Wednesday, September 29, 2021
To the family Greg Grimes: My name is Ali Witherspoon. Many of you may not know me, but those from Palmyra will know me. I wanted to leave a message to your family with my condolences and sympathy during this difficult time.
You see Greg was more to me than most at many milestones in my life, Greg and his Friends started a little Football League in our Neighborhood where there used to be a vacant lot at the Corner of Sixth and Arch St. I was on the "GTO's" him and his friends had little t-shirts printed for us to play and I loved every minute.
Later on Greg as we all know, had "Hot Rods" and I was fortunate enough to have Greg take me down to Atco Raceway where they would watch the drag races of the cars. Whenever he took me he would always say to his boys that were going down we are cruising today no speeding,I got the kid with me! Which meant we would travel around 90 mph and no more and I can still hear the engine of his Yellow Hot Rod running down Rt. 73. He always made sure I was strapped in nice and secure.
Later in life, during my mischievous years I have a fond memory of Greg over at his girlfriends house waxing his car in her driveway on Market St. across the Lamb's Barber Shop and we as young boys do, were getting into trouble during the summer months and firing our homemade slingshots at the cars headed back to Philly, we made sure to hit the Philly cars because NJ cars had to have license plates on the front and back. Philly cars only needed one. Anyway we shot and fired once and the guy stopped, got out and came over towards us and of course we fired immediately and he then retreated and yelled "Damn N's", Well Greg stopped waxing his car, went straight up to the guy and with one punch he was doubled over 1/2 inside and 1/2 outside of his car and Greg calmly went back to waxing his car!
Later in my life as I finally was getting my chance to play QB at PHS, Greg took time out of his schedule to meet with me prior to my Senior Year and help me, teach, coach me how how to throw the football. His lessons were invaluable to me, during one session after he had warmed up he stood on the goal line and threw the football to the other goal line! I have never seen anyone do that since in my life. Truly and Gifted Athlete. His lessons helped me go on to break his TD pass record for a season with 28 and that record stood until another 32 years.
I will never forget how one Baseball Game Greg was playing and of course we as kids were around watching the game and playing but when Greg was up we watched and he got a hold of one pitch and hit the ball out of the park and across the street and knocked out the 2nd floor window of the house in Left Field, again I have never seen anyone do that again!
I love Greg and I wanted to share with you his family on how much I loved him and how he influenced me throughout my younger years. May Greg Rest in Peace and my God take him into his arms and assign him any of the coaching duties in heaven, Baseball, Basketball or Football as he was a Superstar in all three.
Thomas E. May, Founder 1946-2022