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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE LIFE OF ANTHONY ``TONY'' ETCHISON
______
HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS
of indiana
in the house of representatives
Friday, October 2, 2020
Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life
and legacy of Tony Etchison, an Indiana basketball legend, accomplished
farmer, and loving family man. Born on April 14, 1972, in Tipton,
Indiana, Tony was a life-long Hoosier. He dedicated much of his life to
athletics and giving back to the youth teams in Indiana's Fifth
Congressional District. While we mourn Tony's unexpected death, we are
forever grateful for his endless victories and accomplishments, both on
and off the basketball court.
Tony graduated from Noblesville High School in 1991 where he began
his standout career in basketball. As a four-year letter winner and
leader of three consecutive sectional championship teams for
Noblesville, Tony was chosen as the County Player of the Year for two
seasons and was named All-Hamilton County four times. His countless
accomplishments in high school led to a scholarship opportunity at
Mercer University in Georgia where he continued his athletic career as
a star basketball player.
He led his team in the Trans American Conference in three-point
shooting during his four-year collegiate career. Tony made Mercer
University history by being the first player to earn Trans American
All-Academic Team honors all four years he played. He completed his
education and graduated in 1995, from Mercer's Stetson School of
Business & Economics with a Bachelors of Arts in Business
Administration and Finance. After completing his education Tony
returned home and began work for the family business, Etchison Farms.
It was also during this time in Tony's life that he began a twenty-two
year career as an agent for Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, serving many
families in the Fifth District.
As an adult, Tony's earlier athletic accomplishments did not go
unnoticed. In 2009, he was inducted into the Hamilton County Basketball
Hall of Fame. Later in 2016, he was inducted into the Noblesville High
School Athletic Hall of Fame and honored by the Indiana Basketball Hall
of Fame by being selected to be a teammate on their 2016 Silver
Anniversary Team. In July of 2019, Tony was elected as a director of
the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. In addition to his basketball
career, Tony loved to coach youth sports in the area.
Tony's proudest role in life was being a husband and father. Tony and
his wife, Toby, were blessed with three sons: John Phillip or ``JP'', a
freshman at Indiana University, Gus, a junior at Hamilton Heights High
School, and Tillman, an 8th grader at Hamilton Heights Middle School.
One of Tony's greatest joys in life was having the opportunity to share
with his sons his love of all sports, and the joy of competition.
Tony died tragically on October 23, 2019, on the family farm in
Arcadia, Indiana. Tony will be forever missed by his family, friends,
colleagues, and the entire Indiana basketball community. On behalf of
Indiana's Fifth Congressional District, I extend my deepest condolences
to Tony's wife, Toby, their three sons, the entire Etchison family, and
their friends, who mourn his passing.
____________________