Fort Worth Auctioneer Hosts Event
for Auctioneers Veteran Father
Fort Worth Auctioneer hosts event for Auctioneers Veteran Father in Fort Worth, Texas – Saturday, August 23, 2020. It’s true that auctioneers connect sometimes in the strangest of ways. Many auctioneers know each other because it is a smaller group of industry professionals in comparison to the National Association of Realtors or other professional organizations. Estimations show that there are somewhere around 35,000 auctioneers nationwide and over 1 million realtors. So maybe this helps put things into perspective.
Yet, this story is not about real estate. Instead it is about two auctioneers coming together in a phenomenal tribute to a World War II Hero. scroll down for PHOTOS of the event.
Fort Worth Auctioneers Know the Same WWII Veteran
To begin with, I met a man by the name of Fiske Hanley a few years ago. During our conversation he says to me that his son is an auctioneer. I recognized the name Tranzon Hanley since their son Tom Hanley owns and operates an auction company in Fort Worth by the name of Tranzon Hanley. In times past I had met the co-founder of Tranzon Auctions Tom Saturley. Tom began early and the company grew. Over the past 10 -15 years or so I’ve met other auctioneers who have been a part of that organization.
Indeed, this story in very unique. Although Tom and I have known one another, we have never met until this evening paying tribute to his father. The simple truth is that, though both auctioneers, Tom and I just have not had the opportunities to create additional relationships outside fo the passing knowledge of each other. This is not uncommon at all. As auctioneers lead very busy lifestyles traveling in abundance with very technical schedules. We auctioneers are forever in travel mode. The fact of the matter is that neither Tom’s nor my paths had crossed. Until one eventful evening in an airplane hangar at the Vintage Flying Museum in Fort Worth, Texas.
Fort Worth Auctioneers Agree on Event to Remember Fiske Hanley
Earlier in the week I had spoken with Tom about the tribute to his father which Mark Donahew (president of Roll Call Fort Worth) and myself (president of USVET.fund) had been organizing. Sharing words of thanks to our organizations for paying tribute to his father, Tom’s accolades about how we had recognized his father over the years were heartfelt. His nod of confirmation was a resounding one when asking if he and his sister may be in attendance for the 75th anniversary of Fiske’s liberation from a POW camp in Tokyo, Japan. With that request he and his sister were giving us their blessings to proceed with the event.
While outlining the agenda I thought of how great it would be for Fiske’s memory to be recognized through the talents of his own son. I kept the idea under my hat for several days. Upon his arrival I asked if it would interest him to sell an item during the ceremony.
“Yes!” was his quick answer. The smile across his face signifying the moment would indeed be a joyous one for him.
Fort Worth Auctioneer Auctions an Item Containing Late Father’s Signature
Throughout the evening many speakers took the stage sharing memories of moments with Fiske from the years gone past. Many memories brought laughter while some brought tears. Then I took to the podium.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this portion of the event will be a live auction where we will sell a street sign imprinted with God Bless America.” Indeed there were sparks of interest throughout the crowd. “But wait,” I continued. “That’s not all. There are eleven very important signatures on the red enamel placed in between the letters and those signatures include World War II veterans who regularly attend Roll Call. Smack dab in the middle is the signature of Tom’s own father Fiske Hanley,” I said continuing to describe the item in further detail before announcing Tom would be auctioning the item.
Then Tom took command of the stage as any trained professional auctioneer does. Complete with the iconic chant that only true auctioneers are able to deliver with the numbers and filler worlds sounding like a song. The words rolling off of his tongue. The bid increments were quick reaching a final selling price of $300.
“Going once, going twice, going three times,” Tom said hesitating. “You know I am an auctioneer and I’m not scared to ask for an additional bid one more time. Three hundred going four times.” There was a hush across the room. Then Tom exclaims, “Sold!” as Fort Worth Auctioneer Tom Hanley confirms the sale.
Fort Worth Auctioneers Creating Memories
Fort Worth Auctioneer Myers Jackson: “Being a ringman for Tom will be an everlasting memory for me! Feeling his sensational tone while catching the rapid movements of the bids”. As Tom was announcing “going four times”, I felt as if he was hanging on to that memory of his father wanting everyone to share in the moment. As an auctioneer it was Tom’s way of honoring a man that he called his father.
Tom Hanley Sells The God Bless America Street Sign “Signed by His Father WWII Hero Fiske Hanley”
Fort Worth Auctioneers Are Also Ringman
Just a few moments later, Tom was ringman as I took to the stage to sale. I was selling an enlarged print telling the story of how Fiske was shot out of the air by the Japanese. The print included the insignias of his company in the Army Air Corps and a rendering of a recent photo taken at an Iwo Jima survivors reunion in Wichita Falls where Fiske was a regular attendee.
In an article written earlier I spoke about how the ringman supports the auctioneer. How their roles are interchangeable. While the items most of the time are very different the challenge and the duty remains the same. The hearfelt obligations of auctioneers making every moment possible the best in the moment when an item is being sold.
Fort Worth Auctioneers Bringing Veterans’ Efforts Full Circle
As I sold the item Tom worked the ring Army veteran Lance Sparkman and United States Marine Corps veteran and finalist for Ms Veteran America Karalyn Martin showcased the unbelievable talents within the artwork of Jeremy Jackson, a Purple Heart veteran who himself served in the Army durning the War on Terror.
Therefore, I hope after reading this story you are able to see how the circles of service come back to so many of those who precede us. How sons and daughters of veterans pay respect to their parent’s service. How many more are involved in paying respect to all.