Parrish resident 7-year-old Christopher King Jr. is the “biggest” fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was very excited to meet former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Shelton Quarles.
“I want an autograph and a picture,” King said. He came with his parents Christopher and Cindy King and his siblings, 5-year-old Cameron and 2-year-old Camila.
“It’s a Father’s Day celebration so it worked out perfectly,” Christopher King, the father, said. “The kiddos are spoiling me.”
The meet and greets with Quarles and Jassen Cullimore, former Tampa Bay Lightning player, were the main attractions at the Dad's Day Block Party June 14 at the Mall at University Town Center. Visitors of the event were encouraged to wear sports jerseys or dress up as superheroes.
Lakewood Ranch resident Don Slate has been a Tampa Bay fan his whole life and didn’t want to miss the opportunity to meet Quarles.
“I love UTC and it’s great what they do for the fathers,” Slate said.
“When I played we had helmets on so we didn’t get the one on one interactions with the fans,” Quarles said. “It’s fun to come out and bring joy to people and Father’s Day is an important day.”
Plenty of autographs were signed and photos were taken by many, especially with Quarles’ Super Bowl rings.
“The fans give us the ability to do what we do on a daily basis so for them to be able to experience what we experience for a brief period of time makes me feel good,” said Quarles.
Shelton Quarles poses for a photo with Rowan, 4, Madison, 3, and Grayson Izaguirre, 6. If they were superheroes, Rowan would be the Hulk, Madison would be a unicorn and Grayson would be Spiderman.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Sarasota resident Steven Lambright and his 9-year-old son Preston Lambright are fans of all things sports, including football and hockey. They were excited to meet former players at the Dad's Day event at the Mall at UTC.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Parrish resident Christopher King brought his family, including sons 5-year-old Cameron and 7-year-old Christopher Jr., to meet former Buccaneers player Shelton Quarles.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Bob Hunek has met Shelton Quarles Jr. four times before and Hunek created cards for Quarles to sign of photos of them together.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Shelton Quarles Jr. and Bob Hunek have met four times at the Dad's Day Block Party for the last four years.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Bradenton's Tony Dyke spent the day with his children, 7-year-old Phoebe and 9-year-old Oakley. If they were superheroes, Tony and Phoebe would want to freeze time while Oakley says he would want super strength.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Former Tampa Bay Lightning player Jassen Cullimore still works with Tampa Bay Lightning and is trying to recruit kids for their Learn to Play program where kids can try hockey for the first time.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Preston Lambright, a 9-year-old Sarasota resident, was excited when he stumbled upon the meet and greet and got to hold Quarles' Super Bowl rings.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Bradenton resident Jayceon Stackhouse, 7, came to the Dad's Day Block Party with his dad Wayne Johnston. If he was a superhero, Stackhouse would want to be Rylee the Invisible Man.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Buccaneers fans Lindsay and Casey brought their children Ryker, 6, and Hadley, 4, to meet Shelton Quarles.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Former Buc Shelton Quarles poses with Lakewood Ranch resident Don Slate, who says he has been a Tampa Bay fan his whole life.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch residents Jose Pagan (left) and his wife Sheryl brought grandkids Elliot Baldwin, 8, and Maverick Pagan, 4, to meet Shelton Quarles. Baldwin is a big Buccaneers fan and plays football himself.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Jassen Cullimore, former Tampa Bay Lightning player, poses for a photo with Grayson, 6, Madison, 3, and Rowan Izaguirre, 4.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Jassen Cullimore, a former Tampa Bay Lightning player, and Shelton Quarles, a former Tampa Bay Buc, participated in a meet and greet at the Mall at UTC.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Jantzen Mitchell brought his wife Kaitlyn and daughter Jasmine with him to meet Shelton Quarles. He says he was nervous to meet Quarles at first.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Fan Bob Hunek comes to the Dad's Day event at UTC every year but it was former Tampa Bay Lightning player Jassen Cullimore's first time. "I work for the Lightning still but the stuff I do, a lot of times the kids don’t realize that I used to play," Cullimore said.
Madison Bierl is the education and community reporter for the East County Observer. She grew up in Iowa and studied at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.
