(06-24-2016 09:46 AM)FUT Wrote:  I gave that guy all sorts of **** over the years but I always respected how big a fan he was. I am very sorry for your loss.

I echo this sentiment

He was a great fan

Wow he and Boston Tiger in the same year

(06-24-2016 07:05 AM)BlueHomer Wrote:  My father, Ronnie Burrage who most of you knew as The Gray Avenger, passed away at Baptist East hospital this morning. He was scheduled for bypass surgery at 3 pm today but his heart suddenly stopped and they weren't able to revive him.

He loved the University of Memphis more than anything except his family. We lost a great voice, advocate and fan today. Please remember and honor him in that way. Rest in peace dad.

My father worked many years with your dad at PMSC and sent me a text this AM that he had passed.

I met your father several times, but had no idea he was the Grey Avenger.

Condolences to you and your family. RIP GA

(06-24-2016 07:57 AM)Pastnerized Wrote:  I am truly saddened. When I first came to this board, his posts were some of the first that caught my attention as a true lover of our university.
As someone once posted, when you read a Gray Avenger post, you can't help but read it with Sean Connery's voice in your head.

We have lost a board icon, and he will be greatly, greatly missed.

This is exactly what I was going to say. Eleven years ago when I joined this board, Gray Avenger was the first personality that caught my attention. I loved his passion and laser focus. And the avatar of Sean Connery from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was a perfect picture to go with his true blue (and gray) personality.

I always appreciated his posts. He will be missed around here by me.

Wow! I am truly thankful and amazed at all the support all of you have shown. I'm with my whole family and have been reading these comments to them. We are deeply touched that he made such an impression on so many people (admittedly sometimes negative impressions, lol, but his love for the Tigers was absolute).

My family is grateful he got to experience the last 2 unbelievable football seasons, and was able to enjoy the success our baseball team had in person down in FL for the recent AAC baseball tournament. Above all, he was convinced (he said about 70%) we would soon be invited to the B12. We often talked about how we would celebrate the news. Maybe it's a small consolation that if the invite doesn't come, at least he died thinking it would.

Thank you all very much.

My prayers are with your family. It was my honor to meet him a caring respetful gentleman. I will miss him dearly.

I know how hard it can be to lose a father (mine passed a few months ago)...so sorry for this pain. I know you have many wonderful memories of your dad that will play over the next several months and I suppose years. He was a fantastic fan and I'm sure a good father

And Tiger Nation is [PMS 423] Grayer with the passing of the Gray Avenger.

Here is a link for GA's profile page.

http://csnbbs.com/user-5883.html

It might be a nice touch for those that care to go to his profile and rep him while including a nice message in the comments. It could be a nice tribute page for his family to read.

Sorry GA if you read this from above. The text is not quite University Blue but it's the closest option I could find.

I don't know if it's just me but it seems that it just got really dusty in my office.

Go with God GA.

Thanks for sharing - albeit sad news. RIP Gray Avenger, you will definitely be missed! Godspeed sir.

(06-24-2016 07:05 AM)BlueHomer Wrote:  My father, Ronnie Burrage who most of you knew as The Gray Avenger, passed away at Baptist East hospital this morning. He was scheduled for bypass surgery at 3 pm today but his heart suddenly stopped and they weren't able to revive him.

He loved the University of Memphis more than anything except his family. We lost a great voice, advocate and fan today. Please remember and honor him in that way. Rest in peace dad.

Sorry for your loss BlueHomer. I loved reading Gray Avenger's posts. He will definitely be missed! Hoping he is checking in on our Tigers from up above! Godspeed GA!

I'm her sorry to hear of GA's passing. Keeping his family in my prayers.

(06-24-2016 09:16 AM)Chi-Town Wrote:  

(06-24-2016 08:18 AM)tigerjeb Wrote:  I'm just shocked and saddened. Ronnie was a solid, true and honest man. he will be remembered and missed greatly

The words that keep coming to mind for me is consistent and persistent. He never wavered. Rest in peace Ronnie. There are few here that I would shed a tear for, he would be one.

Well said Chi. He was a good man

Words from Ronnie in the Memphis Flyer:

The U of M's Vitality

To the Editor:

Last week's excellent article ["Balancing the Books," May 8th issue] on the U of M's rise in national academic prestige did not list the many ways in which our university is vital to the future of Memphis. Allow me to try:

1. Provides quality higher-education opportunities at affordable cost.

2. Annual economic impact estimated at $510 million.

3. Presence of quality public university is crucial in efforts to bring new corporations (i.e. jobs) into our community.

4. Provides cultural and sports events which not only add to quality of life, but frequently bring valuable national recognition.

5. Supports local business, industry, and government.

It is time we appreciated this valuable asset to Memphis and the Mid-South.

Ronnie Burrage
Memphis

The man loved one thing we all do - the UoM

Deeply saddened by this news. My prayers and condolences to you and your entire family. RIP to The Gray Avenger.

That's just terrible news. Loved his relentless passion for the U of M. We need more like him.

Really sorry to hear this.

Your dad was a classy, steady guy and a great fan.

This place won't be the same without him.

I am so sorry to read this. I was wondering why a GA thread accumulated so many replies.
May he rest in peace. So sorry for you and your family's loss.
He was a true blue (and gray) Tiger fan.

Ditto to everything posted before me.

I am so sorry and saddened by your loss

Oh man, this is terrible news. RIP GA.

RIP Gray Avenger. The board will never be the same.