One family’s final skate; Memorial roller skate brings memories for former owner’s relatives
Published 10:23 am Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Scott Staples and his family gather together at the memorial skate to honor his father, Delmer Staples, and his grandfather, Mark Staples. Scott stands in the back with his neice (left) Sharmayne Lennon Green and her children and Scott’s nephew Josh Lennon and his children. Beverly Staples stands in the front. — Photos provided
Scott Staples was pleased about 100 people came to a memorial skate he held Saturday to remember his father, Delmer Staples.
“We reminisced about bus rides home and what we did after skating and what we did before skating, old friends and people that are no longer here,” Scott said. “It was really, really fun.”
People mingle during a memorial skate for ex-owners Mark and Delmer Staples.
The skate was held at the Rohler Rink in Brownsdale Saturday to honor Delmer, a former owner who recently passed away, as well as his grandfather Mark Staples. There were people of all ages at the skate, although many didn’t skate because of their age.
“One of the jokes going around Saturday night was that everyone had 911 on speed dial, because we’re all so old,” Scott laughed.
Scott recalled his uncle from Wisconsin taking about a half-lap around the rink with the help of a few people.
“He wanted to skate one more time,” Scott said.
Three girls skate at the Rohler Rink Saturday.
He enjoyed talking with everyone and bringing up good memories. He was excited when someone from the Mower County Historical Society came to the skate with old articles about the rink from over the years.
Many people he didn’t expect showed up, such as women he graduated high school with and friends of Delmer from Brownsdale.
“I had more people come up and say, ‘Thank you for doing this,’” Scott said. “I had all kinds of things on Facebook thanking me for doing this. I had nobody say anything bad about it.”
Scott thanked everyone for coming to share the memories on Saturday, and was thankful to the Rohl’s for letting him host the memorial skate.
Scott didn’t only get to share good memories on Saturday; he got closure as well.
“When everybody was off the floor, I took one lap around that rink, and I said my goodbyes,” Scott said. “I’m at peace now, that was my closure.”
At the end of the night, Fats Domino, “I Want to Walk You Home” — the song Scott’s grandmother played each night at closing — played one last time.
Though Saturday’s event provided closure for the Staples family, the story is far from over for the rink, which is now owned by the Rohls family.
Staples
To read more about Delmer Staples and the rink, visit www.austindailyherald.com/?p=631431
