37 Forever Foundation Speech: Saturday Night September 8, 2001

AJKCFAN · 09-10-2001, 04:01 PM

Eighteen years. Certainly, more than enough time to forget
someone. However, there are some people in life that time will not allow us to forget because they were so special. Every person in this room can easily think of such a person. It might be their spouse, a family member or a very close friend.

On rare occasions, and it doesn’t happen often, someone we have never met personally can have that same effect on us.

That someone is why you are here tonight. Joe Delaney was such a person. By knowing who he was and what he did, he became impossible to forget.

This is why the 37 Forever Foundation has been created.

Joe Delaney was the epitome of success. Married to his childhood
sweetheart, Carolyn, they raised three beautiful children together (Tamika, rystal, and Joanna). He attained success as a person, a husband, and a father, despite a very humble background, and that is what made him who he was.
he was.

On the professional level, Joe brought hope to the Chiefs franchise,leading the team to its most successful season in 10 years and along the way,winning the AFC Rookie of the Year, Chiefs Team MVP Honors, and
a Pro Bowl berth; all as a rookie.

Off the field, Joe gave himself to others, gave back to his community
in Haughton, Louisiana, and took pride in being the best person he could
be. However, on June 29, 1983, at the young age of 24, his life was cut
short as he tragically drowned while trying to save the lives of three young
boys; one of which he did save. Carolyn has often remarked that Joe
would still have tried to save those kids, even if he had known he’d lose his
life in the process. That’s just the type of person Joe was.

There’s no way to dispute this. Joe jumped into that lake, despite
knowing of his own inability to swim. Very much like the way he would
seek out would-be tacklers and run straight into them, dragging his legs
for every extra yard, Joe Delaney showed the same fearless attitude on
June 29, 1983.

He lost his life that day but left a small spark that has ignited a
flame which is burning bright in this room tonight. We, at the 37 Forever
Foundation, will do our very best to keep this fire going and to help
advance Joe’s spirit of heroism.

Throughout this grassroots effort, I came across this quote
attributed to Joe Delaney that sums up what he was all about;

“Always look to help others in need and be ready to do so when
called upon”.

This is how the 37 Forever Foundation will look to honor Joe
Delaney, here in Kansas City.

We will create a Joe Delaney Scholarship Award, so that students in
the Kansas City area who have faced adversity in life can have an
opportunity to succeed in life.

We will also create a Joe Delaney Community Award, to recognize
those citizens in the Kansas City area who have demonstrated remarkable
heroism in spite of a difficult situation or event they have faced.

Finally, we have reached out to the Red Cross and have started a
partnership which will see children throughout the Kansas City area
benefit from learning how to swim, as well as learning proper water safety.
We at the Foundation want to make sure history doesn’t tragically repeat itself.

We look forward to working very closely with the Kansas City Chiefs
organization for years to come. Our cooperation and teamwork will
further Joe Delaney’s legacy in Kansas City, and, hopefully, the nation.

I would like to give special thanks to the media outlets here in
Kansas City, especially WHB radio, the Kansas City Star and FOX 4, who
have helped immeasurably in raising the level of public consciousness
towards our cause. Special thanks as well to Mark Kram from the
Philadelphia Daily News who has done so much in advancing the
Foundation.

Also, many thanks to the Delaney family for their support and
blessing, as well as the Chiefs Ambassadors, Joe’s former teammates,
Marv Levy, and Joe’s alma mater Northwestern State University in
Louisiana, for their great support.

Above all else, we would not be here tonight if not for all of the
dedicated members the 37 Forever Foundation has; both in Kansas City
and nationwide. If I could detail all the reasons why, we’d be here all
night, but I would like to briefly thank several members: Thanks to Tom
Cash for co-founding this wonderful cause with me. Incredible thanks to
Alan Clubine, who orchestrated this entire weekend and made this into a
success. To Joe Whiteash for his brilliance in organizing the
Foundation’s website. To Scott Lent for adding to the website’s excellence,
setting up merchandise to be sold at Cafe Press, as well as his valuable
input. To Phil Kloster, huge thanks for always going above and beyond to
help the Foundation succeed. To Roy Caswell, for his tremendous work
in organizing the wonderful golf outing we had this morning. To Michael
Bayha, whose unbridled enthusiasm and amazing creativity has helped
produce many terrific ideas for the Foundation. To Pam Smith and Steve
Muraco, for the expertise you both brought to the Foundation’s
infrastructure and for the extra help tonight. To Mark Dye, whose tireless
work led to the official Foundation logo you see today, as well as time
spent publishing material for this weekend. To Todd Bourg and Drew
Gully, for taking great pride and dedication in enhancing the success of
the Foundation; and to Todd extra special thanks for making it up from
Houston amidst those mini-tornadoes we had last night. And to Kyle
Terrill and Bill Krumel, for permitting early exposure for the Foundation
to be publicized through their respective Chiefs websites. Also, thanks to
Alan, Michael, Scott, Kathy Thomas, and Brian Handke for helping make
tonight’s Fundraiser so successful.

