Tony Likes Boxing - Jerry Quarry

A Jerry Quarry tribute.

Tony Likes Boxing - Jerry Quarry Tribute

More video highlights can be found here: http://www.jerryquarry.com/scrapbook.htm

Tony Likes Boxing - Ali vs Joe Frazier 3 rd6

The Thrilla in Manila

Tony - AKA the Man, the Myth, the Legend

Fidel & Betty's 1st born is about to defy all of the laws of logic and most of the laws of gravity - he is about to mathematically EARN the wizened age of 60 at a time in which he still graces so many mirrors with the face and physique of a much younger warrior. Rocky Balboa lives and his name is Tony. Elvis did NOT leave the building. He changed his name to Tony. Bruce Lee is back - and this time his name is Tony. Floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee. "What is his name?" Tony! CAN THIS BE TRUE? Yes. Our Tony - the marathon running, heavy bag thumping, hair combing, guitar blazing, mirror gazing, ballad crooning, women swooning, overtime working, defender of the downtrodden and friend to both great and small - is actually reaching the BIG 6 0. Those of us who have been lucky enough to share real estate with his shadow - we who are his family and friends - do not want to let this milestone pass without taking some time to stop and to ponder, to consider for at least some small while ALL THINGS TONY. And so this Blog has been birthed, as Tony himself was birthed 60 years ago in the gateway city of St. Louis. On this page we will post links and videos, words and images that will help to paint a portrait of the man and his times. Siblings, children, all relatives and friends - this is your task. Populate this blog with your favorite Tony stories or memories, photos or songs, or just send the Tone Man your best wishes and undying loyalty and love in your own unique words. Email your submissions to olr.dad@gmail.com, and begin your subject line with the name Tony. Your words and images will be posted here as MAIN TOPICS. You can add your own comments to these topics as you normally would. So - how about it? Will you help us to construct a living monument to one heck of a great guy? Sure you will. You'll do it for Tony. OUR TONY. The first one of us to take THE HILL - to do as big brothers always do - to go in first and make it look cool so the rest of us won't be so scared *#!"less to follow. Rock on Tony. Rock on.

Permission to Party - by Rachel

Hi Tony! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I wish nothing but the best for you and may all your greatest wishes come true. How blessed is it to have such a wonderful family to put all of this together? So Cheers to your 60 years, and to many more to come! Take care of yourself have love and faith in the good Lord up above and remember that we all treasure you and love you so very much. Now party down for all of us!!!

Catalina Memories - by Sean, Bronwen and Timothy

Tony. Have a great day - as we did back in 1985 when you took us to Catalina! It was a great holiday and we have loved the U S of A ever since. Lots of love .

Nights with the Browns - by Tim

My favorite Tony memories were the nights when John and Prue brown would come over to visit our parents, and their sons Johnny and Bobby would hit the streets with us looking for excitement. One of our routines was the "water balloon bombs" where we would stalk the neighborhood looking for easy or not so easy targets for the harmless toss of a water balloon. Standout targets: the perfect chimney toss that extinguished one homes fireplace; the over the wall barbeque drop; the water balloon that jammed uninvited with a bar band; and best of all - the time cousin George took things a little too extreme and threw a balloon through someone's front window. The sight of his lanky frame riding away on a bike 10 years too small for him is one I will never forget.

Runner up: filling a car with old Christmas Trees. Good times brother. Happy Birthday.

The Walk - by Tom

What is with that "heads down" walk? We all do it. A guy at Willis called it the"looking for pennies" walk. Mom's description was "Here's my head, my arse is coming."

Uncle Tony - by Emmy

"My Uncle Tony is so strong that he could totally pick you up and he could make your head blood out!"

