Coach Eddie Shannon, 93 years young, just keeps a'goin' strong

There's one birthday we absolutely do not want to overlook and it's Eddie Shannon's.

Beloved community icon and mentor to so many for nearly 70 years.

Respected voice of reason during school integration in the 1960s.

Manatee County Distinguished Citizen in 2004.

Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame coach in 2012 after spending 34 productive years at Lincoln and Manatee.

The 5-foot-3 giant will be 93 years young Saturday.

In honor of the occasion, here's the saying Eddie has used to inspire generations:

If the weather kills your crop, keep-a-goin'.

If you fail to get on top, keep-a-goin'.

Suppose you're broke and out of every dime, getting broke is not a crime.

Tell the world you're feelin' fine, and keep-a-goin'.

Happy birthday, Coach.

Speaking of big birthdays, James O. Gordon Sr., the "Unofficial Mayor of Rubonia," is 94 years young Monday.

Jayne Ohlman will have an interesting spring. The Lakewood Ranch High alum and Auburn University senior is interning with the Alabama State Legislature House of Representatives through June. A double major in political science and history, Jayne will serve with the education budget committee. She graduates in December and plans on law school.

That's 57 years of wedded bliss for Sue and Jim Manring, who is 77 years young.

Oh, no! Jen Carter has hit the Big 4-0!

A bow to Jeff Pilson for another smooth performance handling the music and sound system during last Saturday's boffo scholastic dance-team showcase, "Yes, We Can Dance!"

Uh, oh! Tommy Irwin hit the Big 6-0! And bride, Patti, is one year shy of the Big 5-0! Pals Shirley Rampart, Jackie Wittman and Audrey Grover helped the birthday couple celebrate.

Singing our national anthem the next three games at McKechnie Field will be the Manatee High Ensemble Saturday when the Rays come to B'town, Jessica Cary Monday for the Twins, and Ted Meekma, retired sheriff of Dodge County, Wis., Thursday for the Red Sox.

Say it ain't so! Jessica Haas, part of Shake Pit's heart and soul, is one year shy of the Big 3-0!

And the ageless Helen Eason is 39. Again.

Well done to those Manatee County students who shined at the 54th annual land-judging competition, a complex challenge involving soil properties with categories such as nutrients, permeability and slope. It was sponsored by the Manatee River Soil and Water Conservation District. Claire Strickland won the I.H. Stewart Award for highest individual score overall and she and 4-H senior teammates Benjamin Hoffner, Jesse West and Samuel West won the Callon Keen Sr. Award for highest team score. Shelby Bryan, Janna Groover, Jo Hoffner and Jay West were the top intermediate 4-H team. Adviser Mike Buckley's Southeast team of Kenan Alemhoca, Isabel Cushing, Colt Travis and Jasmine Villegas won the FFA high school division. Southeast's Jaimie Davis, Samantha Lockhart, McKayla Moreno and Luis Solorzano took second. Third went to adviser Deb Barry's Braden River team of Emily Courson, Meagan Gigliotti and Christine King. Southeast's Solorzano and Villegas also got medals for highest scores in their division fields. Adviser Steve Harber's Buffalo Creek Middle teams went 1-2-3 in their FFA division. Savannah Cannon, Caissy Chase, John Greer and Camrie Henderson took first; Faith Gilray, Hannah Hattaway, Jade Parrish and Zach Stolze took second; Mara Behringer, Sorryl Cannon, Chloe Flourney and Alexis Orloski took third. Greer and Henderson also got medals for highest scores in their division fields.

Uh, oh! Paul O'Brien is about to hit the Big 6-0! The milestone lands Saturday on the Keiser University business department chair. Cheers from Nancy, his wife for 35 years. The birthday boy is also in the Knights of Columbus at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs and is a Big Brother.

Sea Breeze Elementary fourth-grader Ashlyn McClellan was B'town's "Mayor for the Day" on Feb. 25.

That's 50 years of marriage for Judy and Stephen Olsen, former longtime girls basketball and softball coach for the Manatee Hurricanes.

Walking gingerly off the field at Pirate City, spring training coach Mike "Spanky" LaValliere joked, "I'm only 54, but my knees feel like 90." The B'town resident caught 11 years in the majors.

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This story was originally published March 5, 2015 at 11:17 PM with the headline "Coach Eddie Shannon, 93 years young, just keeps a'goin' strong."