copyright Booth Malone
For those of you that don't know, my father Joe Tonsmeire went to school at Auburn University. While attending Auburn he became part of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He made many lasting friendships while at Auburn and within Phi Delta Theta. With his passing in 2007, some of his college/fraternity brothers set up the Joe Tonsmeire Leadership Scholarship Fund. This scholarship will be presented to a student each year. That person will be selected based on traits that resemble those of Joe Tonsmeire, a true leader for one. Booth Malone was one of those college friends. Since his college days, he has become a renown oil paint artist. He painted a portrait of my dad running Jarbidge Falls in 2006. The painting turned out amazing. He is selling prints to raise money for the scholarship fund. My family went to Auburn this last weekend to be a part of the unveiling of the painting. Booth presented the original to our family and a print to be left hanging in Phi House. He is selling prints for $200 and there are limited prints with only 125 printed.
photo: Purcie Bennett
The photo that the portrait was painted from, was taken by Purcie Bennett. A long time WRO client and friend. There is also a short video on our webpage of his run through Jarbidge Falls that day.
Also, I figured I would share a poem that my sister wrote about our dad:
With the pace of a mountain goat and the heart of Lion, he never stopped living – he’d rather die trying;
From the top of McKinley or thru raging falls, he’s riding the range and shooting the stars;
The River it called and the trail it began, and the wind always whispered to this special man;
A figure of love, and passion and grace, blue dancing eyes and a smile on his face;
I wonder now what we should do or should say; I’ll follow his tracks and cherish each day;
Well the River it called and the trail it began, and the wind always whispered to this special man.
From the top of McKinley or thru raging falls, he’s riding the range and shooting the stars;
The River it called and the trail it began, and the wind always whispered to this special man;
A figure of love, and passion and grace, blue dancing eyes and a smile on his face;
I wonder now what we should do or should say; I’ll follow his tracks and cherish each day;
Well the River it called and the trail it began, and the wind always whispered to this special man.
-Amy Tonsmeire
We returned from Alabama to the first snow of winter on the ground at our house. There are still yellow leaves on the trees, but it is starting to feel like winter is just around the corner.
Hope you are having a great day!
Seth Tonsmeire
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