A Cup of Tea - by Rosanne

I remember when we were kids Mom used to make us a delicious cup of hot tea as a special treat. It was always perfectly sweet and with lots of milk. As I got older, I learned how to make it just right and Tony would often want me to make him a special cup of tea. Remember the big, whiteplastic cups? I didn't mind making tea most of the time, however, there were times that I didn't want to and that's when Tony would become a bit persistent. He would begin to continually keep after me until I gave in. After a while, He started doing this kind of chant "Tea, Rody!", "Tea Rody!" "Tea, Rody!" "Tea, Rody!" until I would eventually give in and make him a cup of tea! (I'm not sure where the nickname "Rody" comes from but I suppose some sort of derivative of "Rosanne"). Anyway, there was this one time I decided I wasn't going to be forced into making him a cup of tea. I decided to refuse him. We were both lying on the living room floor, watching television and Tony wanted a cup of tea (surprise!) I said "No, not right now, I'm watching TV," and then I tried to ignore him, hoping against hope that was the end of it, but somehow knowing it probably wasn't. Then, of course, true to form, here comes the chant "Tea, Rody!" "Tea, Rody!" "Tea, Rody!" It made me so mad, and more determined then ever not to give in and I tried desperately to keep ignoring him. He kept on chanting and I kept on ignoring...and then all of a sudden, it got very quiet. I pretended not to notice but then I felt something dropping all around me, and I looked up and I saw it was money! Tony was tossing pennies at me and then he started whispering the chant "Tea, Rody!" "Tea, Rody!" until I just couldn't take it anymore and I got up laughing and went into the kitchen to make him a cup of tea! Bloody _ E L L !!!! Happy 60th Birthday!

A Letter From Home - by Marie Therese

I am Tim's eldest daughter, living in Lancashire UK. My Father was Tony's mum's brother. All my life he told me about his sisters who married handsome soldiers from America just after the war. I found this letter from Fidel to Betty's sister Mary on one of Betty's visits home. With apologies to Fidel for making public his thougths after so many years, I think it shows the loving home Tony and his siblings enjoyed as a child:

August 16th 1961
Long Beach California,


My Dear Mary, Big Sister,


Thanks for your letter I rec. today and to hear that you are doing fine. We are all well here at home. We all do miss Betty very much but in a case like this we can stand it a long time. Mary I would of gave anything to have been at the station the day of the arrival. I can picture it all. I bet it was a thrill when you saw each other. When I read your letter I dripped a few tears too. Hope we both have made Dad happy God Bless Him. You see Mary it’s the other way around. Betty takes good care or me without her I don’t know what would become of us. God has been good to me. I have a castle when I get home from work. I always find the house warm, cozy, food on the table, clean clothes done and affection. No money can buy that, and of course 4 lovely children.

Yes Mary this world is certainly growing smaller. We get closer every day. There supposed to be building a ship that will travel from USA to England in the near future very reasonably. Hope it’s very soon. And even if its not we will make it I am sure. We won't go so fast as Betty did but we will get there. And tell Betty next time I send her on her own she will probably go in a rocket and make it in a few minutes. She did pretty good this time 10 ½ hours from California to England. I can’t wait till she returns. She will have so much to tell me.

Well Mary I will close for now and hoping to be hearing from you again. Bye for now, our love and prayers from all of us.

Fidel.
Ps Give Betty a hug from me Fidel.

Tony's Roots - Wigan Delivers a Challenge

Hi Tony. When are you going to get your ass over here to see your roots !!!!!!!!!!! We've got a room waiting.. just needs you to fill it. Love you loads, have a great birthday,
Joan, Les, Will, Rob, and Joe

A Kinder, Gentler Tony - by Gloria

It must have been sometime in 1970 that a new song came out, Crystal Blue Persuasion. I remember the first time I heard it, Tony was singing it and playing the guitar. Every time I hear that song I think of Tony, the guy who married my best High School buddy. I remember thinking this big tough guy had a very tender side. Happy Birthday Tony, Fond Memories, Gloria.

Volleyball Days - by Michele (L.) D.

I-remember when we all used to play volleyball at Stearns Park together and hang out at your Mom's on Termino.....

Hope you have a wonderful, wild, crazy fiesta of a birthday!

