Peyton may not have that ring yet. He has a lot more than a ring: HEADLINE Boy who lost father in Iraq meets Peyton Manning ARTICLE Austin Gourley is a young boy who has experienced heartache and sorrow since learning his father was killed in Iraq in February, but with the help of some people from Sparta who have very big hearts, his lifelong dream of meeting Peyton Manning became a reality. One month into his second tour of duty, Staff Sgt. Gregson Gourley, lost his life, along with three other soldiers, to an Improvised Explosive Device [IED]. It was Feb. 22, 2006. Gourley left behind a wife and four children. Austin, the oldest child, was 10 at the time. Austin's father had always told him if anything ever happened while he was in Iraq, he would have to be the man of the house. Austin, his mother and the other children made the trip to Utah where Sgt. Gourley's body would be buried. According to family members, Austin walked off the plane tall and proud wearing a Peyton Manning jersey. Austin and his dad watched football all the time, and they especially enjoyed watching Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Next in line after his dad, Manning was someone Austin looked up to and admired. The family was stationed in Fort Campbell, Ky., when Sgt. Gourley was killed, but moved back home to Utah to be closer to family. The story of Austin and his father was relayed to Jeff Stults, in May 2006, by a close relative. Stults, who now lives in Oklahoma, is a former resident of Sparta. Stults proceeded to contact his mother Patty Stults, in Sparta, to ask if she knew anyone with connections who could possibly get Austin tickets to a Colts football game. Patty was touched by Austin's story, and she started working on a way to get him to the stadium. She mentioned the situation to Alan Tatum, owner of Payless Pharmacy, and he offered to take Austin and his uncle to the Titans-Colts football game if they could get to Nashville. "I was jumping up and down," said Patty. "I called the University of Tennessee to find out how to contact Peyton." Patty contacted the Peyback Foundation and told them Austin's story. "I told them I realized there would be security and demands, but I asked if there would be any way Peyton could meet with Austin," Said Patty. "I waited and waited, and they finally called back and said Peyton wanted to meet Austin the night before the game in his hotel room." Austin's uncle, Eric Gourley, bought plane tickets and flew to Nashville with Austin. Eric is a major and is stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.Eric told Austin he was taking him to the football game to celebrate his 11th birthday, but Austin didn't know he was going to meet Manning. Alan Tatum and his wife Joyce, along with Patty, met Eric and Austin at the airport and went to the hotel. "We went to the Marriott and told Austin we were checking him into his room," said Patty. "We were escorted by an entourage of security people and we went up and knocked on the door." According to Patty, Peyton opened the door and said, "Hey Austin, how are >you?" Austin looked up with those big brown eyes and said "Peyton." "I was so excited," said Austin, when he spoke with The Expositor by phone. "He was really cool. He was taller than I thought he would be." Peyton and Austin talked for a little while. Then, they took pictures, and Peyton signed autographs. Eric brought an army hat that Austin's father had worn, and he gave the hat to Austin to give to Peyton. "Peyton handed the hat back to Austin and asked him to autograph it for him," said Alan. "He looked up and grinned from ear to ear. He took special care signing that hat for Peyton." On the way down in the service elevator, they ran into to Colts running back Joseph Addai, and Austin got his autograph as well. The next day they went to the game, and Austin had another big surprise. He got to stand on the sidelines and watch as the teams warmed up. "We stood on the Colts sidelines," said Alan. "And as the players came out, they 'high-fived' Austin. It was so gratifying to see the smile on his face." Austin's dream is to attend Brigham Young University and to be the quarterback for the football team. It was a dream his father once had, and Austin hopes to live it out and fulfill it in honor of his father. When Austin first told his friends and classmates he got to meet Manning, they were surprised. "They didn't believe me at first," said Austin. But when they saw the pictures, they said, 'Wow, you got to meet Peyton.' He was really nice, and I am going to remember this for a very long time." "This experience was so good for Austin because so many people have told him he has to be the man of the house, and that is a lot of responsibility for an 11-year- old," said Austin's mother Collette Gourley, as she fought back the tears. "It was so good for him to get to be a kid and forget about his responsibilities. It was a dream come true." For more information visit The Expositor website: http://www.spartaexpositor.com
I like Peyton Manning and also hope he wins his Super Bowl ring. Unfortunately at this time he has the same Problem Dan Marino had, he's easily good enough to win the Super Bowl but to this point his teams defense is not. But I hope he does. But the Super Bowl is not the subject of that article, and Peyton is indeed a class act. I'm not the least bit surprised he did that act of kindness.
Probably right about the Colt Defense. While not winning a Ring hasn't exactly ruined Dan Marinos career, he is a hall of famer and one of the greatest QBs in history, but I hope Peyton gets one someday. Elway had to wait till late in his career to finally get one.
Nice story. Peyton is a very marketable guy. I like the commercials he does. I'd like to see him win the big one because he deserves it.
As I said earlier that was a great story. The wife and I went to lunch today and during our conversation I related the story to her. I had a bit of trouble finshing it because of a few tears that gathered in my eyes as I tried to finish the story. Needless to say she is impressed with Peyton also.
I was in Indy on Mon. night downtown at a few bars near the RCA dome and it was needless to say....wild and crazy. They love those Colts....and Peyton M..