MONROE - Tracy Hamilton, owner of Heartland Graphics, wanted to do something to honor the memory of Monsignor Thomas Campion, who died Nov. 12.
"No one will ever forget him," Hamilton said of the man who founded the Apostolate to the Handicapped.
Within a few weeks, Hamilton realized that people don't want to ever forget the man who dedicated his life to helping the disabled in Monroe and surrounding communities.
Campion was a faithful customer of Hamilton's T-shirt graphics business. For the past 16 years, he would often come into the store and ask Hamilton to make shirts for him to pass out to area athletes and to other people at special events throughout the year.
"I probably made 50,000 shirts for him over the years," he said.
Campion was more than just a customer, says Hamilton. He was someone Hamilton admired and respected. Hamilton said he looked forward to Campion walking into the store to order more shirts.
"I still expect him to walk in the door," Hamilton smiled. "He used to come in and he would tell a story or say something funny. I miss seeing him."
The ubiquitous "Campion's Champions" shirts came in all colors. On the back of each was an inspirational message.
Hamilton decided shortly after Campion died that he wanted to do something to help raise money for the Monsignor Thomas Campion Memorial Fund, which was recently established by Campion's family.
The final details of the fund haven't been determined, said Ellen Marti, secretary to the Apostolate to the Handicapped. But once in place, money raised could be used for scholarships, a foundation or for the Apostolate to the Handicapped and other causes close to Campions heart. Hamilton received permission from Campion's family to print the shirts shortly after Campion died.
The shirts are white with red lettering, in the style of the original "Campion's Champions" shirts. On the back are the words, "Never Forget Monsignor Thomas Campion."
Hamilton sold the shirts for $10. His goal was to raise $10,000 for the memorial fund. He wasn't sure how long it would take to raise the money. Within a few days, Hamilton was able to provide a check for $10,000 to the memorial fund .
"We were really surprised and very grateful," Marti said. "It showed how much people cared."
Hamilton plans to continue printing the shirts for a while. He'll print 150 shirts at a time, he said.
"If people want them, I'll print them," he said.
"No one will ever forget him," Hamilton said of the man who founded the Apostolate to the Handicapped.
Within a few weeks, Hamilton realized that people don't want to ever forget the man who dedicated his life to helping the disabled in Monroe and surrounding communities.
Campion was a faithful customer of Hamilton's T-shirt graphics business. For the past 16 years, he would often come into the store and ask Hamilton to make shirts for him to pass out to area athletes and to other people at special events throughout the year.
"I probably made 50,000 shirts for him over the years," he said.
Campion was more than just a customer, says Hamilton. He was someone Hamilton admired and respected. Hamilton said he looked forward to Campion walking into the store to order more shirts.
"I still expect him to walk in the door," Hamilton smiled. "He used to come in and he would tell a story or say something funny. I miss seeing him."
The ubiquitous "Campion's Champions" shirts came in all colors. On the back of each was an inspirational message.
Hamilton decided shortly after Campion died that he wanted to do something to help raise money for the Monsignor Thomas Campion Memorial Fund, which was recently established by Campion's family.
The final details of the fund haven't been determined, said Ellen Marti, secretary to the Apostolate to the Handicapped. But once in place, money raised could be used for scholarships, a foundation or for the Apostolate to the Handicapped and other causes close to Campions heart. Hamilton received permission from Campion's family to print the shirts shortly after Campion died.
The shirts are white with red lettering, in the style of the original "Campion's Champions" shirts. On the back are the words, "Never Forget Monsignor Thomas Campion."
Hamilton sold the shirts for $10. His goal was to raise $10,000 for the memorial fund. He wasn't sure how long it would take to raise the money. Within a few days, Hamilton was able to provide a check for $10,000 to the memorial fund .
"We were really surprised and very grateful," Marti said. "It showed how much people cared."
Hamilton plans to continue printing the shirts for a while. He'll print 150 shirts at a time, he said.
"If people want them, I'll print them," he said.