Meet the Man Behind the Name
Today, my dad turns 80 years old.
He is the one who penned the name Punky for me when I was born. What began as a childhood nickname became a lifelong expression of love, encouragement, and belief. Decades later, it would become the name of a business, a community, and a reminder of the values he has modeled throughout his life.
Over the course of those 80 years, he’s worn a lot of hats. He’s worked in construction, the oil business, and as a stockbroker. He went on to become a regional manager for a brokerage firm. Along the way, he became an accomplished tennis player, golfer, triathlete, inline skater, scuba enthusiast, pilot, and lover of lake life. What inspires me isn’t the impressive list of accomplishments. It’s the pattern behind them.
He has never stopped being curious.
Never stopped learning.
Never stopped pursuing the things that interest him.
And then, in what many people might consider the later chapters of life, he discovered a little-known sport called pickleball. Long before it became the fastest-growing sport in the world, he saw something special in it and went all in. He learned, competed, taught, and helped grow the game. What started as a new hobby became a passion and, eventually, a calling. Not only did he become a top-tier player, but he also became one of the sport’s earliest ambassadors. His dedication to growing pickleball led to his appointment as President of the United States Pickleball Association. Today, he continues to share his knowledge and enthusiasm as a teaching professional at The Greens Country Club in Oklahoma City.
But this story isn’t really about pickleball; it’s about what happens when you’re willing to pursue something that genuinely excites you, even when no one else sees the potential yet. My dad didn’t get involved because it was popular. He got involved because he loved it…and that may be the lesson I admire most. The people who inspire me aren’t necessarily the most successful people. They’re the ones who give themselves permission to be beginners. To be curious. To follow an interest simply because it lights them up.
That’s the spirit behind Punky Collective…every shirt starts with something overlooked and becomes something entirely new. Reinvention is at the heart of what we do…not just with clothing, but with life.
So as you read these stories, my hope isn’t that you become more like the people I’m writing about. My hope is that they remind you to become more of who you already are….to trust the nudge, to follow the curiosity, to try the thing. Because the life you want might be waiting on the other side of simply getting started. And if you’re in Oklahoma City and want to learn how to play pickleball—or improve your current skills—reach out to @pickleballdude on Instagram and set up a lesson with one of the best teaching pros in the sport.
Happy 80th Birthday, Dad. ❤️
