[Applause] awesome I want you to meet my friend
awesome I want you to meet my friend
awesome I want you to meet my friend Tony Carmona Tony is in his 60s today
Tony Carmona Tony is in his 60s today
Tony Carmona Tony is in his 60s today but about 36 years ago in April of 1981
but about 36 years ago in April of 1981
but about 36 years ago in April of 1981 Tony was living in Denver Colorado and
Tony was living in Denver Colorado and
Tony was living in Denver Colorado and his wife Linda were in an apartment
his wife Linda were in an apartment
his wife Linda were in an apartment complex and it had snowed recently and
complex and it had snowed recently and
complex and it had snowed recently and snow was everywhere it was really
snow was everywhere it was really
snow was everywhere it was really freezing cold there were snow on their
freezing cold there were snow on their
freezing cold there were snow on their front deck Tony in his mid-20s was a
front deck Tony in his mid-20s was a
front deck Tony in his mid-20s was a member of a Hispanic gang tony has been
member of a Hispanic gang tony has been
member of a Hispanic gang tony has been in and out of prison a number of times
in and out of prison a number of times
in and out of prison a number of times and his body is covered in tattoos that
and his body is covered in tattoos that
and his body is covered in tattoos that he primarily received while it was in
he primarily received while it was in
he primarily received while it was in prison he has to teardrops under one eye
prison he has to teardrops under one eye
prison he has to teardrops under one eye which is not a good sign under his
which is not a good sign under his
which is not a good sign under his collar line is tattooed the number 13
collar line is tattooed the number 13
collar line is tattooed the number 13 and a half which stands for 12 jurors
and a half which stands for 12 jurors
and a half which stands for 12 jurors one judge half a chance today on the
one judge half a chance today on the
one judge half a chance today on the side of his neck it’s tattooed the word
side of his neck it’s tattooed the word
side of his neck it’s tattooed the word psycho by all accounts this is somebody
psycho by all accounts this is somebody
psycho by all accounts this is somebody that if you ever walked and encountered
that if you ever walked and encountered
that if you ever walked and encountered on a street corner you would want to
on a street corner you would want to
on a street corner you would want to divert your path away from him so on
divert your path away from him so on
divert your path away from him so on this cold winter snowy night in Denver
this cold winter snowy night in Denver
this cold winter snowy night in Denver Colorado a knock came on there the door
Colorado a knock came on there the door
Colorado a knock came on there the door of their home Linda went to answer and
of their home Linda went to answer and
of their home Linda went to answer and there was no one there and as she was
there was no one there and as she was
there was no one there and as she was backing away she heard this sound and
backing away she heard this sound and
backing away she heard this sound and looked down onto the ground and laying
looked down onto the ground and laying
looked down onto the ground and laying in the snow was a five day old baby boy
in the snow was a five day old baby boy
in the snow was a five day old baby boy in a diaper Tony and Linda brought this
in a diaper Tony and Linda brought this
in a diaper Tony and Linda brought this child into their home and I love this
child into their home and I love this
child into their home and I love this imagery of the badass Hispanic gang
imagery of the badass Hispanic gang
imagery of the badass Hispanic gang member and his wife taking
member and his wife taking
member and his wife taking this child in that did not belong to
this child in that did not belong to
this child in that did not belong to them but falling in love with this child
them but falling in love with this child
them but falling in love with this child to raise this child as if it was their
to raise this child as if it was their
to raise this child as if it was their own when Gordon was five years old he
own when Gordon was five years old he
own when Gordon was five years old he had a grand mal seizure and went into
had a grand mal seizure and went into
had a grand mal seizure and went into the hospital and after numerous tests
the hospital and after numerous tests
the hospital and after numerous tests over numerous days they discovered that
over numerous days they discovered that
over numerous days they discovered that the damage to his brain was extensive
the damage to his brain was extensive
the damage to his brain was extensive and that he would probably never have a
and that he would probably never have a
and that he would probably never have a mentality that would exceed that of a
mentality that would exceed that of a
mentality that would exceed that of a seven-year-old about 12 years ago I had
seven-year-old about 12 years ago I had
seven-year-old about 12 years ago I had the opportunity to meet Tony Linda and
the opportunity to meet Tony Linda and
the opportunity to meet Tony Linda and Gordie Tony had recently been released
Gordie Tony had recently been released
Gordie Tony had recently been released from the Penitentiary in Oklahoma and
from the Penitentiary in Oklahoma and
from the Penitentiary in Oklahoma and somehow Linda and Gordie ended up in
somehow Linda and Gordie ended up in
