Be The Best You Can Be … And Howe

Posted by Tom Locke on January 4th, 2018 filed in General, Life, Sports ... All Sorts

Early in December of  2017 I happened to catch an interview with Dr. Murray Howe on one of our local TV stations here in Vancouver.

Murray Howe is the youngest son of the legendary Gordie Howe, Mr. Hockey, who passed away on June 10, 2016.   Murray  is currently the head of Sports Medicine Imaging for the Toledo Radiological Associates and Promedica Health System’s Care program.

I was inspired by the interview Murray gave on his new book, “Nine Lessons I Learned From My Father”, a book he dedicated to his parents.   I immediately went out and bought one.

This book is not a hockey book.   It is an in depth personal look at the qualities that Gordie Howe possessed with hockey as a back drop.

As a child, Murray Howe wanted to be like his father.   He was an adult before he realized that didn’t necessarily mean playing hockey.

The “Nine Lessons” that Murray presents epitomizes the great person Gordie Howe was.   The nine lessons are:

  1. Live Honorably
  2. Live Generously
  3. Play Hard, but Have Fun
  4. Patience, Patience, Patience
  5. Live Selflessly
  6. Be Humble
  7. Be Tough
  8. Stay Positive
  9. Friends and Family Are Like Gold – Treasure Them

If  you took the nine lessons above to heart,  you would be well positioned to  be the best  you can be.

While reading this book, my mind wandered back to February of 1986 when I first met Mr. Hockey.   Prior to meeting him, I had cause to have dinner with Gordie’s wife, Colleen Howe, at the Westin Bayshore, here in Vancouver.

At the conclusion of dinner, she mentioned that she was going to the Canuck hockey game at the Pacific Coliseum where Gordie was doing a between period interview on radio.   I offered to drive her, she accepted and off we went.

I made sure that she got in the building okay and connected with Gordie and the rest of the crew.   At that time Gordie was representing Emery Worldwide, a freight company.

Colleen  Howe then asked me to join them.   There was about eight of us at the table in the Centre Ice lounge and you could feel Gordie’s presence.   The conversation was light and informal with Gordie getting in a few humorous digs here and there.

As I was about to leave, Colleen leaned over to Gordie and asked him to sign one of his 8 x 10 photos for my mother, Norma, who was dying of cancer.   Without blinking an eyelash, Gordie did so, writing “Dear Norma, Please get well soon. Best always”

 

Gordie Howe - Feb 1986

 

Handing it over to me, he said, “Here’s to one fighter from another”.

I have never forgotten that moment and upon my mother receiving the photo, which I framed, my mother’s energy level rose significantly.

My mother has subsequently passed on but that “Gordie Howe” moment lives on with us.

I look forward to passing on these “Nine Lessons” to my family and friends … and Howe.


One Response to “Be The Best You Can Be … And Howe”

  1. Max Tomaszewski Says:

    Tommy,
    Very well written.
    A beautiful and inspiring story.
    Thanks for sharing it.
    Max.

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