Bob Shamrock, adopted father of MMA stars Ken and Frank Shamrock, was remembered Monday afternoon in Susanville, CA. If you knew nothing about him when you walked into the celebration of his life, you surely knew him when it was over, as many shared their memories. Born August 15, 1941 in Dayton, Ohio, he was the son of parents who helped people on skid row. Seeing their kindness firsthand, this naturally led Bob to start serving himself as a counselor in his teenage years. During his life, he took in hundreds of kids that were headed nowhere fast, the "worst of the worst" according to society, and turned their lives around. As the stories from the crowd were told, it was clear that the life Mr. Shamrock lived is a legacy that will continue living through the many lives that he impacted and touched.
One man shared a story of how he met his wife, an occasion that he attributes to a saying that Bob taught him, "A faint heart will never win you a fair lady." Those words stuck with the gentleman, allowing him to change his ways and make wiser decisions in life. There where several others who spoke about the group home. From the many talks in the bunks to the smacks on the head with a spoon at the dinner table, Bob brought out the best in them. The stories culminated with a heartfelt tale by Ken Shamrock, who first entered the home when he was 13. At the time, Ken already had a armed robbery and attempted murder charges on his file. Ken's voice softened as he recalled the first time he walked into Bob's office. Bob was silently reading Ken's file then stuffed the folder in a file cabinet, turned and said, "That was your past. Now let's talk about your future."
If you are a boxing fan, then Bob might be compared to Cus D'amato, a man who took in troubled youth and focused their aggression into sports and fitness; one of those rare figures in life that had the gift to see a spark in even the darkest souls and use that spark to turn young boys into men with a shining light to offer society. Bob was a deeply rooted and devoted man. Jesus Christ and the Lord meant a lot to him and right up to his last days, he looked forward to "walking with the Lord."
It seemed poetic that on a gloomy winter day, a man was remembered that had the ability to take in a gloomy dark soul and bring out the blue skies and sunshine that sometimes hides in the pit of a troubled child. From August 15, 1941-January 13, 2010, Bob clearly left pieces of himself with those that where in contact with him and that dash between beginning and end surely cannot be long enough given the impact that he left. Everybody seemed to always want to be around him. His life lessons were well taught and learned. Edward Hayne Parker would've surely said that his life's race was well run, his life's work was well done and his life's crown was well won.
Rest in peace Bob Shamrock.
Ken Shamrock's Lion's Den in Reno, Nevada will be heading a foundation in memory of Bob that will be aimed at helping troubled youths find their way in life. For more information, please stay tuned to the Lion's Den website, lionsdenreno.com, or you can get more information on how to contribute by calling the Lion's Den at 775-384-3302 or faxing at 775-384-3307.