Dear Editor,
I was in California earlier this week, when my good friend, Perry Williams, texted me with the sad news that Don Jellison had passed away. Over the years, beginning with my athletic playing days in high school and college, I had gained tremendous respect, appreciation, admiration, and lasting friendship with Don. He went out of his way reporting to the Hamilton County community on my college career and my beginning coaching career in an adjacent county, which he certainly would not have had to do. I continued to have a great relationship with Don as the principal at Hamilton Heights and Noblesville High School; his telephone line and office door was always open when I wanted to communicate or explain an issue to him. He was incomparably passionate about his journalistic trade, and he had a magnificent heart for all of the athletes of this county, promoting them whenever and wherever he could. And when I became a state representative, he even wrote a humorous and supportive article about me moving from tossing baseballs and footballs in Hamilton County and college to tossing bills at the state house! Don will be greatly missed in the Northern Hamilton County area where he will always be remembered as the Dean of Indiana Sports Writers. Thank you, Don, for all of those countless hours you spent in all Hamilton County sports venues; your dedication to our programs and individual athletes will be greatly missed, but your legacy will live on in the hearts of all of us that had the pleasure to know you personally.
Sincerely,
Tony Cook
Cicero