I only spoke to Billy Minardi on the phone one or two times yet he left an impression on me. As a travel agent in Kentucky in the early 1990’s, part of my job involved booking travel for the University of Kentucky Basketball program. During that time period the head basketball coach at UK was Rick Pitino, brother-in-law of Billy Minardi. This connection placed me in a position to have the opportunity to speak with Mr. Minardi about travel arrangements needed for family members. Simply put, I remember a certain enthusiasm and friendliness in his voice that is always welcoming to someone who makes a living in a service industry. Needless to say, I was deeply saddened upon learning of his death on September 11th, 2001.
The New York Times published a touching tribute on November 16th, 2001 to William Minardi entitled “William Minardi: The 48-Hour-a-Day Man”
Tributes to William Minardi can be left here.
September 11th is a day of remembrance. Each and every American should pause, if only for a moment, to remember the terrorist attacks on our nation on that day. On a glorious September morning, everyday Americans just like you and I kissed their spouses and kids good-bye in the early morning hours going out to their jobs or flights only to be murdered a few short hours later. My heart and my prayers go out to those families. Each and every month on the 11th I have an alarm that sounds on my Palm PDA at 8:45 a.m., the time that American Airlines flight 11 hit the North Tower. It’s my way of remembering and offering up a short prayer. It’s my way of never forgetting because I truly believe that September 11th, 2001 was the defining moment in history for my generation.
Cross posted at Sarah Palin Blog