Tony Likes Nicknames - by Jim

So Uncle Tony has single handedly kept my childhood nickname alive for 36 years now - and counting I'm sure! Truth is I really like it. Being greeted by that name gives me a pleasant and connected sense of family that I really appreciate. Happy Birthday Uncle Tony. Teeter

Tony Radio - Internet Tunes

Tony sent me this link a few weeks back. Playa Cofi Jukebox - the best songs of the Top 100 from 1940 to 1984. What songs were rocking all the cool cars during your High School years? Find out at http://www.tropicalglen.com/ . AND - if you've gotta know what's hot today, check out the Billboard Charts.

Tony Goes to the Movies #6 - One Flew Over The Cuckoo Nest

Will Sampson flies over the Cukoos nest. Tony had most of the dialogue to this movie memorized. Standouts - "N-n-n-n-not now!" and "Juicyfruit."

Tony Radio - Simply Red

Holding Back the Years. This is a Tony 80's favorite flashback.

Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

One of America's Oldest Neighborhoods.

Tony's Roots - New Mexico by Air

Belen to Shiprock by way of Gallup.

Tony's Roots - Wigan #2

Shots of Wigan, UK, and it's surroundings.

Tony's Roots - Wigan

Tony's Mom, Betty, was born in Wigan, England in 1927. Lying at the west extreme of the Greater Manchester County, Wigan is probably best known for its coal-mining, its Rugby League, and for the reference to its famous Pier by George Orwell in his book about working-class life in the north in the 1930s. Once a major northern coal producing town, (records show that the first coal pit was begun in 1450), Wigan has developed into a modern town with many attractions. Once Wigan boasted over 1000 pit shafts within 5 miles of the town centre, but these have all gone and the over 2000 acres of industrial dereliction which they created has been cleared and redeveloped in the past few years, and slag heaps have given way to landscaping and green developments.

Tony's Mom grew up on Teck Street in St. Patrick's Parish. She met Tony's Dad, an American GI, during a blackout in WW II. They married at St. Patrck's after the War and moved back to the US, settling first in St. Louis, where Tony was born, and then moving on to Southern California, where Tony's siblings were born and all still reside to this day.

Not An Exit - by Perry

I remember going to Hambuger Henry's late one night in Belmont Shore. We all were at a big table and Tony's chair was in front of the emergency exit. He leaned back and hit the latch on the door and the alarm went off. REALLY LOUD. Embarrassed, Tony laughed it off and told the waiter, "I bet that happens all the time." The waiter replied that it had never happened since he'd been there, and he had worked there for three years. I also remember Tony coming by the house on Euclid all excited about a song. The song was All Day Music by War. Tony said, "You've gotta listen to this. The harmonies are awesome!". Those are some of my recollections - those and me being "Perry Perry mo Perry."

Greetings From St. Louis

Tony, Your Auntie Anne in St. Louis would like to wish you the happiest 60th Birthday. She wants to remind you that you are a Missouri native, the very first grandchild of Tim and Anne Jordan Moran, and that you were a bubbly joyful beautiful baby. Your Missouri cousins, Margaret, Dennis, Tim, Ray, Edmund, Patty, and Anne, would also like to wish you the happiest 60th Birthday, if we had moved to California, we might know how to submit something high tech, rather than this note, but we too are thankful that you were the first grandchild of Tim and Anne Jordan Moran. Tony - wishing you the happiest of Birthdays!!!!

Guess Who Else is Turning Sixty?

Tony is not the only guy blowing out 60 candles this year. He has plenty of cool (and some not so cool) company huffing and puffing with him:

Arnold Schwarzenegger
Billy Crystal
Camilla Parker Bowles
Carlos Santana
Cheryl Tiegs
Dan Quayle
Danielle Steel
Danny Glover
David Bowie
David Letterman
David Mamet
Dick Fosbury
Elton John
Glenn Close
James Woods
Johnny Bench
O J Simpson
Salman Rushdie
Sammy Hagar
Stephen King
Steven Spielberg
Susan Lucci
Ted Danson
Tom Clancy
Tom Daschle

