Are you TJ Stallings’ brother?
It is Thursday, September 14. I am in Memphis, TN at the Mississippi River Monsters catfish tournament. I have my Whisker Whackers/CatfishNow banner set up in the breakfast room at the Clarion Hotel. My goal is to take as many photos of tournament competitors, friends and family as I can.
I slept in a little and missed a lot of the anglers because they left out early on what has turned out to be a great weather day in Memphis. As I asked around about taking photos I ran across Justin Thornton. Justin had travelled from Missouri to fish the tournament. He said his partner was coming down in a bit and he would wait to take the photo as a team. I said that would be great and went on my way taking a few more photos.
In a little while Justin came back with his partner, Duane Buckridge, to do the team photo. When we finished the photo Justin asked, “Are you TJ Stallings’ brother?”
“No,” I said. “Just a good friend.”
He was asking because he had one of those stories that are so typical of TJ Stallings. For those that might not know, TJ’s brother is named Ron too, possibly explaining the confusion with my name, Ron Presley.
Justin had observed the close connection I had with TJ. I guess it was natural he might think we could be brothers. At any rate, I considered it the utmost complement. With the relationship thing straightened out, Justin began to tell his TJ story.
“I was in Montgomery, Alabama one weekend,” revealed Justin. “I was bored to death. I was in unfamiliar territory with nothing to do. I made a post on Facebook asking if anyone knew a close place that I might fish for some crappie or bass from the bank, since I didn’t have my boat.”
The reply to Justin’s request came from a complete stranger by the name of TJ Stallings. TJ had some suggestions for him through Facebook. Then a short phone conversation set up a location where they could meet. “It was in Wetumpka, AL,” recalled Justin.
“TJ had me feeling like we were already friends,” continued Justin. “He offered to buy me lunch at his favorite Mexican restaurant in Wetumpka. We ate and talked fishing for a couple hours. He made me feel like I had met up with an old family member. The man I had just met genuinely cared about people.”
“He gave me a whole bunch of fishing tackle, Road Runners and stuff,” offered Justin. “He brought his boat, because he wanted to take me fishing. I think it was Lake Jordon. We tried to go, but unfortunately the wind was blowing hard and they had actually shut the ramp down because of the danger.”
“We meet a lot of people in our lifetime,” said Justin. “Most strangers that we encounter we’ll forget within a few days. Some will leave us with a smiling memory to think back on. Few will make you want to be a better person.”
“I knew you were close in some way,” concluded Justin. “I just thought you might like to hear my story.”
Like it I did Justin. Thank you for sharing your story with me. I know this is just one of many stories about TJ doing something for somebody. He was a great friend to many.
