Hall of Honor banquet speeches were candid and emotional

[Sir Purr]

Jordan Gross' speech, much like his personality on Panthers media outlets for so many years, was a mix of humor and introspective sincerity.


"The story of my life and my career is a story about people. I was given a lot of gifts from God," Gross said. "I never really knew why stuff seemed to go my way. My responsibility to those gifts was to pay it back. I was so fortunate to have people along the way that believed in me. All these wonderful people. I knew that my job while I was here to do good back to other people."


He told a story about a rite of passage in his family, how everyone needs to know how to slalom water ski.


"It's hard. It takes a lot of grit and determination and you have to try and try and try," Gross said. "And when you're out there in the water trying to learn like my daughter was...she was out there and she was scared and she was trying. And we were encouraging her and throwing her the rope. And then she got up this year and she made the club. I couldn't believe how proud I was over her success."


And after telling his fellow inductees about special moments and things that he shared with them, Gross returned to the water skiing story.


"My whole life I've felt like I was the one in the water. Everyone was just rooting for me and they had the rope, the life jackets, the spotter. And when I got up and everyone was cheering, it's just beautiful being here and looking back at the boat and seeing everybody in there smiling. I only wish that you guys know how I feel about everybody and how appreciative I am. It's not me, it's everybody that's up here."