A lone news bulletin caught my eye on Friday morning, January 26, 2018 - A motorcyclist was killed early Friday in a chain reaction south of Lindsay. What caught my attention was the "south of Lindsay" part of the headline, as my heart belongs there. The article went on to report: The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety said four vehicles were traveling south on State Highway 76 when a Can-Am Spyder three-wheel motorcycle driven by Tonni Dutton of Lindsay was struck from behind by a Chevrolet pickup truck.
I knew Tonni in high school, but hadn't seen him since, and lost track of him as I left Lindsay for work. I still counted him as a close friend, even though I hadn't seen or visited with him in over 43 years - once a friend, always a friend and once a Leopard, always a Leopard. Tonni was a Lindsay Leopard in life, and will remain a Leopard.. forever. He was very quiet and unassuming - I can still see Tonni in my minds eye, wearing his tattered orange tank top and black running shorts as he rounded the final curve on the last lap of the track mile. I can also see him at school proudly wearing his black and orange sleeved Lindsay letter jacket, and always smiling.. always. Tonni belonged to the Lindsay chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes where I really got to know him. He was small in stature, maybe 135 pounds soaking wet, but had a giant heart as anyone who knew him could tell.
My brother Johnny saw and visited with Tonni frequently in the butcher shop of Goodners and elsewhere. Johnny told me that Tonni was always humble... and humility is the ability to be without pride or arrogance and is a main character that should be seen in those who follow Jesus Christ. Scripture says "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble" so God certainly does favor Tonni Dutton. He would literally give anyone anything he or she needed, and was still the best friend anyone could have, even though I hadn't seen or talked to him in decades. Tonni wasn't famous or well-known even in Lindsay, but he is famous to God. I have the certainty that God called Tonni Dutton home early, because He knew Tonni had endured enough. I look forward to seeing him soon, and maybe we can run that last lap together.
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