Tony's Roots - Mountainair

Tony's Dad, Fidel, was born near the town of Mountainair New Mexico in 1922. Mountainair, located on Abo Pass between the Rio Grande and the Estancia Valley is a ranching and farming community near ancient Indian country. The year 2003 marked Mountainair’s 100th anniversary. Follow the hyperlink to take a virtual tour of Moutainair or check out what's happening today in town by reading the online city newspaper, The Country Chronicles.
Mountainair is in Torrance County on New Mexico Highway 60 in southwest United States. Around 1900, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad (AT&SF) was planning a "cut-off" at Belen, New Mexico, for routing freight trains either east or west. John W. Corbett, a newspaper man from Winfield, Kansas, learned that the easterly tracks would likely pass through Abo Pass in New Mexico. He and a friend, Colonel E. C. Manning, decided to locate a townsite at the top of the Pass. The cool summer breezes off the Pass resulted in their naming their new community, "Mountainair". In addition to being a railroad town known for shipping pinto beans, Mountainair became a site for summer lecture series, for a place to find bargains in used cars, and for "Pop's" Hotel Shaffer. The pinto beans, lecture tents, and car dealers are now gone--but there are new art galleries and the National Park Service Visitors' Center headquarters for Salinas National Monument sites. Fast becoming a New Mexico attraction worth a visit is the new Art Alley, displaying art works outdoors.

The family eventually migrated to Albuquerque, where many of Tony's relatives live today. A few years back, Tony accompanied his Father to a family reunion in Belen, New Mexico.

P.S. - Serpent Gate , the third novel in the Kevin Kerney mystery series by author Michael McGarrity, is set in the town of Mountainair.

Tony Radio - Santana

Black Magic Woman - live in Santo Domingo. Carlos, Carlos, Carlos . . .

Tony Radio - Los Lobos

La Bamba! Yo no soy marinero.
English translation:
In order to dance the Bamba
In order to dance the Bamba
A little humor is needed
A little humor for me and for you
Faster and faster
Faster and faster
I'll be for you
I'll be for you
I'm not a sailor
I'm not a sailor
I'm captain
I'm captain
I'm captain

Tony Radio - Tavares

Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel. Yvonne requested this one for Tony and Sammy.

The Magic Number - by Erin

425-1068. That is the very first phone number I ever memorized. And for a very good reason. At just about three or four years old I knew that by dialing that number, I was guaranteed a ride to wherever I wanted to go. Whether it was going to the Dairy to get an ice cream, or going to have a play date with Sammy. And the best part was that I didn't even have to ask my parents. I just made the call and Uncle Tony would be at my house within 5 minutes. I didn't even have to explain to my parents what was I doing or where I was going. Uncle Tony would do that for me too! By the time he would finish telling my Mom and Dad that I had called and wanted to go out ( I think he may have thought that I had told them), I'd already be in the front seat of his car all buckled up and ready to get on with my day. Then we'd drive off and I'd just wave goodbye. Thanks Uncle Tony.

Tony Radio - Crystal Blue Persuasion

1969 - "the Summer of Love." Tony has said that this song always reminds him of the year he returned home from the Army. It rates high on his SONGS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD soundtrack.

Why I Play Guitar - by Joe

Tony introduced me to a guitarist by the name of Jimi Hendrix when I was about 9. It was almost a religious experience.... "Have you ever heard this guy before?!" then preceded to turn the volume up and air guitar like Michael J Fox after a Red Bull (..sorry just painting a picture). Anyway, had he not, I might not have picked up a guitar myself. Also had he not, I would've never learned why my uncle tom always put a melody behind his greeting of ... "Heeeey Joe!"

Tony Radio - Kermit sings about rainbows

Pidgey once sang this in a school production. File this one under songs that can make Tony cry.

