A Throwback to a 2004 Throwback in Imaging

by Skip Cohen

​It's been a crazy time, and when I usually post 3-4 times each week, it's strange when the cycle and habit get preempted by other projects. This is my first post for the week.  I know I shared this photograph at least five years ago, but where is it written that you can't share a Throwback Thursday image a second time? 

This photograph is from 2004 —it's bittersweet, but still a special memory. It was taken at breakfast the day of Don Blair's funeral in Utah. And while there are no words to describe how much I miss "Big Daddy," nothing changes the power of the legacy of friendships he left behind.

Here's the backstory: We were all in Murray, UT, for Don's funeral. His favorite breakfast place every morning, along with his son Gary and a whole bunch of local buddies, was Amber's. They were regulars, and at some point, somebody had a sign made up honoring "The Breakfast Club." So, a bunch of us from the photo industry made it a point to grab breakfast together.

There's one more sad reminder that time never stands still. The industry has lost five talented people from this photograph over the last 20+ years - Duncan MacNab, Ken Whitmire, Terry Deglau, Sam Pallia, and Roy Madearis. Each one was special for their contribution to the industry and the legacy they left behind.

Memory is the diary we all carry about with us.
Unknown Author

A good life is a collection of happy memories.
Denis Waitley 

We didn't realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.
A.A. Milne 

Many of you, especially if you're under thirty, never met most of the guys above...and yes, it looks like the good ole boys club, but that doesn't reflect the mix of friends who were at Don's funeral or making history in the industry at the time.

This is an amazing industry filled with incredible artists, managers, and educators. And if my memories are my diary, as in that first quote, I've got volumes of stories I've collected over the years, many of them thanks to the people in the photograph above.

Wishing everybody a terrific Throwback Thursday and a chance to fill your diary with more great memories.