Ninety-one-year-old Mary Ellen Allen was only 5-foot-2 but she played basketball in elementary school, high school and two years of college. Wednesday, the Jacksboro woman fulfilled one of her dreams when she got to meet Lady Vols Head Coach Pat Summitt.
Summitt was the keynote speaker at the American Heart Association‘s “Go Red for Women” lunch at the Knoxville Convention Center. For a Mothers’ Day present, Mrs. Allen’s two daughters, Peggy Allen and Debbie Chambers, had purchased tickets to the lunch and Peggy Allen accompanied her mother, who is in a wheelchair, to the event.
After Coach Summitt finished her remarks encouraging the audience to eat healthy and exercise (Summitt works out six days a week), Peggy Allen stood up from a table near the back of the room. “My mother is 91 years old and it would mean so much to her to meet Coach Summitt,” she said, as the room fell into a hush.
Coach Summitt didn’t hesitate. She literally ran through the audience to Mrs. Allen’s wheelchair and began asking the senior citizen questions about her basketball days.
The meeting ended with many wiping away tears.
Now that’s a champion.
Sweet story. Thanks for posting w/ photo. Pat Summitt has a real soft spot for senior citizens. (So, hopefully, Mox got some love, too. 🙂 )
Whenever Pat Summitt talks about her childhood on the family farm, she humanizes a legend. How many of you know that she milked cows morning and evening when she was a kid?
Very funny, Maria.
Well, you left this CPA crying. Now my mascara is running and I have to meet someone for lunch…..
Aww. Sorry, Jenny. I know what you mean, though. Pat was so kind.
There has never been and never will be another Pat.
I wondered what you could possibly write about Pat that hasn’t already been covered. And as always, you did it. Nice story.
Annette: I agree.
Katie: Thanks so much.
Wonderful story about a wonderful woman who will be missed by many.
She certainly will be, Cile.
That’s the kind of person she was.
Beautiful, Cynthia. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for reading the Blue Streak, Diana.
Pingback:The Pat Summitt Suite: beautiful and beneficial - Blue StreakBlue Streak
I remember when Pat started. Being a kid who played 1/2 court Pat quickly became my favorite. Well when my daughter was coaching BB at her high school she contacted Pat about coaching her Elite BB camp. Pat asked her to come to camp which she did for 10 years. This was a favorite JOY of my life.
About the Author
 What You’re Saying
What’s Hot
My Favorite Blogs
Archives