somehow Linda and Gordie ended up in Austin Texas
serendipity had them meet at a church
serendipity had them meet at a church under the bridge at 7th and i-35 there
under the bridge at 7th and i-35 there
under the bridge at 7th and i-35 there was a pastor there named Duane severance
was a pastor there named Duane severance
was a pastor there named Duane severance and he discovered that Tony Linda and
and he discovered that Tony Linda and
and he discovered that Tony Linda and Gordy were living in a cardboard box
Gordy were living in a cardboard box
Gordy were living in a cardboard box somewhere near the intersection of Ben
somewhere near the intersection of Ben
somewhere near the intersection of Ben White Boulevard in Woodward on the cold
White Boulevard in Woodward on the cold
White Boulevard in Woodward on the cold winter nights Tony would go into a
winter nights Tony would go into a
winter nights Tony would go into a walgreens of CVS a Walmart at HEB and he
walgreens of CVS a Walmart at HEB and he
walgreens of CVS a Walmart at HEB and he would steal toothpaste and then rifle as
would steal toothpaste and then rifle as
would steal toothpaste and then rifle as many newspapers as he could find out of
many newspapers as he could find out of
many newspapers as he could find out of the newspaper stands and come back to
the newspaper stands and come back to
the newspaper stands and come back to their cardboard home in the middle of
their cardboard home in the middle of
their cardboard home in the middle of the woods and lather their limbs in this
the woods and lather their limbs in this
the woods and lather their limbs in this toothpaste and then wrap them with the
toothpaste and then wrap them with the
toothpaste and then wrap them with the newspaper in order to be able to stay
newspaper in order to be able to stay
newspaper in order to be able to stay warm at night that’s how they lived 12
warm at night that’s how they lived 12
warm at night that’s how they lived 12 years ago I was introduced to Tony and
years ago I was introduced to Tony and
years ago I was introduced to Tony and Linda and Gordie and fell in love with
Linda and Gordie and fell in love with
Linda and Gordie and fell in love with them right away was drawn in to the
them right away was drawn in to the
them right away was drawn in to the drama
drama
drama of the life of Tony Linda and Gordy was
of the life of Tony Linda and Gordy was
of the life of Tony Linda and Gordy was amazed that this badass tattooed from
amazed that this badass tattooed from
amazed that this badass tattooed from head to toe in and out of prison
head to toe in and out of prison
head to toe in and out of prison Hispanic gang member had this ginormous
Hispanic gang member had this ginormous
Hispanic gang member had this ginormous heart that would allow him to take in a
heart that would allow him to take in a
heart that would allow him to take in a child and raise this child even though
child and raise this child even though
child and raise this child even though this child was phenomenally mentally
this child was phenomenally mentally
this child was phenomenally mentally challenged we went out and purchased a
challenged we went out and purchased a
challenged we went out and purchased a gently used recreational vehicle and
gently used recreational vehicle and
gently used recreational vehicle and lifted them up off the streets into a
lifted them up off the streets into a
lifted them up off the streets into a privately owned RV park for the first
privately owned RV park for the first
privately owned RV park for the first several days Gordy would wake up in the
several days Gordy would wake up in the
several days Gordy would wake up in the morning pack everything into his little
morning pack everything into his little
morning pack everything into his little suitcase go across the RV to Tony in
suitcase go across the RV to Tony in
suitcase go across the RV to Tony in Linda’s room and say mom dad get up we
Linda’s room and say mom dad get up we
Linda’s room and say mom dad get up we got to go and they would look at Gordy
got to go and they would look at Gordy
got to go and they would look at Gordy and say no Gordy we’re not after
and say no Gordy we’re not after
and say no Gordy we’re not after Salvation Army we don’t have to get up
Salvation Army we don’t have to get up
Salvation Army we don’t have to get up and leave we’re not at a motel this is
and leave we’re not at a motel this is
and leave we’re not at a motel this is our home
our home
our home and it was difficult for Gordy to grasp
and it was difficult for Gordy to grasp
and it was difficult for Gordy to grasp this Gordy and I became really good
this Gordy and I became really good
this Gordy and I became really good friends during this period of time in
friends during this period of time in
friends during this period of time in fact Gordy began to believe that he
fact Gordy began to believe that he
fact Gordy began to believe that he owned mobil loaves & Fishes the
owned mobil loaves & Fishes the
owned mobil loaves & Fishes the organization that I founded and so we
organization that I founded and so we
organization that I founded and so we had this dialogue going back and forth
had this dialogue going back and forth
had this dialogue going back and forth that he was the owner of Mobil O’s and
that he was the owner of Mobil O’s and
that he was the owner of Mobil O’s and fishes and as part of my compensation
fishes and as part of my compensation
fishes and as part of my compensation package I get to drive these awesome
