For two years, I had the opportunity to get to know the late, great Hall of Fame Sportscaster, Jack Buck. Jack was the honorary chairman of the St. Louis Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, of which I served as Executive Director. For all his “fame,” he was one of the most down to earth, caring individuals I’ve ever had the opportunity of knowing. He consistently delivered the WOWEDFactor in his personal interactions by providing those he hardly knew with a “humanizing, engaging or connecting” experience. Three incidents come to mind.
- Whenever we would go to lunch, the first thing he would do, as soon as we sat down, was to give a few dollars to the bus people – not the wait staff. He engaged these people and they responded in kind. Great move, Jack.
- Jack did a book signing at a local bookstore for the benefit of the Foundation. There must have been 200 people lined up for his autograph and it must have taken a good two hours to do the signing. I watched him for the duration and he never failed to talk “with” not “at” each individual. What a gem.
- A local bank wanted to give our foundation a check for $10,000 and saw it as a PR opportunity. They decided to blow up the check and asked me to coordinate a photo opportunity with their CEO, Jack (our chairman) and a young person with Cystic Fibrosis. Jack agreed readily. I called my friend Jack DeGuire, who’s son Chris, age 10, had CF and was on the waiting list for a double lung transplant. Jack D. said Chris was up for it. All parties met at the bank. The bank CEO was only interested in talking with Jack. But Jack B. was only interested in talking with Chris. He asks Chris if he is interested in baseball. Big smile on Chris’s face. Jack gives him a signed Cardinals ball. And then says to him, “Chris if you ever are up late at night and want to talk some baseball, you call me. Here's my home phone number.” What an inspiration to me, the DeGuires and the bank CEO. Thanks, Jack. “That was a winner.”
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