Joe Delaney - I-435 & BBQ Contest Projects **6/29 I-435 Project Accomplished!**

[AJKCFAN]

More to say later (busy at work) but I am aware that KMBC-9 (ABC affiliate in Kansas City) plans to run with the installation of the signs on tonight's telecasts if you wished to tune in....

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by AJKCFAN

More to say later (busy at work) but I am aware that KMBC-9 (ABC affiliate in Kansas City) plans to run with the installation of the signs on tonight's telecasts if you wished to tune in....

To the capture box!

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by AJKCFAN

More to say later (busy at work) but I am aware that KMBC-9 (ABC affiliate in Kansas City) plans to run with the installation of the signs on tonight's telecasts if you wished to tune in....

You're the Chiefs Fan of The Year for your outstanding work

It took like 80 years to get him a nice park in his hometown, you got him a highway in KC in what seems like 10 days

[gblowfish]

I'll be driving home right past it tonight. Very excited to see it. Great job getting it done.

[Bowser]

Great job by everyone involved!

[Hammock Parties]

Just went out there myself. Looking good!

[AJKCFAN]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Just went out there myself. Looking good!

344 days ago, first contact was made with the Missouri Department of Transportation with this idea to have a highway dedication to honor Joe Delaney. There were times when it was understandably tedious and exasperating but this was going to be pursued as long as the obstacles were to be overcome.

The early support came from local Jackson County Missouri State Representative Yolanda Young and her team who supported this project immediately. This required the support of the Delaney family themselves and between his widow Carolyn and daughters (particularly Joanna and Crystal) they gave us their unwavering support and backed it up by providing MODOT with their consent for the project, as well as Joe's death certificate which was also required. They put their faith in me and these efforts and it will never be forgotten.

From there, 2 things remained - cost of project (which one of our own reached into their pocket and doled out more than $3,000 to cover for the ENTIRE cost of the signs). The appropriate word to you is grateful. Grateful for your support and grateful to make this endeavor an easier task to complete. May you appreciate the fruits of your investment for these next 20 years!

Lastly but far from least, to obtain 100 signatures from local Kansas Citians in the midst of a worldwide pandemic was daunting from the get-go but there was Clay - recruiting signatures with his social media clout and going about it with the mindset that he was not going to be denied. I don't know how to ever properly thank him, but this does not result in signs if not for his herculean efforts. Yes, there was considerable help from the Kansas City Star with their ipetitions to also make this happen, but there is no completion of this project if not for Clay being the rock star that he is and absolutely taking care of this - and us obtaining the necessary relevant signatures in just over 1 weeks time.

Those signatures include quite a few Chiefs Planeteers so feel a source of pride every time you pass I-435 between Exits 66 and Exit 63C and you see them signs for the next two decades.

I obviously want to renew these signs when the term expires in 2041, but if I am not around to see that happen - then it is my sincere hope my Kansas Citian friends made throughout this experience will pick up the mantle and keep these signs up.

I'm so humbled and moved that tens of thousands of Chiefs fans will be driving to and from Arrowhead via I-435 and it means the world to see Joe Delaney finally attain long-lasting recognition in Kansas City

37 Forever definitely played a small (yet significant) part in Kansas City Chiefs history

The Joe Delaney Memorial Highway on I-435 will play a small (yet also significant) part in Kansas City history

Cheers Everybody - WE Did It!!!

[AJKCFAN]

Changing gears. Here is the latest in terms of the BBQ Contest. Attacking this hard these past several weeks. Really not to exaggerate, some 150 companies were reached out. Basically, there is some level of interest that need to be explored further and if work wasn't killing me, there would be a quicker follow-up so now that I-435 is out of the way, my efforts will be focused solely on this. Recently, there was a pretty significant company who has showed interest and they wanted to Zoom conference with me sometime this week. Observant of today's significance, intentionally I chose to have the conference today on the Anniversary. It did happen today and the takeaway from the meeting is that there appears to be a potential sponsor of the contest as they were very impressed with this idea and also helpful is that they have considerable experience working with The Kansas City Barbeque Society so that works in our favor. Likely, a second Zoom Conference call is scheduled to occur next Thursday morning (July 8) and if all can somehow go well with this, we might just be able to pull this off.....