Tony's Monkey Face - by Kelly

When I was about 13 or 14 and my mom and Tony were still first dating, we would usually meet Tony for Sunday Mass. Without fail, every time we went to church Tony would peer around my mom at Randy, Alyssa and I and proceed to make the craziest faces ever. (I think everyone that knows Tony will know what I'm talking about, that cross-eyed monkey face) Anyways, I would try so hard not to giggle or anything. But my mom would hear those few chuckles that escaped and give me the dirtiest look, saying without words to be quiet and behave in church. Of course, I would try to tell her that Tony was making faces at me and that's why I was laughing. My mom would look at Tony, who would pretend to be totally innocent and wrongfully accused. Finally after a while of this going on, my mom looked at Tony when I laughed and caught him right in the act of making one of those faces at us. It was pretty funny to see him finally get caught.

Some other things that I think of with Tony is :Thunder and Lightning; Tony's 18 inch Pythons! ; Tony who still wont give up his VHS player so he can tape TV shows for Samantha, my mom, and anyone else that asks ; the Bino songs.

Samantha's Top 10 favorite memories about her Daddy...

1. When there was a full moon, my Dad would pick me up, carry me outside and sing in his most perfect voice..."There's a Moon out tonight...oh, oh, oh, oh...There's a Pidgey in my heart, oh, oh, oh, oh..." To this day, I sing this song when there is a full moon out.


2. My favorite trips with my Dad were when he would take me to 7-Eleven and buy me "rip off Barbies".


3. When it was time for me to go to bed, I didn't like to leave my Dad so I would make him come in and out of the room to make sure he was still there.


4. "Rockie-nonee...for a Pidgey...Rockie-nonee...for a Pidgey"


5. We used to watch "Three's Company" together in my bedroom while I completed my homework.


6. When we would go to McDonald's, sometimes the french fries were too hot to eat, so my Dad, being the smartest man in the world, taught me to hang my french fries out the window while we drove home to cool them off.


7. When my dad would come home, he would try, as best as he could, to close the door quickly to make sure that the "tickle bug" wouldn't get in. For some reason, he was never fast enough because the "tickle bug" would ALWAYS get in and attack me.


8. My dad's favorite thing to do to embarrass me in public was the "Poopie Dance".


9. My Daddy was and always will be my number one fan! No one will love me as much as my Dad loves me!


10. The one thing that I am most looking forward to in my future is dancing with my Dad to Barry Manilow's "I Can't Smile Without You" at my wedding...

Tony Goes to the Movies #5 ROCKY

Gonna fly now.

Tony at the Drive In - by Debby

One night, about thirty years ago, Tony and I were at the Los Altos Drive-In and we discovered that the outdoor speaker wasn't working properly. Well, Tony, in his infinite wisdom, opened the door and put the speaker back on the post and then attempted to spar with it. Right hook...left hook... and surprisingly, the speaker won!
Oh yeah . . . do you know what else? Tony speaks Korean!
Have him say a few lines for you...

Tony Likes Boxing - Ali meets Leonard and Tyson

Arsenio Hall interviews 3 of Boxing's greatest.

Once Cool Always Cool

Tony Goes Shopping - by Joe

Tony, never the picky type.... or better yet, Tony, cultured and refined food connoisseur, would frequent the neighborhood gas station for a bite to eat. Usually an egg sandwich or a pack of Cheez-It's. He used his charge card to pay; the charge card that his dog Polly had chewed out of his wallet. The clerk at the gas station would most patiently swipe the mangled and bent card 5 or 6 times before the magnetic strip would read. One day however, the clerk was finally tired of swiping the card enough times for it to take. He threw down the card and exclaimed to Tony "you caad don wok". To which Tony replied jokingly "Caad don wok? ........ I'll kick your *expletive -ing ass!" We're not sure if the clerk got the joke... but we know he took the card! - Joe

Tony TV - Lonesome Dove trailer

Tony really liked this movie, so it was worth posting a 2nd entry. Might even post another.

Tony TV - Lonesome Dove

Don't dis the old Rangers.

Tony Goes to the Movies #4 - American Graffiti

Where were you in '62?

Tony Radio - Stevie Ray Vaughan

Crossfire. SRV in his prime - and a little Arsenio too.

