I recently spoke at the funeral services for two of my friends – Tom Wine and Denny Crum. Both were well-known and influential community leaders. Tom Wine was a former Kentucky appellate judge and the current Kentucky Commonwealth’s Attorney for Jefferson County. Sadly, he died just two weeks after learning he had pancreatic cancer. He was 67. Denny Crum, the retired Hall of Fame basketball coach of the University of Louisville, died after a prolonged illness at 86.
The Bible says, “Honor to whom honor is due.” Below are some words of appreciation I expressed at their funerals.
JUDGE TOM WINE – A PROMINENT YET HUMBLE LIFE
Tom Wine grew up relatively poor. He was one of four boys, and they all slept in a single bedroom in their small home in the Germantown neighborhood of Louisville. Tom succeeded academically at Atherton High School, college, and at the University of Louisville Law School. He was sworn in as Assistant Commonwealth Attorney in 1980 and was named Prosecutor of the Year two years later.
Judge Wine served for 40 years in public service and had a very successful career. He was elected as a circuit court judge and then became a member of the Court of Appeals. I sometimes teased Tom that he was my all-time favorite pro-life Democrat. However, there wasn’t much competition in that category! He always got my support and my vote. He had a Biblical worldview, stood for traditional values, and unashamedly shared his faith.
The Bible has a lot to say about justice and fairness. Proverbs 21:15 says: “When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.” A good judicial system protects the innocent victim and punishes the evildoer. Leviticus 19:15 reads: “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great but judge your neighbor fairly.” It’s not easy being a judge. It’s a huge responsibility. But Tom was very conscientious and did his best to be fair and to administer justice.
In 2012, Tom was elected as Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney. He quickly gained widespread respect, especially from the 100 employees who worked for him. Jefferson County’s former Chief Public Defender, Dan Goyette, said: “Tom was a model public servant and an honorable man who lived his faith. He never took himself too seriously, despite his significant professional accomplishments, and he never lost his cool or his sense of humor.”
Not bad for a boy who grew up in a two-bedroom home in Germantown.
Several virtues stood out to me about Tom Wine. Humility was one. He was just Tom. He didn’t insist on being addressed as “Judge Wine.” Integrity was another. Proverbs 11:3 says, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” Tom was a man who kept his word. He was authentic to the core. Unselfishness is another virtue Tom exhibited. He was alert to opportunities to serve others. He generously gave his time to lead one of the best scout programs in the nation. He cared for several elderly ladies when they needed their grass mowed or minor repairs done to their houses. He genuinely cared for people.
The most important thing I could say about Tom Wine is that he put his trust in Jesus Christ as Savior. He claimed that promise of Mark 16:16: “Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved….”
Tom and his wife Annie became active and much-respected members of Southeast Christian Church. Tom not only led the scouting program, but he also volunteered in the children’s department and often attended the 7:00 a.m. Men’s Bible study on Saturday mornings. Whenever I called him for guidance in voting for judges in upcoming elections, he was always transparent and helpful.
One of Tom’s favorite verses was 3 John 4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” Tom left a great legacy in his two sons, Daniel and Matthew, both who continue to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ.
I think Micah 6:8 is a good description of Tom Wine. “…And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
DENNY CRUM’S FINEST MOMENT
Denny Crum was more balanced than most high-profile basketball coaches. He was competitive but composed. He was famous but approachable. He was confident but not arrogant. He was ambitious but took time for his family and enjoyed an abundant life. Somehow, he still managed to win two NCAA championships in his coaching tenure at the University of Louisville.
I first met Denny Crum in the early 90s when he attended a wedding I officiated. Afterward, I invited him to visit our church. He said, “My wife says it’s too big.” I flippantly responded, “Denny, if I went by that philosophy, I’d only go to Bellarmine games!” Although my answer may have been impudent, I think he liked and remembered it.
Sometime later, he started attending our church, and one day I talked to him about the gospel. I pointed out, “…all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23). Denny didn’t argue with that. He knew he could be “too stubborn, too direct, too selfish at times.
I pointed out that the Bible says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). So we are not saved by being good but by trusting in Jesus Christ. The Bible also says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9.)
Denny understood that and decided to put his faith in Christ. I explained to him that when people become Christians, they are to be immersed in baptism as a symbol of a new life. Simon Peter called baptism “the pledge of a clear conscience toward God” (1 Peter 3:21). I pointed out that baptisms are often performed publicly, within a worship service, or, if he would prefer, he could be baptized privately with just family and friends attending.
Denny Crum chose to be baptized publicly as a bold testimony of his faith. So, during a Wednesday night service in front of several thousand people, Denny stood in the baptistry and repeated the good confession, “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God and my personal savior.”
From an eternal perspective, I think Coach Crum’s finest moment was not leading UofL to their first NCAA championship in Indianapolis’ Market Square Arena in 1980 or even their second championship in Dallas’ Reunion Arena in 1986. Nor was it at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he was inducted in 1994. Instead, I believe Denny’s finest hour will be that moment of genuine humility in a baptistry in Louisville, Kentucky, where he expressed his faith in Jesus as Savior.
When Denny was in town, he served as a church usher nearly every Sunday. Visitors would often do a double take as they walked into his section. He called me his “God coach” and was very kind to me. Like so many, I considered Denny, a loyal friend. I am confident he has heard the Lord tell him, “Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your Lord!” I imagine he and his mentor, Coach John Wooden, are reminiscing about old times right now and savoring the joys of eternal life.
“…Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them’” (Revelation 14:13).
Follow BobRussellKY on Twitter and LIKE the Bob Russell page on Facebook
