Lenny Moore: A Knight among men

There were so many stars at the Stirling Guest Hotel Thursday night they formed a constellation that warmed Reading with a kaleidoscope of intense light. Of course, the brightest star was the man himself, Lenny Moore, the Reading High, Penn State and Baltimore Colt great.Moore was eloquently saluted at “A Knight to Remember” tribute that undoubtedly will be etched into the memory banks of everybody who shared bread and sweat under a sweltering tent for four hours.But nobody was cowed by the sauna-like conditions even though the humidity was thick enough to shovel.After all, inconveniences of the flesh are no match for the soaring octaves of renewed spirits.Because although the night was supposed to be about football, it was about much more.It was about people and relationships, and how desperately they need each other.And how they need God in their lives.It was a tent revival meeting, and it was riveting. One of the superstars on hand was the guy who organized the whole evening, Reading High food services manager Stuart Eberly.He should be amply saluted for his yeoman work. He’s the primary catalyst behind the weekend-long celebration of Moore’s return to Reading.Lenny Moore truly is a Reading treasure and he should never get lost in the fog of time.On hand to enhance Moore’s legacy were former Baltimore Colts Gino Marchetti, Lydell Mitchell and Milt Davis; former Philadelphia Eagles Tommy McDonald and Pete Retzlaff; former Penn State All-American Charles Blockson, who was Moore’s college; and former Reading High and Maryland star Dave Pacella.The documentary on Moore by Karen Quinn was a vivid, enchanting retrospective on Moore’s remarkable football career, including enough highlights of him in high school, college and the pros to provide compelling evidence that he truly was one of the most gifted runners ever.Moore had searingly quick reflexes. He was a marvel in the open field, a mosaic of movement at warp speed.His ballet of nimble moves gave the distinct impression he could cut at full speed even on a thimble. He was the ultimate slasher, a running back whose sirloin strip of a body knifed off tackle with the explosion of a powder keg. Blockson and Davis were particularly eloquent in their remarks, but nobody could touch Lenny.He touched everyone’s hearts by relating that in his post-football life he floundered until the Good Lord showed him that he could only flourish once he began giving to others.Davis, McDonald and Moore mentioned God frequently in their remarks, ample evidence that in the winter of their lives they’ve placed their mortality in the Lord’s hands.Speaking of the Lord, he abundantly blessed Lenny Moore twice -– as a football player and as a man.He clearly is a man who isn’t awed by ego. He clearly is a man with direction in his life –- thanks to a moral compass that has survived the batterings of significant trials and tribulations. It was a privilege to be a part of the celebration. I shall not forget it.