But the greatest thanks of all belongs to Joe Delaney himself, for
being the inspiration for the creation of this Foundation. The time has
come for 37 to be remembered forever. We will NOT let you down.

Thank you very much for being on hand tonight to welcome the 37
Forever Foundation.

**ExtremeChief** · 09-10-2001, 04:15 PM

Adam,

Could you post the essay the young man read at the meeting. I would love to have a copy of that and think many here would probably enjoy those young mans words...

AJKCFAN · 09-10-2001, 04:18 PM

I don't have it and I also don't have his address.

All I could do is ask Alan, who I believe is the only one who does have his essay.

Derek did an incredible job, I must say.:)

09-10-2001, 04:34 PM

Adam tore this speech up Saturday night. I admit I was worried during all his rehearsals, but he made it work like he'd been a member of toastmasters for years. Congratulations on a great speech Adam!

AJKCFAN · 09-10-2001, 04:45 PM

I was just playing possum....

Actually, maybe it's just knowing to deliver when the time actually comes or it's just that all the stumbling dring rehearsing got all the mistakes out of the system. Whatever the case may be, it was great to nail it and it was greatly appreciated to get that Standing O... :)

**ExtremeChief** · 09-10-2001, 04:53 PM

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by AJKCFAN [/i]
[B]it was greatly appreciated to get that Standing O... :) [/B][/QUOTE]

I thought everyone was just stretching their legs simultaneously :D :D

J/K... great speech Adam...

09-10-2001, 04:56 PM

We were all tired of sitting, Adam. I think the waitstaff got a standing O for refilling water as well. :D

tommykat · 09-10-2001, 06:00 PM

KPhobia....
We were all tired of sitting????? LOL....not me, I wanted to play golf and Bob Dole just ran....LMAO. A good story, just still to tired to talk. But it was a great one! Thank you all~ and nice to have faces with names as well now. :cool:

Raiderhater · 09-10-2001, 08:44 PM

[QUOTE]I wanted to play golf and Bob Dole just ran[/QUOTE]

That was funny! Watching Dole run around the room trying to avoid having his head bashed and continuing to bid is something I won't soon forget.

ROYC75 · 09-10-2001, 09:33 PM

Great weekend 37 Forever Members !!!!!!!!:)

Only thing could have made it nicer,was a win we didn't get!:mad:

California Injun · 09-11-2001, 01:11 AM

My personal favorite on the evening was Stevie Bohall coming up with the suggestion for both of us to chip in the $25 to let Derek get that Delaney signed football. (OK, I only threw in $5:p )

I also want to thank the rest of the gang for not running up the bid as I was saving my money for that Dawson jersey.

Now if Kloster had only found it in his heart to keep his hands down after $250 I might have won the darn thing.:(

09-11-2001, 05:59 AM

You guys could have let me in on getting the football for Derek plan. Here I am running my mouth about how much it cost us and I would have loved to just GIVE it to him.....

