VIN'S PEOPLE: Look who’s turning 100? Coach, trainer and mentor Eddie Shannon!
See who’s turning 100? Eddie Shannon!
Revered as a coach, trainer and mentor for years at Lincoln Memorial High and Manatee High, and as a trusted change agent during integration, the beloved community icon reaches the milestone on March 7.
“Getting cards and calls from everywhere,” he said, happily.
There will be a celebratory drive-by on Saturday before Eddie’s residence – 216 18th St. E., Palmetto – beginning at 11 a.m.
It’ll be long, too, given all the youngsters Eddie helped over his lifetime.
“So many,” he said. “I didn’t care if you’re Black, white, red or pink.”
Among them? Tennis legend Althea Gibson at Florida A&M, their alma mater, Henry Lawrence at Lincoln, and Alvoid Mays and Tommie Frazier at Manatee.
Even retired, Eddie was a sideline fixture at Manatee and still tapes ankles for Palmetto players who drop by his home.
“Still taking care of kids,” he said.
Want to mail Eddie a birthday card? The ZIP is 34221. Or email a greeting to manateehighalumni@gmail.com.
• Manatee County Recreation named a G.T. Bray Park softball field for Lloyd D. Grantham, Bradenton Senior Softball’s founder more than 30 years ago. A knee replacement just retired Lloyd from playing – at 93.
• Manatee High’s Canettes Color Guard are Regional A Round 2 Class Champions after the Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit competition at Durant High. Directed by Jennifer Reynolds, they are captain Dallis Mullet, Micheal Hetherington, Rylee Kuhns, Drew Schoonover, Makenzie Sheehan, Rylee Tusing and Dayana Viveros-Delangel.
• Ageless Charlie Hunsicker is 39. Again.
• So is inimitable Popi Ameres.
• There’s a Lenten Fish Fry on Fridays 4-7 p.m. through April 8 at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, 833 Magellan Drive, Sarasota. Call 941-755-1826 for details.
• Manatee School District Superintendent Cynthia Saunders received the Manasota Black Chamber of Commerce President’s Award.
• Palmetto High’s Dazzlers were third in both senior and junior varsity all-star hip hop and ninth in small spirit showdown at the 2022 Dance Team Union National Championship in Orlando.
The Dazzlers are captain Julian Grover, co-captain Tamiya Gissendanner, Jayda Cherenfant, Kalia Early, Alannah Gissendanner, Hope Gutierrez, Hailey Hurd, Kyla Jackson, Jayla Lindsey, Julianna Mancusi, Dianley Reyna, Alanah Telles and Sermarjay Weight.
The coaches are Shea Giltner, Cheyenne Thurman, Erykah Bazan and Samantha Thurman. Team Moms are Veronica Holley, Carrie Mancusi and Michelli Whidden.
• And Manatee High’s Sugar ’Cane varsity was fourth and junior varsity second in team performance at DTU nationals.
The varsity includes captain Jabby Wright, co-captains Anabelle Bennett, Emily Giraldo and Aidyn Reynolds along with Alexa Griffin, Jillian Kimmi, Emma Parker, Amber Polis, Aidyn Reynolds, Jordan Rydzinski, Emma Schukraft, Ella Stockton, Caroline Tavolara and Grace Zinna.
The JV includes captains Gracie Krywko and Samantha Trent along with Indira Drummond, Callaway Johnson, Rachel McGrath, Ashlyn Page, Emilia Rouifed, Kyleigh Rydzinski, Kynnda Velazquez and Arie Williams.
They’re led by director Angela Babroski, assistants Linda Boone, Julia Backus and Tracy Capozella and JV coach Chloe Krywko. Team Moms are Holly Johnson, Debbie Pollis and Beth Trent.
• Manatee County Sheriff’s Deputy Russ Younger retired after 21 years.
• Beertopia, hosted by area restaurants and breweries, is Saturday 6-9:30 p.m. at the Bradenton Area Convention Center. It benefits the Hernando De Soto Historical Society and the Eye Center Inc. Vision Foundation to provide eye exams and glasses to underprivileged children. Get tickets at desotohq.com/beertopia.
Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com Or call 941-962-5944. Twitter: @vinmannix.