The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“But I have to cover my shifts…”
Crested Butte is a town that knows how to keep a secret. And a secret unveiled Monday night showered one of its own with an outpouring of love and a sweet ride to the Super Bowl.
Pittsburgh Steeler fan, Special Olympics medalist, local restaurant worker and all-around good guy Joe Day got his dream dished out by friends and co-workers at a surprise party at Maxwells on Monday as he was presented with a ticket to the big game in Dallas.
A cross-section of the Crested Butte community went to the wall in a frenzied fundraising push to get Joe his trip of a lifetime. In only four days the group secured enough to pay for the pricey stadium seat. Even visiting Steeler fans who had never met Joe but heard of the efforts then generously gave and attended the clandestine gathering Monday evening.
As supporters started to arrive at the Elk Avenue gala, Joe was hard at work in the back kitchen, unaware of the mounting excitement in the dining room. Joe’s friends from Adaptive Sports, Maxwells, McGills, Six Points, CBMR, past employers and co-workers, people who ride the bus with him, total strangers and townies who just wanted to support him gathered to celebrate the gift.
As Joe was retrieved from the kitchen and centered in the crowd’s circle, Joe’s longtime friend Pete Cook asked the somewhat confused guest of honor, “So Joe, where are you watching the Super Bowl?”
Joe enthusiastically exclaimed, “MAXWELLS!”
With big grins and watery eyes the clan watched as Pete replied, “We have a better idea…” and Joe was handed a golden ticket to Super Bowl weekend to watch his beloved Steelers.
Joe’s shocked reaction and first comment was, “But I have to cover my shifts…” to which his boss Peter Maxwell confirmed, “That guy has a lifetime position here with this company!”
Complimentary seats on the American Airlines flight to Dallas from Gunnison along with some spending money and a lot of love were also given to Joe for a weekend he won’t soon forget.
For more on Joe, see his profile on page 22.
