Tony Snow Passes From Cancer
I met Tony a couple of months after Fox News launched his nationally syndicated radio talk show, The Tony Snow Show in 2003. Our company carried his program in Tampa and Orlando. Genesis was among the limited number of stations carrying Tony's maiden broadcast. I was impressed with how warm Tony sounded on the radio and curious to meet him to see if the man behind the microphone was as genuine in person. The first time we met was in Washington, DC in late 2003. I found Tony to be every bit as warm and friendly in person as he was on the radio. In fact, we built a friendship and spoke somewhat frequently during the days he hosted the radio program for Fox.
He visited us in Tampa in 2004 to broadcast at the WWBA studios. We spent a couple of days with him and it was a great time personally as well as professionally to see how he interacted with our staff, clients and the audience at a Brandon car dealership. We estimated that nearly 500 people came to see him that day. It literally felt like one of the family reunions I experienced when I was a kid with cousins, uncles, aunts and grandparents. Lots of laughter, good food and great talk of the politics of the day. In the true Snow style, it was a day filled with warm, friendly, intelligent conversation. The 3 hours focused on the task of taking on the country's problems and continuing to make it the best place to live, work and raise our families. It was quite an experience. He was very pleased with the success of the broadcast and the number of people that took the time out of their day to see him in person. It was his mission to help the conservative cause and to bring people together.
I had the privilege to see him in Washington on a couple of occasions including the day of President Bush's Inauguration in January 2005. When I called to tell him that I was in town, he insisted on seeing my wife, Laura and I that day. I told him not to bother with his busy schedule, but he pressed the issue. We met for about an hour and a half at a nearby D.C. hotel lobby not far from the Fox studios. As usual, he was gracious and interested in what was going on in our lives. It was a memorable afternoon for both Laura and I.
When I heard the news that he had colon cancer, I spoke with him about it. He said that he routinely had checkups every year and this came as a surprise because he had been completely clean the previous year. It was an aggressive form of the disease but his spirits were high and he was determined to beat it. He was on and off the radio during the first round of treatments, but it looked like he had beaten it as his doctors declared him cancer free. Shortly thereafter, he took the job of Press Secretary for President Bush.
We stayed in touch through email and occasional phone calls. He was having the time of his life defending the President and working with the media. Then the cancer came back. The day it was announced, I sent him an email to let him know that I was praying for him and that I was depressed about it. He sent a message back, to quote: "Bruce, don't be depressed, I'm not! See you soon". Here is the Press Secretary taking the time during a great deal of turmoil in his life both professionally and personally to send me a message letting me know that it would all turn out fine; no matter what the result.
We last spoke a couple months back. He was planning a trip to Florida for a speaking engagement and wanted to be sure that Laura and I would be available to see him. I had called him at his home and near the end of the conversation I asked him to forgive me for interrupting him during his time with his family. He replied, "You Are Family, call anytime." Those were the last words he said to me; after that our contact became limited to email.
I know that we shouldn't question God when great people like Tony Snow leave this earth at such a young age. It is only human nature. I have studied scripture for a long time and nowhere does it read that our time on earth is guaranteed to last into old age. I have come to the conclusion that it's all in God's timing and our positive impact is not limited to the time we have, but the time we spend in making that impact.
President George H.W. Bush said of his former speechwriter that "...he wasn't a legacy guy. He just went out and did everything that he could to help people." Tony may not have been a legacy guy, but he certainly left one all the same. He will be remembered fondly. He was an intellectual who was warm, caring, and friendly. He fought for conservative causes with a smile, making a big difference with the limited time he was here. His friendship has made a great impression on me. He believed in God and lived his life like it. I look forward to the day when I see that great smile again.
Bruce Maduri has been the President of Genesis Communications, Inc for 20 years. Genesis is radio broadcast group specializing in News Talk and Sports formats. Bruce can be reached at ceo@radiogenesis.com
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Added: July 19, 2008
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