and because Men like Pat Sullivan called Auburn home. So take a moment today and look upward toward Heaven…and if you have faith in God above, you’ll take comfort in knowing old #7 is back together with Shug and The Sun will rise orange and the sky will always be blue… and Pat Sullivan will have the best seat in the house. God Bless and WDE
Beautiful tribute. There are some gems out there, you Mr. Gossom and Mr. Sulllivan are two of them.
Great story and I am so glad to call Thom Gossom my friend. Michael Goddard, Chaplain. Brookwood Princeton Hospital
Thanks for the memories, Thom. Ken says the meeting at Chappy’s back booth this morning was super special with celebration of a football victory and thankfulness for Pat Sullivan’s life. 🦅. Joyce
Very nice memories of Pat. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Thom, for sharing this wonderful story!
Well written, Thom.
Reta McKannan
Such a beautiful tributeto Pat by a fine Auburn man!
So proud of you, Thom!
So proud for you, my teammate!
Thanks for being a great Auburn Tiger.
War Eagle,
Andy Steele
Auburn Letterman 1972, 73, 74
That was such a beautiful tribute to a most deserving soul. I’m sure he’s smiling with pride at you now😊
Beautiful tribute to great teammate and friend. Pat was the personification of an Auburn man. If he was your friend, he was your friend for life. I enjoyed that relationship personally. I will miss his smile, his grace and his love, easily shared. His parents blessed us with the same grace. We wish God’s grace on Jean and his family. War Eagle, Pat, go with God my friend.
Great story. What a fantastic person Pat Sullivan was. And to have a great person like Tom Gossom write this makes it very special. War Eagle! Go John Carroll Cavaliers!
I was starting school at Auburn as Henry was finishing. I was a student assistant in Sports Information. I never knew his pain or social discomfort. I wish I could tell him I am sorry.
Reta Allen McKannan, ’77
That story makes me a Bobby Mitchell fan, too!
I needed this today. Next Sunday is my first Mother’s Day without my mom. My only sister and I ate not getting along and this is so very hard. I needed a story to refocus. Thanks so much.
For most of the 20th Century and into the early 21st Century, historians had been fighting a losing battle against U.S. flag myths and legends. And with all due respect, our elementary school teachers were largely to blame for mis-educating our school children. Our teachers didn’t know better because they were mis-educated themselves. Thankfully, the tide is finally turning. Thanks for setting the record straight! Earl P. Williams, Jr., U.S. flag historian (paleovexillologist)
I’m so, so very sorry.
Thank you for posting this! Mr. Kingsley was my art teacher in 1979-1982. I went on many museum outings with him. Great memories!
Thom,
Appreciate your work and particularly this post on the Washington football team and Snyder. Here’s an idea for a new name – the DC Comics?
We miss you and Joyce here at the AUHCC. Hopefully something closer to normal will arrive soon.
Best,
Bill Dillard
Welcome to Best Gurl, Shawn! We’re glad to have you with us (smile).