By Tom Quigg
For much of the day of June 5, I intended to visit the cemetery at Sunset Memorial Park in Hoquiam. That was the anniversary of my father’s death, 56 years ago. Finally, close to 8 p.m., I arrived at the cemetery. Mom and Dad’s joint gravesite is on the edge of the incline just behind the mausoleum. As I crossed the road, I took a quick look at the mausoleum niche of our good friend Janice Bandstrom, whose ashes had been sealed away just a few months before. Coach Jack Elway’s ashes are inurned just a couple of niches left of Janice’s, and I glanced at his plaque as I walked by.
Jack was football coach and taught at Grays Harbor College for the two years I attended. My student locker was next to his class room, and it seemed whenever he came by, he took the time to stop and talk. Later Jack became head football coach at Stanford University. He then followed his son, John Elway, to the Denver Broncos as part of the scouting office. I always remember the year the Denver Broncos won their first Super Bowl. After the game, I’d sent a congratulatory card to Jack, c/o The Denver Broncos, and wondered if it would ever be delivered. Two weeks later I received an envelope from the Denver Broncos. Inside was a note from Jack, thanking me for thinking of him. I remember him being that kind of a guy. Very quick to recognize the thoughtful acts of others.
After returning home from the cemetery, I was checking out national news stories before going to bed. My eyes went to an AP Wire Service story beginning to be picked up by the national media. That evening, maybe around the time I glanced at the plaque on his father’s mausoleum niche, John Elway, now the general manager of the Denver Broncos, had sent out a twitter message. Arnie Stapleton, AP Pro Football writer covered it, titled “Elway Joins Call for Change After George Floyd’s Killing.” Stapleton wrote; “On Friday night, Elway tweeted that he spent much of the week listening to his players and coaches and realized his views held for decades were wrong.” Elway went on to say “Listening to players and reading their social media, the strength they have shown and the experiences they have shared has been powerful. It has impacted me. I realize I have a long way to go, but I will keep listening and learning,” Elway added. “That is the only way to grow. I truly believe a lot of good will come from the many difficult conversations that are taking place around our team, league and country.”
John was a young boy when his dad coached the Grays Harbor College “Chokers.” Jack’s sister Barbara Elway Rottle once told me that Jack’s family lived in Central Park, and John attended kindergarten at Central Park Elementary. John’s dad certainly taught him a lot about the game of football. But it appears Jack also taught him a lot about the game of life, “…keep listening and learning.” What John tweeted Friday night, will have a lasting impact on the NFL, and sports in general. All for the better.
Thank you, John, for speaking up, and telling the nation what we should be hearing from all people in your position. It’s unfortunate it took the death of George Floyd, to bring it so vividly to our attention,
Jack Elway was coach at Grays Harbor College from 1961 through 1966. Jack and his wife Janet Jordan Elway were born and raised in Hoquiam, and attended Hoquiam High School. Janet passed away just a few months ago. John, we’re proud to be able to call you, and your family Harborites. We hope your family’s connection to the Harbor may have had some role in shaping you into the person you showed us on Friday evening, June 5, 2020.
The full story can be found online by checking AP Wire Service, June 5, 2020, “Elway Joins Call for Change After George Floyd’s Killing.”
Tom Quigg lives in Aberdeen and serves as a commissioner for the Port of Grays Harbor.