09-10-2001, 04:01 PM
AJKCFAN Head Chief, Esq. Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: New York Casino cash: $-1438202	37 Forever Foundation Speech: Saturday Night September 8, 2001 Eighteen years. Certainly, more than enough time to forget someone. However, there are some people in life that time will not allow us to forget because they were so special. Every person in this room can easily think of such a person. It might be their spouse, a family member or a very close friend. On rare occasions, and it doesn’t happen often, someone we have never met personally can have that same effect on us. That someone is why you are here tonight. Joe Delaney was such a person. By knowing who he was and what he did, he became impossible to forget. This is why the 37 Forever Foundation has been created. Joe Delaney was the epitome of success. Married to his childhood sweetheart, Carolyn, they raised three beautiful children together (Tamika, rystal, and Joanna). He attained success as a person, a husband, and a father, despite a very humble background, and that is what made him who he was. he was. On the professional level, Joe brought hope to the Chiefs franchise,leading the team to its most successful season in 10 years and along the way,winning the AFC Rookie of the Year, Chiefs Team MVP Honors, and a Pro Bowl berth; all as a rookie. Off the field, Joe gave himself to others, gave back to his community in Haughton, Louisiana, and took pride in being the best person he could be. However, on June 29, 1983, at the young age of 24, his life was cut short as he tragically drowned while trying to save the lives of three young boys; one of which he did save. Carolyn has often remarked that Joe would still have tried to save those kids, even if he had known he’d lose his life in the process. That’s just the type of person Joe was. There’s no way to dispute this. Joe jumped into that lake, despite knowing of his own inability to swim. Very much like the way he would seek out would-be tacklers and run straight into them, dragging his legs for every extra yard, Joe Delaney showed the same fearless attitude on June 29, 1983. He lost his life that day but left a small spark that has ignited a flame which is burning bright in this room tonight. We, at the 37 Forever Foundation, will do our very best to keep this fire going and to help advance Joe’s spirit of heroism. Throughout this grassroots effort, I came across this quote attributed to Joe Delaney that sums up what he was all about; “Always look to help others in need and be ready to do so when called upon”. This is how the 37 Forever Foundation will look to honor Joe Delaney, here in Kansas City. We will create a Joe Delaney Scholarship Award, so that students in the Kansas City area who have faced adversity in life can have an opportunity to succeed in life. We will also create a Joe Delaney Community Award, to recognize those citizens in the Kansas City area who have demonstrated remarkable heroism in spite of a difficult situation or event they have faced. Finally, we have reached out to the Red Cross and have started a partnership which will see children throughout the Kansas City area benefit from learning how to swim, as well as learning proper water safety. We at the Foundation want to make sure history doesn’t tragically repeat itself. We look forward to working very closely with the Kansas City Chiefs organization for years to come. Our cooperation and teamwork will further Joe Delaney’s legacy in Kansas City, and, hopefully, the nation. I would like to give special thanks to the media outlets here in Kansas City, especially WHB radio, the Kansas City Star and FOX 4, who have helped immeasurably in raising the level of public consciousness towards our cause. Special thanks as well to Mark Kram from the Philadelphia Daily News who has done so much in advancing the Foundation. Also, many thanks to the Delaney family for their support and blessing, as well as the Chiefs Ambassadors, Joe’s former teammates, Marv Levy, and Joe’s alma mater Northwestern State University in Louisiana, for their great support. Above all else, we would not be here tonight if not for all of the dedicated members the 37 Forever Foundation has; both in Kansas City and nationwide. If I could detail all the reasons why, we’d be here all night, but I would like to briefly thank several members: Thanks to Tom Cash for co-founding this wonderful cause with me. Incredible thanks to Alan Clubine, who orchestrated this entire weekend and made this into a success. To Joe Whiteash for his brilliance in organizing the Foundation’s website. To Scott Lent for adding to the website’s excellence, setting up merchandise to be sold at Cafe Press, as well as his valuable input. To Phil Kloster, huge thanks for always going above and beyond to help the Foundation succeed. To Roy Caswell, for his tremendous work in organizing the wonderful golf outing we had this morning. To Michael Bayha, whose unbridled enthusiasm and amazing creativity has helped produce many terrific ideas for the Foundation. To Pam Smith and Steve Muraco, for the expertise you both brought to the Foundation’s infrastructure and for the extra help tonight. To Mark Dye, whose tireless work led to the official Foundation logo you see today, as well as time spent publishing material for this weekend. To Todd Bourg and Drew Gully, for taking great pride and dedication in enhancing the success of the Foundation; and to Todd extra special thanks for making it up from Houston amidst those mini-tornadoes we had last night. And to Kyle Terrill and Bill Krumel, for permitting early exposure for the Foundation to be publicized through their respective Chiefs websites. Also, thanks to Alan, Michael, Scott, Kathy Thomas, and Brian Handke for helping make tonight’s Fundraiser so successful. But the greatest thanks of all belongs to Joe Delaney himself, for being the inspiration for the creation of this Foundation. The time has come for 37 to be remembered forever. We will NOT let you down. Thank you very much for being on hand tonight to welcome the 37 Forever Foundation.
Posts: 928