package I get to drive these awesome
package I get to drive these awesome pickup trucks have got the Mobil O’s and
pickup trucks have got the Mobil O’s and
pickup trucks have got the Mobil O’s and fishes logos all over them and Gordy
fishes logos all over them and Gordy
fishes logos all over them and Gordy knew that those trucks belong to him and
knew that those trucks belong to him and
knew that those trucks belong to him and Gordy started asking me if I would teach
Gordy started asking me if I would teach
Gordy started asking me if I would teach him how to drive and for ten years we
him how to drive and for ten years we
him how to drive and for ten years we had this dialogue that I was going to
had this dialogue that I was going to
had this dialogue that I was going to teach him how to drive but I knew that
teach him how to drive but I knew that
teach him how to drive but I knew that that was a lie one he mid didn’t have
that was a lie one he mid didn’t have
that was a lie one he mid didn’t have the mental capacity to learn how to
the mental capacity to learn how to
the mental capacity to learn how to drive he didn’t have the motor skills to
drive he didn’t have the motor skills to
drive he didn’t have the motor skills to learn how to drive and he had these
learn how to drive and he had these
learn how to drive and he had these grand mal seizures that at any moment
grand mal seizures that at any moment
grand mal seizures that at any moment would drop him completely to the ground
would drop him completely to the ground
would drop him completely to the ground in fact his
in fact his
in fact his was completely scarred in a
was completely scarred in a
was completely scarred in a Frankensteinian way with scars over his
Frankensteinian way with scars over his
Frankensteinian way with scars over his lifetime of having these seizures and
lifetime of having these seizures and
lifetime of having these seizures and whatever was in the way he would hit
whatever was in the way he would hit
whatever was in the way he would hit sutured up on December 9th 2014 he had
sutured up on December 9th 2014 he had
sutured up on December 9th 2014 he had one of these grand mal seizures while he
one of these grand mal seizures while he
one of these grand mal seizures while he was taking the bath and he drowned and
was taking the bath and he drowned and
was taking the bath and he drowned and it was devastating for us it was
it was devastating for us it was
it was devastating for us it was devastating for the mobile loaves &
devastating for the mobile loaves &
devastating for the mobile loaves & Fishes family it was devastating for
Fishes family it was devastating for
Fishes family it was devastating for Tony and Linda my wife and I Trish
Tony and Linda my wife and I Trish
Tony and Linda my wife and I Trish arrived at their home the place was
arrived at their home the place was
arrived at their home the place was covered with police as it should be
covered with police as it should be
covered with police as it should be investigating whether this was an
investigating whether this was an
investigating whether this was an accidental death or a homicide the place
accidental death or a homicide the place
accidental death or a homicide the place was taped off no one could get into
was taped off no one could get into
was taped off no one could get into their home Linda had been traveling and
their home Linda had been traveling and
their home Linda had been traveling and was gone to visit family but Tony was
was gone to visit family but Tony was
was gone to visit family but Tony was there Tony at this time is now in his
there Tony at this time is now in his
there Tony at this time is now in his 60s he’s got one leg missing due to
60s he’s got one leg missing due to
60s he’s got one leg missing due to diabetes he’s old he’s no longer the
diabetes he’s old he’s no longer the
diabetes he’s old he’s no longer the badass Hispanic gang member that he once
badass Hispanic gang member that he once
badass Hispanic gang member that he once was we were negotiating trying to get
was we were negotiating trying to get
was we were negotiating trying to get Tony the opportunity to say goodbye to
Tony the opportunity to say goodbye to
Tony the opportunity to say goodbye to Gordie but they wouldn’t allow him in to
Gordie but they wouldn’t allow him in to
Gordie but they wouldn’t allow him in to give one last kiss to the man boy that
give one last kiss to the man boy that
give one last kiss to the man boy that he loves so dearly when the coroner came
he loves so dearly when the coroner came
he loves so dearly when the coroner came out of the house with Gordie in the body
out of the house with Gordie in the body
out of the house with Gordie in the body bag on a stretcher it was like a rocket
bag on a stretcher it was like a rocket
bag on a stretcher it was like a rocket ship they were moving so fast
ship they were moving so fast
ship they were moving so fast Tony erupted into emotion and it took
Tony erupted into emotion and it took
Tony erupted into emotion and it took every ounce of energy that I and several
every ounce of energy that I and several
every ounce of energy that I and several police officers could do to hold him
police officers could do to hold him
police officers could do to hold him back Gordie was cremated and on the day
back Gordie was cremated and on the day
back Gordie was cremated and on the day that the ashes were ready I get a phone
that the ashes were ready I get a phone
that the ashes were ready I get a phone call ask
call ask
