Remembering Tony

My long-time friend, Tony Ferguson, left us on Oct. 1, 2025. This is what I read at his service.

My Friend, Tony Ferguson

April 20, 1964-Oct. 1, 2025

I met Tony in the 8^th grade at South Junior High in Joplin, MO. We were introduced by mutual friends who thought we might get along because they knew we both played music. He played drums and sang while I played guitar. We weren't fast friends; he mumbled something about me being one of the weirdest kids he'd ever seen (he was right, I was a weird kid), and I took a cheap shot at his weight. After that, we became a bit closer, talking about music, trying to figure each other out. We continued to play music together through high school and post-high school as well. We would both move to other cities and to all things that make up the trials and tribulations of growing older. But we could always pick up where we had left off. He really hit his stride musically in the 90's and on into the 2000's. The music he made with Joplin-area bands The Sundogs, Big Bang, King Friday, Pinewood Derby, Voodoo Hat, and the Wayback Machine lives on. We had a mutual love of the horror movie and comedy resurgence of the late 70's and early 80's. He was a trove of trivia and incisive knowledge of the varying styles of directors like Harold Ramis, Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner, George A. Romero, Wes Craven, and John Carpenter. Maybe more than music, movies in general were our real, common groove. For 47 years, I've had someone I could just make a quick phone or send a text to with a note about a movie I'd just seen. For 47 years, I've had a friendship that could survive arguments and distance. For 47 years, I've had a friend who could make me laugh harder than I thought possible. For 47 years, I've had someone who knew me, sometimes better than I knew myself. Losing people who know your story is not easy. For 47 years, I've treasured calling Tony Ferguson my friend.