09-10-2001, 04:15 PM	#2
ExtremeChief Poser Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: BFE, MO Casino cash: $9991344	Adam, Could you post the essay the young man read at the meeting. I would love to have a copy of that and think many here would probably enjoy those young mans words... __________________ When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams can come true. Unless it's really a meteorite hurtling to the Earth which will destroy all life. Then you're pretty much hosed no matter what you wish for. Unless it's death by meteor.
Posts: 2,354

09-10-2001, 04:18 PM	#3
AJKCFAN Head Chief, Esq. Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: New York Casino cash: $-1438202	I don't have it and I also don't have his address. All I could do is ask Alan, who I believe is the only one who does have his essay. Derek did an incredible job, I must say.:)
Posts: 928

09-10-2001, 04:34 PM	#4
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	Adam tore this speech up Saturday night. I admit I was worried during all his rehearsals, but he made it work like he'd been a member of toastmasters for years. Congratulations on a great speech Adam!
Posts: n/a

09-10-2001, 04:45 PM	#5
AJKCFAN Head Chief, Esq. Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: New York Casino cash: $-1438202	I was just playing possum.... Actually, maybe it's just knowing to deliver when the time actually comes or it's just that all the stumbling dring rehearsing got all the mistakes out of the system. Whatever the case may be, it was great to nail it and it was greatly appreciated to get that Standing O... :)
Posts: 928

09-10-2001, 04:53 PM	#6
ExtremeChief Poser Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: BFE, MO Casino cash: $9991344	[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by AJKCFAN [/i] [B]it was greatly appreciated to get that Standing O... :) [/B][/QUOTE] I thought everyone was just stretching their legs simultaneously :D :D J/K... great speech Adam... __________________ When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams can come true. Unless it's really a meteorite hurtling to the Earth which will destroy all life. Then you're pretty much hosed no matter what you wish for. Unless it's death by meteor.
Posts: 2,354

09-10-2001, 04:56 PM	#7
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	We were all tired of sitting, Adam. I think the waitstaff got a standing O for refilling water as well. :D
Posts: n/a

09-10-2001, 06:00 PM	#8
tommykat zzzz Kats always Join Date: Mar 2001 Casino cash: $9994925	KPhobia.... We were all tired of sitting????? LOL....not me, I wanted to play golf and Bob Dole just ran....LMAO. A good story, just still to tired to talk. But it was a great one! Thank you all~ and nice to have faces with names as well now. :cool: __________________ Take that KC helmet and just
Posts: 4,004

09-10-2001, 08:44 PM	#9
Raiderhater Tried it on and it fit Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: A Webb of chaos Casino cash: $-1607979	[QUOTE]I wanted to play golf and Bob Dole just ran[/QUOTE] That was funny! Watching Dole run around the room trying to avoid having his head bashed and continuing to bid is something I won't soon forget. __________________ "Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, and disregard of all the rules." -- George Orwell, Shooting an Elephant
Posts: 29,553

09-10-2001, 09:33 PM	#10
ROYC75 Time For Your Wake Up Call !!! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Barn Yard Casino cash: $2130400	Great weekend 37 Forever Members !!!!!!!!:) Only thing could have made it nicer,was a win we didn't get!:mad: __________________ Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it. John Lennon
Posts: 37,976

09-11-2001, 01:11 AM	#11
California Injun Bucs 48 Raiders 21 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: San Andreas, CA. USA Casino cash: $10004900	My personal favorite on the evening was Stevie Bohall coming up with the suggestion for both of us to chip in the $25 to let Derek get that Delaney signed football. (OK, I only threw in $5:p ) I also want to thank the rest of the gang for not running up the bid as I was saving my money for that Dawson jersey. Now if Kloster had only found it in his heart to keep his hands down after $250 I might have won the darn thing.:( __________________ I just made $13,000 on the Chiefs!!! Once they win the Super Bowl I'll be counting my winnings. (13:1 @ Lake Tahoe Horizon Sportsbook).
Posts: 522

09-11-2001, 05:59 AM	#12
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	You guys could have let me in on getting the football for Derek plan. Here I am running my mouth about how much it cost us and I would have loved to just GIVE it to him.....
Posts: n/a