This Is What Class & Dignity Is All About

[CIRF]

Things like this is why Richard Petty is one of the most beloved people in racing and in the sports world as a whole.

This article recently appeared in the Orlando Sentinal:




Richard Petty fulfills Bucket List dream for 98-year-old


Richard Petty remains one of the classiest athletes on the planet.

As an active driver and now as a retired one, he always has found time to pay it forward and show his appreciation for his fans.

Including 98-year-olds like Henry Jakes of Murfreesboro, Tenn.

His bucket list contained one simple wish: Meet the King.

And so, with a little help from the Petty Family Foundation, it became a done deal.

Recently, Jakes hopped on a plane for the first time in his life to fly to Level Cross, N.C. to spend a day and evening with Petty. They first met at Petty’s Museum in Level Cross, for what would be the ride of his life.

Jakes then joined Petty for a tour of the museum before spending the afternoon together. The day ended with a dinner with Petty, who most certainly enjoyed helping making Jakes dream come true.

“It's not too hard taking time to show someone around and making something possible that they didn’t know if it was or not,” Petty said. "We just sort of talked and showed him everything we had here. He smiled the entire time. I think he felt my age when he left!”

For the record, Petty is 77.

And still the King of Generosity and Graciousness.

[kidrock]

Things like this is why Richard Petty is one of the most beloved people in racing and in the sports world as a whole.

This article recently appeared in the Orlando Sentinal:




Richard Petty fulfills Bucket List dream for 98-year-old


Richard Petty remains one of the classiest athletes on the planet.

As an active driver and now as a retired one, he always has found time to pay it forward and show his appreciation for his fans.

Including 98-year-olds like Henry Jakes of Murfreesboro, Tenn.

His bucket list contained one simple wish: Meet the King.

And so, with a little help from the Petty Family Foundation, it became a done deal.

Recently, Jakes hopped on a plane for the first time in his life to fly to Level Cross, N.C. to spend a day and evening with Petty. They first met at Petty’s Museum in Level Cross, for what would be the ride of his life.

Jakes then joined Petty for a tour of the museum before spending the afternoon together. The day ended with a dinner with Petty, who most certainly enjoyed helping making Jakes dream come true.

“It's not too hard taking time to show someone around and making something possible that they didn’t know if it was or not,” Petty said. "We just sort of talked and showed him everything we had here. He smiled the entire time. I think he felt my age when he left!”

For the record, Petty is 77.

And still the King of Generosity and Graciousness.

CIRF, very good story and thanks for posting.

I meet Richard Petty back in 1981 when my Dad was working for the diegard racing team with driver Rickey Rudd and of all places to meet it was in the Bathroom in the infield of Nashville Speedway. My brother, a friend of ours and myself was using the bathroom and in walks Richard. He said young men how are you doing today and we thought wow that's Richard Petty we said fine and how are you sir. He said doing great, hope you young men have a good time at the races today and we said thanks and out the door he walks. Back in those days you still had to have credentials but, you could go to the pits a lot easier then today. I will never forget it as long as I'm a live.

[CIRF]

That had to be a really cool deal, Kid.

I was a King fan from the age of 10 years 'till today not only 'cause he was really good but also because he was a decent stand up human being who treated people as he would like to be treated.

In 1994 I had a health glitch that had me a little scared and down in the dumps. Luckily everything worked out and we're as good or better than before. My wife sent Richard a short letter explaining my situation and that I had always been a staunch fan and pretty much idolized him my whole life.

Just a few days later I received a very nice get well card with a short note written inside and with the famous Richard Petty signature telling me how glad he was that I was on my way to a full recovery. That card, along with Smokey Yunick's autograph on an Indy 500 garage pass, are my most prized possessions and hang framed on my office wall in our house.

Only met Richard one time and that was prior to his last 125 mile qualifier at Daytona in February of 1992. He was walking down pit road to his racecar and I walked next to him for a while and we spoke briefly. I was in my early thirties at that time and was giddy for days afterward. LOL!!

[blackford]

Never met him but always admired Richard Petty growing up and now. When I think racing, I think of "The King"!! He's a model citizen, and racing is lucky to have him!!

http://www.speedwaymedia.com/?p=84595

[LITE-INN]

Never met him but always admired Richard Petty growing up and now. When I think racing, I think of "The King"!! He's a model citizen, and racing is lucky to have him!!

http://www.speedwaymedia.com/?p=84595

we should all take lessons from him , Ned Jarret also comes to mind

[Barbecueboy]

we should all take lessons from him , Ned Jarret also comes to mind

As does Buddy Baker........