Rock N' Roll Tony - by Tom

Tony's musical journey probably began on our old upright piano, the centerpiece of our childhood livingroom. The tall wooden beheamoth doubled as our homes mantlepiece, since the house had no fireplace. Framed family photos and treasured knick knacks lined it's top. Stockings were hung from it at Christmas, and May family-rosary's were recited, kneeling before it. A crucifix hung on a nail at it's center, halfway from it's lid and the ceiling. We all banged on that piano from time to time, but most of never got past Heart & Soul and Chopsticks. Tony, on the other hand, was able to coax a little more music out of it. When company was gathered in the pink and green livingroom, Tony would be summoned at some point in the evening to perform his version of Flowers of Spain. (Rody would be called in to do the Twist. As far as I remember, Tim and I didn't have any parlor tricks.) In High School, Tony moved on to the tenor sax. Tony took up the saxophone as a compromise with our Dad, who refused to give him permission to play football at Saint Anthony's High School. As far as Dad could reason it, football was just too dangerous. In his mind, being in the school band was just as cool as being on the football team. AND you got to wear really cool band uniforms. Tony held out for a while. He actually attended team workouts, but eventually relented and got fitted for a band uniform. He took to the sax quickly and received a lot of encouragement from the Band Director. I still remember Mom telling and retelling the story of the night that the Director called upon Tony to stand and play a solo . She was really proud of that. At the time, the saxophone was an intricate and "sexy" component of the average teenage garage band. Surf music was in it's prime, and every authentic surf band had to have a sax player on board. So Tony linked up with some friends from SA, and within a short period of time he became a totally bitchen Ricky Nelson looking saxophone player in a string of quality surf bands. Tony had a great time playing dances and clubs, but it wasn't long before he realized that the rock n roll lead guitar was leaving the saxophone in it's raucous wake. Tony knew he needed to transition, and he did.

Tony's first guitar was actually Tim's - a six string western style guitar given to Tim by Uncle Frank as a Christmas present. Even though our Dad had played guitar (and still does), we never had one in the house until Uncle Frank's gift. Tony immediately adopted that guitar and taught himself to play. It served him well until that fateful afternoon when he called Mom's bluff after she threatened to break it over his head "El Kabong" style. She did. Maybe that's why she and Dad decided to surprise Tony with the Burns of London Ampeg Wilddog Split Jazz electric guitar. I remember it was late in the afternoon and Tony was at work - probably St. Mary's. Mom and Dad put the shiny new black and red Ampeg in it's case on the living room couch and waited excitedly for Tony to come home. I remember being excited too. I also remember thinking what a curious thing it was for them to buy him such a cool present when it wasn't even his birthday or Christmas or anything. I remember Tony coming home, and all of us watching him find the guitar. I also remember Mom asking him to plug it in and play something, and how Tony explained to her that the guitar needed an amp in order to make any sound. The Ampeg quickly found it's way to many amps, and Tony the rock n' roll lightening-fingered guitar hero was born.

I have Two vivid memories of Tony's rock band days:

1.)Tony's band was playing in our backyard on a warm Saturday afternoon. Every kid and teenager in the neighborhood was hanging in our driveway, straddling 10 speeds and stingrays or sitting along the fence and the back porch. Two LB police rolled up in a black and white and advised our Mom that they had gotten a noise complaint. The police told our Mom that they were required to stop by, since a complaint had been made. But they added that there wasn't really any problem with the noise that early in the day. My mom then served both of them lemonade and they hung around for about 20 minutes listening along with the rest of us.

2.) One Friday in early June, I went out with my buddies to walk the grounds at St. Maria Goretti at recess, and discovered a huge banner hanging on the front of the Church Hall. Large painted letters announced that Tony and the Nightriders were going to be playing live at that weekend's Chiro dance. Wow. My brother - a real celebrity. Rock on, Tony. Rock on. - Tom

Tony Radio - Los Lonely Boys LIVE

How far is heaven?