call ask me if I could go to the funeral home
me if I could go to the funeral home
me if I could go to the funeral home pick up go pick up Tony and Linda and
pick up go pick up Tony and Linda and
pick up go pick up Tony and Linda and take them to the funeral home to pick up
take them to the funeral home to pick up
take them to the funeral home to pick up the ashes
the ashes
the ashes unfortunately I was able to do that when
unfortunately I was able to do that when
unfortunately I was able to do that when we arrived to the funeral home
we arrived to the funeral home
we arrived to the funeral home the funeral director handed over the urn
the funeral director handed over the urn
the funeral director handed over the urn to Linda and she just completely
to Linda and she just completely
to Linda and she just completely collapsed and guttural emotion Tony was
collapsed and guttural emotion Tony was
collapsed and guttural emotion Tony was crying as well I’m crying I’m trying to
crying as well I’m crying I’m trying to
crying as well I’m crying I’m trying to figure out how to get him out of the
figure out how to get him out of the
figure out how to get him out of the funeral home back into the truck finally
funeral home back into the truck finally
funeral home back into the truck finally we’re outside I’m starting up the truck
we’re outside I’m starting up the truck
we’re outside I’m starting up the truck tony is sitting in the front seat of the
tony is sitting in the front seat of the
tony is sitting in the front seat of the truck he’s got to earn on his lap he
truck he’s got to earn on his lap he
truck he’s got to earn on his lap he looks over at me and he goes mr. Allen
looks over at me and he goes mr. Allen
looks over at me and he goes mr. Allen would you let Gordy drive and he picks
would you let Gordy drive and he picks
would you let Gordy drive and he picks up this urn moves across the console and
up this urn moves across the console and
up this urn moves across the console and sets it right on top of my lap it was
sets it right on top of my lap it was
sets it right on top of my lap it was one of the most powerful memories of my
one of the most powerful memories of my
one of the most powerful memories of my life here we are driving down highway
life here we are driving down highway
life here we are driving down highway 183 with Gordy sitting on my lap driving
183 with Gordy sitting on my lap driving
183 with Gordy sitting on my lap driving for the first time in his life Tony and
for the first time in his life Tony and
for the first time in his life Tony and Linda are laughing were crying we’re
Linda are laughing were crying we’re
Linda are laughing were crying we’re going down memory lane recounting the
going down memory lane recounting the
going down memory lane recounting the number of stories in the beauty that
number of stories in the beauty that
number of stories in the beauty that Gordy brought into our lives it was
Gordy brought into our lives it was
Gordy brought into our lives it was extraordinary in this human mosaic that
extraordinary in this human mosaic that
extraordinary in this human mosaic that we are all a part of this beautiful
we are all a part of this beautiful
we are all a part of this beautiful imagery of a mosaic where each one of us
imagery of a mosaic where each one of us
imagery of a mosaic where each one of us are a tile or a pixel in that mosaic we
are a tile or a pixel in that mosaic we
are a tile or a pixel in that mosaic we have become too accustomed in our
have become too accustomed in our
have become too accustomed in our culture of peeling off these tiles are
culture of peeling off these tiles are
culture of peeling off these tiles are darkening these pixels because somebody
darkening these pixels because somebody
darkening these pixels because somebody does it look right or somebody doesn’t
does it look right or somebody doesn’t
does it look right or somebody doesn’t act right and we throw those on the
act right and we throw those on the
act right and we throw those on the ground
ground
ground in this beautiful imagery that we’re
in this beautiful imagery that we’re
in this beautiful imagery that we’re creating that we call humanity is being
creating that we call humanity is being
creating that we call humanity is being destroyed because we are not willing to
destroyed because we are not willing to
destroyed because we are not willing to jump into people’s lives that sometimes
jump into people’s lives that sometimes
jump into people’s lives that sometimes on the surface looked like they would
on the surface looked like they would
on the surface looked like they would present a problem for us our lives are
present a problem for us our lives are
present a problem for us our lives are composed entirely of stories and
composed entirely of stories and
composed entirely of stories and memories
memories
memories I am recounting a story and a memory
I am recounting a story and a memory
I am recounting a story and a memory that happened years ago today you and I
that happened years ago today you and I
that happened years ago today you and I are building stories and memories that
are building stories and memories that
are building stories and memories that in the future we’re going to recount
in the future we’re going to recount
in the future we’re going to recount with our friends and our families the
with our friends and our families the
with our friends and our families the stories and memory that we’re going to
stories and memory that we’re going to
