by I first met Joe Tait in November of 2011 when I was working on my novel HERO. It was the first book I ever wrote and the chance of publication was very slim. I told him about what I was hoping to achieve and he encouraged me to keep going.
We went back and forth with a few hand written letters, as he was nice enough to stay in touch. I’ll never forget how excited he was to find out my book would be getting published. He was very supportive and for someone who was young and impressionable like myself, his faith was a major factor in my going for it.
After HERO, I decided to write a book about the best moments in Cleveland Sports History called, “Cleveland’s Finest”. Joe was the first person I reached out to, and it is an experience I will never forget.
He was the very first Cleveland Sports Personality that I ever interviewed. I was extremely nervous to start, but talking with Joe was like talking with my Grandpa. He quickly made me feel comfortable.
I went on to interview well over 100 Cleveland sports figures past and present in my career, and none of it would have been possible if it wasn’t for Joe’s time and willingness to help me when I was starting off. He truly gave me my start.
It’s a rare thing when you meet someone like Joe Tait. Too often we can meet some of our hero’s we had growing up, and they turn out to be less than we thought of as people. Joe was the opposite in every way, not only was he a legend in my mind, but in reality he turned out to be every bit as amazing!
If he was a jerk, I may have quit right then and there. He loved his family, his trains and the Cleveland sports fan. Rest In Peace Joe, Cleveland was honored to have you! I will never forget what you did for me.