Tony TV - Married With Children

"Al Bundy is my idol because I'm like him and I don't try to be." -Tony

A collection of Bundy moments from the intro to the Married With Children Reunion.

Tony Goes to the Movies #3 - Raising Arizona

A Coen Brother's classic. Hi and Ed want a family.

Family Entertainment - Tony Style - by Tom

As kids in the 60s, we didn't always have a lot in the way of toys and such. This was way before IPods, PSP's, Game Cubes, DVD's and 24 hour 2 billion channel satellite TV. Television was mostly black and white in our neighborhood, and there were times at our house when we didn't even have a TV. If our old black and white TV\Stereo console went out while we were watching the Munsters, we knew the replacement set might be a few years in coming. I distinctly remember being gathered as a family around one of our childhood TV sets when it left us. The picture suddenly began to recede from all four sides, quickly shrinking into a bright circle of light, like a white drain, until there was only this one bright dot in the middle of the set. I remember the voices talking on as if we could still see them. And how, for a while, we would revisit the dot just for the voices, kind of rediscovering the age of radio, until eventually the voices stopped too. Anyway, in the midst of this simpler time, big brother Tony shone forth as a champion and inventor of alternative family entertainment. There were many free and creative opportunities for fun all around us, and Tony was a King at seeking them out. Following, are only some of the real life authentic Tony-invented family games (I must mention that brother Tim also played no small part in the planning and implementation of these activities):

DOGGY GET THE HAT - For a short while we adopted a full grown "difficult to keep" dog from another family. I was only 4 at the time and only remember that the dog was taller than me and brown and white. The dog's name was Poky. The game unfolded like this. Tony & Tim would first go into our back yard and torment Poky with a dark blue knitted cap. Next, the hat was brought back into our service porch where I was kept waiting. Lastly, the hat was then placed on my head and I was pushed out the back door with the instruction to "run away from the dog." The game for me was to keep away from Poky. For the others the game was simply to watch me try.

TV THEME SONG CLOSET TRAP - This was a game we usually played when our parents were out and Tony and Tim were babysitting Rody and me. The game was pretty easy to setup. First, one of us - wait - yeah, it was always me - I would be caught after a short attempt at fleeing, and carried to the front hall closet. This closet was filled mostly with musty old coats our parents never wore anymore. There might have been a vacuum and some storage boxes. I don't really remember - it was dark. Anyway, I would be put in the closet and the door would be easily held shut. Next, while holding the door shut, Tony would begin to hum the creepy theme song for the scary TV show, "One Step Beyond." For me the game was to pound and plead. Rosanne's part was to play my advocate from the hallway, using tactics such as threatening to tell our parents when they got home. The tricky part for the door holder (Tony) was to keep the prisoner (me) in the closet despite the threats of the hall advocate (Rody) for as long as possible without actually reaching the threshold whereby the prisoner or advocate would actually mention the game to our parents. Tony was a master at that game.

DRAWING ON TONY'S BACK WITH A BALL-POINT PEN - Just what it sounds like. He usually had to bribe us with pocket change.

BUNK BED DROP - This was a game for “boys only” that my brothers and I would play after lights out. Tony and Tim shared a room and slept on a steel framed bunk bed. Rody and I shared another room until she started 1st Grade, at which time she took over our room and I began sleeping on the couch in the living room (hey - my room had a TV in it, sometimes.) This game was one of those that you played in whispers after your parents were asleep, and it went basically like this. Tony and Tim would come and find me asleep on the couch. Next, they would wake me and ask if I wanted to come and sleep with them in their room. I would be told that I would even get to sleep on the top bunk. Of course, I would say “yes,” and then run happily off with them to the boys’ room. Next, I would be told that it would be safer for me to sleep against the wall. That way I wouldn't roll off in my sleep (the bed did not have a safety rail - kids were not as clumsy in those days). Now, it was critical to the game that I agree to join them, to take the top bunk and to choose the safety of sleeping by the wall. Then, after I was asleep, Tony and Tim would kneel on the floor beside the bed, and on the count of three, they would pull the bed away from the wall and watch me fall past. Of course, they would have previously laid a blanket on the floor to protect me. It was a hardwood floor. Apparently, I remained clueless enough about the surprise twist ending of the game to agree to continue playing it multiple times. Whether this was due to the fact that I was asleep at the time, just overly naïve or simply the result of repeated blunt force contact with the blanketed hardwood floor, I’ll never really know. This game in particular not only brought much delight to my older brothers, but it continues to bring joy and laughter to their children and my own in just the retelling. - Tom