stories and memory that we’re going to be able to tell in the future are going
be able to tell in the future are going
be able to tell in the future are going to be impacted by what we do today and
in order to tell the greatest of stories
in order to tell the greatest of stories like the Tony Linda and Gordie story we
like the Tony Linda and Gordie story we
like the Tony Linda and Gordie story we have to put our places in situations
have to put our places in situations
have to put our places in situations that might not be comfortable for us we
that might not be comfortable for us we
that might not be comfortable for us we have to become friends with people that
have to become friends with people that
have to become friends with people that perhaps we might fear like a badass
perhaps we might fear like a badass
perhaps we might fear like a badass Hispanic former gang member tattooed
Hispanic former gang member tattooed
Hispanic former gang member tattooed from head to toe with tattoos from
from head to toe with tattoos from
from head to toe with tattoos from prison you and I have to break down
prison you and I have to break down
prison you and I have to break down these stereotypes that prevent us from
these stereotypes that prevent us from
these stereotypes that prevent us from actually caring about each other the
actually caring about each other the
actually caring about each other the miracle of mobile loaves and fishes and
miracle of mobile loaves and fishes and
miracle of mobile loaves and fishes and what we’re doing out of the community
what we’re doing out of the community
what we’re doing out of the community first village is directly related to the
first village is directly related to the
first village is directly related to the number one corporate goal that we have
number one corporate goal that we have
number one corporate goal that we have which is to break down the stereotypes
which is to break down the stereotypes
which is to break down the stereotypes that we have against other human beings
that we have against other human beings
that we have against other human beings particularly the homeless to dive in to
particularly the homeless to dive in to
particularly the homeless to dive in to places
places
places that we would not normally go in order
that we would not normally go in order
that we would not normally go in order to discover the beauty of these little
to discover the beauty of these little
to discover the beauty of these little pixels these little tiles in people that
pixels these little tiles in people that
pixels these little tiles in people that perhaps we would not normally encounter
we believe that one of the eight
we believe that one of the eight characteristics of home are stories and
characteristics of home are stories and
characteristics of home are stories and memories that flow out of our homes it’s
memories that flow out of our homes it’s
memories that flow out of our homes it’s often said that the mortar that holds
often said that the mortar that holds
often said that the mortar that holds the bricks of even the most impoverished
the bricks of even the most impoverished
the bricks of even the most impoverished home are the stories and memories that
home are the stories and memories that
home are the stories and memories that flow out of that home when you see the
flow out of that home when you see the
flow out of that home when you see the men and women that are standing on our
men and women that are standing on our
men and women that are standing on our street corners when you see the men and
street corners when you see the men and
street corners when you see the men and women that are hovering around our
women that are hovering around our
women that are hovering around our shelters downtown these are men and
shelters downtown these are men and
shelters downtown these are men and women that have experienced a profound
women that have experienced a profound
women that have experienced a profound catastrophic loss of family they lost
catastrophic loss of family they lost
catastrophic loss of family they lost the opportunity to tell rich powerful
the opportunity to tell rich powerful
the opportunity to tell rich powerful exciting stories their desire is to be
exciting stories their desire is to be
exciting stories their desire is to be welcomed back into the community to open
welcomed back into the community to open
welcomed back into the community to open that door for them to to be able to
that door for them to to be able to
that door for them to to be able to build these stories and memories so
build these stories and memories so
build these stories and memories so right there on that image is one of the
right there on that image is one of the
right there on that image is one of the greatest men I’ve ever met in my life
greatest men I’ve ever met in my life
greatest men I’ve ever met in my life hugging the niche where Gordy is buried
hugging the niche where Gordy is buried
hugging the niche where Gordy is buried out on the community first property
out on the community first property
out on the community first property ladies and gentlemen that man is Tony
ladies and gentlemen that man is Tony
ladies and gentlemen that man is Tony Carmona and if you ever get to meet him
Carmona and if you ever get to meet him
Carmona and if you ever get to meet him you will meet one extraordinary human
you will meet one extraordinary human
you will meet one extraordinary human being thank you very much
being thank you very much
being thank you very much you
”
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