In Remembrance Of Glenn Patterson

Where do I even start?
Where do I find the words
as my heart hurts, aches,
remembers, recalls?

Recalls the many days
where you set out for us
to play games at our best,
show our best character,
give everything our all.

All of a sudden I found
myself almost falling
to the ground when I
learned of your passing,

you passing on to become
an ancestor. Rockford is
much the lessor without

you Glenn, without you friend,
without you mentor, without you
father figure, without you stand-up guy,
without you visionary, without you athlete,
without you father, without you husband,
without you leader, without you orator,
without you coach, without you man
with a smile warmer than his heart.

A void you will leave. I have to breathe
and believe there will be more men like
you who will stand up, step up, get up, greet,
smile, show positivity, give a good word,
make sure the youth are seen, heard!

I cannot imagine a Rockford without
you. I cannot imagine a football field,
a basketball court, a baseball field without
you.

A true gem has went into the heavens.

There will never be another Glenn Patterson.

And, twenty years from now, when a young
man asks me how I learned to play football
and stand up tall, I will say Glenn taught me.
I will say Glenn Patterson made sure I knew
the basics. I will say Glenn Patterson believed
in who I was. I will say Glenn Patterson
encouraged me with love, guidance,
a vibrant spirit, an easy tone, a sparkle in his
eyes.

He wanted us to do more than just try!

This one’s for you Glenn. These words
are carved out of the respect I have had
for you all of these years.

When the tears fall from your family’s eyes
may these words find them, hold them, hug
them, love them, embrace them with the
best memories of you.

That is what I want these words to do.

And as the trumpets sound to bring in
a man so profound, may way rejoice in
all of what you have meant to Rockford,
to Illinois, to community, to sports, to
football fields and basketball courts,
to the lives of so many young people.

Glenn Patterson you are all of this, and
forever regal!

Copyright Christopher D. Sims
December 10th, 2022
All rights reserved