Tony Radio - Malo "Suavecito"

Malo's Suavecito is still one of those songs guaranteed to make Tony crank the volume on his car stereo to 11.

Tony Goes to the Movies # 2 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

More clips from some of Tony's favorite movies.

Billy Jack, the prom, Billy Jack's Hat, & Hanging With My Big Brother - by Tom

Tony took me to see "Billy Jack" on a June evening in 1973, which was the same night as my senior prom. Now, I had never planned on attending my senior prom. Really. It wasn't an event that any of my close friends even talked about. There was no girlfriend on the horizon. I had no money, no car and no license to drive one at the time. Still, I remember how at the last minute I started to notice a flurry of the dateless guys lining up cousins and such. I found that at the 12th hour I started to feel a slight pang of regret that I might be missing something important. It was a rite of passage after all. Even Greg Brady had a date. That afternoon, Tony decided to invite me to hang with him at the movies for the 2nd time in our lives. Now, I’ve never asked him whether or not it was a coincidence, or if he was actually making a big brother move to divert my mind from thoughts of what my classmates at Millikan were doing that night. It did divert me though, and introduced me to a cult classic film and hero who wore a really cool hat. NOTE ON THAT HAT: Jim (James) took to wearing his own miniature version of the hat. He was about 3 at the time. I can still see him walking in the front door of Mom’s house with that Billy Jack hat on his head and his stone-serious face. He would then proceed to kick and karate chop me until I fell to the floor and surrendered. One tin soldier rides away. - Tom

Billy Jack in action

Tony Goes to the Movies # 1
Billy Jack

Proving that 60 is actually the new 30 . . .

Tony - AKA the Man, the Myth, the Legend - Fidel & Betty's 1st born- is about to defy all of the laws of logic and most of the laws of gravity - he is about to mathematically EARN the wizened age of 60 at a time in which he still graces so many mirrors with the face and physique of a much younger warrior. Rocky Balboa lives and his name is Tony. Elvis did NOT leave the building. He changed his name to Tony. Bruce Lee is back - and this time his name is Tony. Floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee. "What is his name?" Tony!

CAN THIS BE TRUE?

Yes.

Our Tony - the marathon running, heavy bag thumping, hair combing, guitar blazing, mirror gazing, ballad crooning, women swooning, overtime working, defender of the downtrodden and friend to both great and small - is actually reaching the BIG 6 0. Those of us who have been lucky enough to share real estate with his shadow - we who are his family and friends - do not want to let this milestone pass without taking some time to stop and to ponder, to consider for at least some small while ALL THINGS TONY. And so this Blog has been birthed, as Tony himself was birthed 60 years ago in the gateway city of St. Louis. On this page we will post links and videos, words and images that will help to paint a portrait of the man and his times. Siblings, children, all relatives and friends - this is your task. Populate this blog with your favorite Tony stories or memories, photos or songs, or just send the Tone Man your best wishes and undying loyalty and love in your own unique words. Email your submissions to olr.dad@gmail.com, and begin your subject line with the name Tony. Your words and images will be posted here as MAIN TOPICS. You can add your own comments to these topics as you normally would. So - how about it? Will you help us to construct a living monument to one heck of a great guy? Sure you will. You'll do it for Tony. OUR TONY. The first one of us to take THE HILL - to do as big brothers always do - to go in first and make it look cool so the rest of us won't be so scared *#!"less to follow. Rock on Tony. Rock on.