Great stuff! I coached children’s basketball at my church for several years. Second to fourth grades. It wasn’t the kids that prompted me to stop coaching, it was the parents and other coaches. Talk about exasperating! I love the caricatures you did of all the kids on the team. Good job, Coach!
Did anyone help mentor you? Were did you get your inspiration from and your love for God? Was their every a time you were lost? I had a great basketball coach at that age and will never forget the impact he had on my life.
My father was a great dad. I don't have space here to tell you everything that he did to mold me into the man I am today. He loved my mom deeply and I learned how to love my wife by his example. The late Nancy Sutton was my journalism teacher in high school. She believed I had a career in journalism before I did. She indirectly connected me with The Indianapolis News editorial cartoonist, Jerry Barnett in 1974. He became my cartooning mentor. His encouragement motivated me to pursue a career in cartooning. My Pastor Don Tyler's preaching had a tremendous impact on my spiritual growth. And then there's Pastor Carl Prokop who discipled my wife and me when we were young parents. These are just a few of the people that God used to change my life.
I can add a caveat- the back story to this championship if you will. And it authenticates both the message and man in Gary Varvel.
A few weeks ago I picked up Gary and we drove to Bloomington for Gary to present coach Mike Woodson and coach Calbert Cheaney images Gary had drawn about IU basketball. (Gary shared the experience and a few pictures in a newsletter a short time ago). Coach Woodson was very appreciative and revealed his little-known talent of drawing cartoons himself. He spontaneously offered us his personal tickets right behind the IU bench against Ohio State, the last IU home game and Woodson’s last career coaching game at Assembly Hall. WOW! What an offer. Gary believed he could accept because the boys basketball team was expected to receive a bye for their tournament on the Saturday of the Ohio State game.
Then Gary notified me he couldn’t use the Indiana tickets - the Hurricanes had a game. Gary and I are lifelong Indiana Hoosier basketball fans. Most adults would pause under such a moral dilemma; Gary did not. I share below the exact text Gary sent on March 2nd to the Director of Basketball Operations, Steven Surface.
“I'm not going to be able to come to the March 8 game. My grandson's bball team plays the first game of his tournament and I'm the assistant coach. I greatly appreciate the offer by Coach Woodson but my first priority after Jesus is to my family.
Go Hoosiers!”
I thank you, Gary Varvel for your testimony of Christ lived before others, and for using the talents God had given you.
I like the way that you use scripture to back up how we are to raise our children. Although winning feels great, it is how we react and persevere through the hard things that builds good character. Congratulations to your team for the win. They are very blessed to have such caring men as coaches.
Spectacular illustration of a terrific group of young men who are getting a great start. Congratulations on their leadership team too! Keep it up and have fun in the process.
Great stuff! I coached children’s basketball at my church for several years. Second to fourth grades. It wasn’t the kids that prompted me to stop coaching, it was the parents and other coaches. Talk about exasperating! I love the caricatures you did of all the kids on the team. Good job, Coach!
Did anyone help mentor you? Were did you get your inspiration from and your love for God? Was their every a time you were lost? I had a great basketball coach at that age and will never forget the impact he had on my life.
My father was a great dad. I don't have space here to tell you everything that he did to mold me into the man I am today. He loved my mom deeply and I learned how to love my wife by his example. The late Nancy Sutton was my journalism teacher in high school. She believed I had a career in journalism before I did. She indirectly connected me with The Indianapolis News editorial cartoonist, Jerry Barnett in 1974. He became my cartooning mentor. His encouragement motivated me to pursue a career in cartooning. My Pastor Don Tyler's preaching had a tremendous impact on my spiritual growth. And then there's Pastor Carl Prokop who discipled my wife and me when we were young parents. These are just a few of the people that God used to change my life.
Well said. Well done.
I can add a caveat- the back story to this championship if you will. And it authenticates both the message and man in Gary Varvel.
A few weeks ago I picked up Gary and we drove to Bloomington for Gary to present coach Mike Woodson and coach Calbert Cheaney images Gary had drawn about IU basketball. (Gary shared the experience and a few pictures in a newsletter a short time ago). Coach Woodson was very appreciative and revealed his little-known talent of drawing cartoons himself. He spontaneously offered us his personal tickets right behind the IU bench against Ohio State, the last IU home game and Woodson’s last career coaching game at Assembly Hall. WOW! What an offer. Gary believed he could accept because the boys basketball team was expected to receive a bye for their tournament on the Saturday of the Ohio State game.
Then Gary notified me he couldn’t use the Indiana tickets - the Hurricanes had a game. Gary and I are lifelong Indiana Hoosier basketball fans. Most adults would pause under such a moral dilemma; Gary did not. I share below the exact text Gary sent on March 2nd to the Director of Basketball Operations, Steven Surface.
“I'm not going to be able to come to the March 8 game. My grandson's bball team plays the first game of his tournament and I'm the assistant coach. I greatly appreciate the offer by Coach Woodson but my first priority after Jesus is to my family.
Go Hoosiers!”
I thank you, Gary Varvel for your testimony of Christ lived before others, and for using the talents God had given you.
GO HURRICANES!
Gary Phillips
Thanks G2. I appreciate you for hooking me up with the IU tour. Loved spending time with Calbert Cheaney. And Steven Surface is great.
Beautiful story, beautiful family. What a blessing.
Thanks Lisa
I like the way that you use scripture to back up how we are to raise our children. Although winning feels great, it is how we react and persevere through the hard things that builds good character. Congratulations to your team for the win. They are very blessed to have such caring men as coaches.
Thanks Jackie.
Spectacular illustration of a terrific group of young men who are getting a great start. Congratulations on their leadership team too! Keep it up and have fun in the process.
Thanks Cynthia
SOOO AWESOME 👌 As one from Pennville, Indiana now. I used to work in & around Avon area. LOVE GARY VARVEL & your personal stories + your cartoons 😀
Thank you, Charlotte.