Teel: Approaching semi-retirement, Tom Gabbard still inspiring Hokies colleagues – Richmond.com
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Weaver’s widow, Traci, lives in Florida and made sure to be there, too, forever grateful for Gabbard’s support during her husband’s battle with Parkinson’s disease and since his death in 2015. Craig Weaver, Jim and Traci’s only child, was 14 when his dad passed away and quickly embraced Gabbard as a surrogate father.
Gabbard welcomed the role and has helped Craig, now a Virginia Tech junior, chart a professional course aimed at sports administration. Craig has shadowed Gabbard on basketball and football game days — he held the on-field timeout clock at home football games for two seasons — and this year is working as an assistant to special teams coordinator and tight ends coach James Shibest.
As important, Gabbard has been a link to the past, regaling Craig with stories about his dad, from Florida, UNLV and Virginia Tech.
“It’s just incredible to still have him around,” Craig said, “just his knowledge, his wisdom. He’s guided me in the right direction. He’s helped me with resumes. Anything and everything, he’s been there.”
Being there. It what we treasure in friends and family, what we value in work colleagues, and it’s Gabbard’s specialty.
He was there for the football team’s run to the 1999 national title game. He was there, serving as tournament director, at the 2004 NCAA Division I men’s golf championship at The Homestead in Hot Springs.
Weaver’s widow, Traci, lives in Florida and made sure to be there, too, forever grateful for Gabbard’s support during her husband’s battle with Parkinson’s disease and since his death in 2015. Craig Weaver, Jim and Traci’s only child, was 14 when his dad passed away and quickly embraced Gabbard as a surrogate father.
Gabbard welcomed the role and has helped Craig, now a Virginia Tech junior, chart a professional course aimed at sports administration. Craig has shadowed Gabbard on basketball and football game days — he held the on-field timeout clock at home football games for two seasons — and this year is working as an assistant to special teams coordinator and tight …….
Weaver’s widow, Traci, lives in Florida and made sure to be there, too, forever grateful for Gabbard’s support during her husband’s battle with Parkinson’s disease and since his death in 2015. Craig Weaver, Jim and Traci’s only child, was 14 when his dad passed away and quickly embraced Gabbard as a surrogate father.
Gabbard welcomed the role and has helped Craig, now a Virginia Tech junior, chart a professional course aimed at sports administration. Craig has shadowed Gabbard on basketball and football game days — he held the on-field timeout clock at home football games for two seasons — and this year is working as an assistant to special teams coordinator and tight …….