Happy anniversary, Ernie and Rita!
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Our first order of business this week is to wish a very happy anniversary to Ernie B. and Rita K. Blankenship.
What an amazing milestone: Fifty years of marriage! From their East North Street home to the palatial estate on the ridge overlooking the city, Ernie and Rita have always been humble, caring and community minded citizens.
More than one family friend has suggested, in good-natured fun, that Rita Kay deserves a medal for all the times that Ernie has spent on the road, bringing high school sports back home to the families of local student-athletes.
For those of us who've followed a similar path, we all understand.
For a bit of levity, former Major League pitcher Jon Warden often jokes that he and Denny McClain combined for 35 wins for the Detroit Tigers in 1968. After pausing for effect, Jon adds that McClain won 31 games that year. (Warden was a modest 4-1.)
Well, Ernie and I combined to covered high school sports for 55 wonderful years. Fifty-two of those years belonged to Ernie.
Personally, after attending more than 75 high school and college basketball games in 1992-93 alone, I remain in awe of Ernie's energy and endurance. He maintained a similar pace for more than a half-century. Frankly, I don't know how in the world he did it.
As much as I love sports – and I do – the high school basketball season can be a grueling schedule. While most teams play two games a week, on average, the broadcasters and sportswriters average four or five games per week.
(HCP sports editor Stephen Forsha may be on a record-setting pace this season. On his "off day" Saturday, Feb. 11, the "Forsh Dog," as one Lynchburg-Clay coach calls him, attended two different games in one night. He does this a lot, even though I tell him to slow down.)
Ernie kept this pace for 50-plus seasons. Amazing. Then, no sooner would the basketball season wind down, and Ernie would be rallying the troops for the annual Highland County Society for Children and Adults Telethon, sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Hillsboro and Greenfield.
Congratulations, Ernie and Rita Kay! You will always have a special place in our hearts. There's just no way I can adequately thank Ernie (as well as Richard Blankenship) for being so supportive through the years.
To both of you, and to Todd, Smoke, Ernie and their families, we wish you fond memories and pleasant days ahead.
Pam and I will stop by on March 3. All the best.
Rory Ryan began his first of more than 30 years in publishing when he was hired by Ernie Blankenship and Rotary Forms Press in October 1980.[[In-content Ad]]
What an amazing milestone: Fifty years of marriage! From their East North Street home to the palatial estate on the ridge overlooking the city, Ernie and Rita have always been humble, caring and community minded citizens.
More than one family friend has suggested, in good-natured fun, that Rita Kay deserves a medal for all the times that Ernie has spent on the road, bringing high school sports back home to the families of local student-athletes.
For those of us who've followed a similar path, we all understand.
For a bit of levity, former Major League pitcher Jon Warden often jokes that he and Denny McClain combined for 35 wins for the Detroit Tigers in 1968. After pausing for effect, Jon adds that McClain won 31 games that year. (Warden was a modest 4-1.)
Well, Ernie and I combined to covered high school sports for 55 wonderful years. Fifty-two of those years belonged to Ernie.
Personally, after attending more than 75 high school and college basketball games in 1992-93 alone, I remain in awe of Ernie's energy and endurance. He maintained a similar pace for more than a half-century. Frankly, I don't know how in the world he did it.
As much as I love sports – and I do – the high school basketball season can be a grueling schedule. While most teams play two games a week, on average, the broadcasters and sportswriters average four or five games per week.
(HCP sports editor Stephen Forsha may be on a record-setting pace this season. On his "off day" Saturday, Feb. 11, the "Forsh Dog," as one Lynchburg-Clay coach calls him, attended two different games in one night. He does this a lot, even though I tell him to slow down.)
Ernie kept this pace for 50-plus seasons. Amazing. Then, no sooner would the basketball season wind down, and Ernie would be rallying the troops for the annual Highland County Society for Children and Adults Telethon, sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Hillsboro and Greenfield.
Congratulations, Ernie and Rita Kay! You will always have a special place in our hearts. There's just no way I can adequately thank Ernie (as well as Richard Blankenship) for being so supportive through the years.
To both of you, and to Todd, Smoke, Ernie and their families, we wish you fond memories and pleasant days ahead.
Pam and I will stop by on March 3. All the best.
Rory Ryan began his first of more than 30 years in publishing when he was hired by Ernie Blankenship and Rotary Forms Press in October 1980.[[In-content Ad]]