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Tuesday

Dec062011

December 6, 2011

Last year when I did my 365 day bar crawl, there was only one bar I went to twice. That bar was Mike’s Tavern in my hometown of Peoria, Illinois. Mike’s Tavern is the bar that I remember my Grandpa Seitz going to for as long as I can remember. The original ower was Mike Jacoby, and I remember my Grandpa speaking fondly of Mike. Tony Ward bought the bar back in 1976 and Mike Jacoby was never mentioned by my Grandpa again. My Grandpa was a little fickle and reserved high praise for whoever was pouring the beer and shots at Mike’s Tavern. From 1976 on it was Tony Ward and the high praise from my Grandpa was well deserved. He took good care of my Grandpa as time marched on and watched out for him. I’ve thanked him many times through the years for this.

Last year I was continually asked asked what bar was going to be the last one on the 365 bar crawl. I had established a rule that I could revisit a bar on that day. From the very beginning, I knew it had to be Mike’s Tavern. I called Tony a few weeks prior and told him and he was excited that Mike’s would be the last stop on the bar crawl. When the day came, there was a sign outside congratulating me and Tony was the first person who’s hand I shook. I probably could’ve gotten more publicity by going to a bar in New York, but I didn’t care, it had to be Mike’s Tavern. It was a great day and Tony set it all up and I’ll be eternally grateful to him for such a great closing day. It couldn’t have been any better and the person to thank for that is Tony Ward.

Yesterday I got an email and it was a link to Tony’s obituary in the Peoria Journal Star. It seems Tony passed away on Sunday, December 4th. He was 62-years-old. Condolences to Tony’s wife, Donna, his daughter, Shannon and the entire Ward family on their loss, I’m so very sorry.

I don’t know what happens when you die, but I hope somehow Tony and my Grandpa Seitz are drinking a beer together right now.

I’m going to have more than one tonight in Tony’s honor. Cheers to Tony Ward, a great barkeep a wonderful guy and a friend to many in West Peoria and beyond. You’ll truly be missed, Tony. R.I.P.