(oh yes, there is a secret code embedded in here with the above paragraph, so good luck finding it.....)

(No code for rest of message)
If it doesn't come to pass, I'll keep trying. There is some interest that I need to follow up with nine other companies, but this one I spoke with today can make this Joe Delaney BBQ Contest at Worlds of Fun a reality.

If it cannot be possible, I would still like to have a BBQ Contest but we are probably looking to scale it down further and seek to have it at a local BBQ restaurant, but I want to exhaust this option and this potential sponsor (and other interested parties) first before we need to cross this bridge.

To be continued

[Hammock Parties]

‘Joe Delaney Memorial Highway’: New local tribute honors late Kansas City Chiefs hero

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/sp...252460313.html

For decades you could drive all over the Kansas City region and never see any specific reference to Joe Delaney, who rushed for 1,121 yards in 1981 to be named AFC rookie of the year and had all the earmarks of future stardom.

But that changed on Tuesday, when the Missouri Department of Transportation installed signage for the Joe Delaney Memorial Highway along Interstate 435 near the Truman Sports Complex.

The development was driven by Adam Jassey, a native New Yorker who became a lifelong Chiefs and Royals fan because his father went to medical school here at the Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine (now Kansas City University) from 1966-1970.

That’s why the attorney has a son named Brett (after George) and knows off the top of his head that he attended his first Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium (Sept. 17, 1995) the day Patrick Mahomes was born. It’s also why he came to feel a deep personal connection to what he calls the “Delaney Tragedy” when the budding star suddenly died when Jassey was 9 years old.

Over time, he became consumed with finding ways to pay homage to and keep alive the spirit of a man he told me last year “clearly made the world a better place during his life.”

Years ago, he invested that energy in The 37 Forever Foundation, so-named for the number Delaney wore (and that has not been worn since by a Chief, though is not officially retired).

While the group had a voice in Delaney being named to the Chiefs Ring of Honor, it gradually broke up for a variety of reasons.

But Jassey was re-energized by seeing news in The Star last year about plans to build and dedicate a memorial at the site of Delaney’s death on the 37th anniversary of the death of No. 37.

Ignited by what he called “the altruism” of the donation and installation of that memorial, he offered up a number of ideas of ways to call attention to Delaney and his legacy in Kansas City.

And about ever since, he’s set about making them happen, including the proclamation of Joe Delaney Day in Kansas City last October, ongoing efforts to create an annual BBQ contest in his name and, now, the realization of the highway that required hours and hours of work with multiple entities and required donations and a signature drive.

It’s a subtle memorial, to be sure. And we’re all for more and deeper and broader ways to make sure people never forget his story and hope this paves the way to yet more thoughts about ways to do that.

But the signs also are a tangible reminder now that will be seen by tens of thousands of people, if not millions, in the years to come before the dedication is subject to a renewal process in 20 years.

And anyone who either recognizes the name or becomes curious about it will be prompted to think about a man whose life was lived not in vain but as an inspiring example of love, an example that should be visible and enshrined around here as much as anywhere.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

‘Joe Delaney Memorial Highway’: New local tribute honors late Kansas City Chiefs hero

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/sp...252460313.html

That rocks!

[Coach]

Secret code embedded was identified and unlocked (I think).

And no, I'm not going to spill it.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Coach

Secret code embedded was identified and unlocked.

And no, I'm not going to spill it.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Coach

Secret code embedded was identified and unlocked (I think).

And no, I'm not going to spill it.

that one was easier than the last one.

[Hammock Parties]

That's all, folks.

The Joe Delaney Memorial Highway Project is complete.

Bring it on home, @kmbc pic.twitter.com/ur7tXDB4Fr

— Joe Delaney Memorial Highway Project (@ClayWendler) June 30, 2021