A Young Lady's Run-In with Frank Sinatra

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Order now in the app for pickup or delivery. Chipotle, for real. This is Lee Habib and this is Our American Stories and we tell stories about everything here on this show from the arts to sports and from business to history and everything in between including your stories. Send them to our americanstories.com for some of our favorites and our next story comes from a Colorado listener. Let's take a listen. My name is Patty Kingsbaker and I grew up in Miami. My dad was the boxing coach for the University of Miami and um but they discontinued boxing in 1954 I believe but at the time I mean he had two jobs he worked for the Coral Gables fire department and he was the boxing coach for the University of Miami so when they discontinued boxing he started refereeing and so as when I was growing up I'm not sure how old I was when he started taking me to the fights but I feel like I was at least seven so every Friday night I was over on Miami beach with my dad and going to the fight so I grew up like knowing all the boxers and in growing up in that world I mean I just loved boxing so we found out that the Johansen-Patterson heavyweight championship fight was gonna be in Miami and of course you know I was like my dad's gonna referee you know but they really they don't find out who's gonna referee a fight until like five minutes before the fight they come over and get tagged you know to do it so long story short my dad I there was one other referee that I knew was probably had enough experience or that it was between my dad and this other guy well and his name was Cy Godfrey and my dad was Billy Regan and um but Cy refereed a 10 rounder right before the main event and so I knew I knew that my dad was so I hit it you know I just was headed down towards to see my dad you know to go yeah you're gonna get this fight and I was behind the bleachers but they were holding the crowd back and all of a sudden I looked up and like 10 feet in front of me is Frank Sinatra and he's standing there with that you know he had this finger on his coat over his shoulder he had the hat on and I I was stopped in my tracks I was like oh my god that's Frank Sinatra so I never made it down ringside to talk to my dad before the fight but he did in fact referee the fight and it was when Patterson regained the title from Johansson and so when I found my dad after the fight of course the first thing I said to him wasn't you got to you got to referee the fighter was like daddy I saw Frank Sinatra you know so anyway the story had kind of circulated through the fighters and Chris Dundee who was the promoter at the time and you know everybody gave me a hard time for not getting his autograph and I was like I was just scared I didn't know what to do so it was a few months later I think and I was at the fights with my dad and Chris Dundee came up to me and he goes all right Frank's coming in tonight and he's going to come in through that door over there all right at nine o'clock so you keep your eyes peeled and you go get your autograph this time so sure enough at nine o'clock that door open and in comes Frank and I'm ready and so I go hauling over there they're taking him to a seat but the thing was is Chris forgot to tell security to let me through so they're not letting me through and again can't get his autograph so and I was just so disappointed because I felt like I had a clear path that night anyway I went home and I ended up writing him a letter and he was performing over the fountain blue at the time and I wrote him a letter and I explained everything I explained that my dad had refereed the championship fight that I had been standing 10 feet you know with a clear path to him but was scared and that Chris had told me he was coming in the other night and that I you know I had my paper and pen ready but then security wouldn't let me through and I said so now it looks like I'm never going to get your autograph you know if you could just send it to me that I would really appreciate it so and I mailed the letter off to Frank Sinatra at the fountain blue hotel so it was a few days later maybe I I don't know but my dad called me chuckling and he said I got the strangest phone call today and he was working at the fire station at the time and he said this guy calls me and he goes are you the Billy Regan the referee the handsome Patterson fight and he said yeah he said oh god thank god Frank's been driving us nuts your daughter wrote him a letter somebody threw away the envelope he doesn't have an address and he wants to send her a picture so my dad gave him the address and I have my autographed picture from Frank Sinatra from that and you've been listening to Patti Kingsbaker and she has another story about Elvis Presley and look if you've got stories like it send them to our americanstories.com brushes with greatness or a celebrity or star you really love or care about tell us those stories again send them to our americanstories.com and I could just picture it I mean and Frank was always working on that image no matter where he walked that coat was over his back just like on so many of his records and that hat that signature hat was always there and there was a day when he played little places like the fountain blue by the way that hotel is still there and still has top line entertainment and if you want to get a taste of the old Miami it's still there and South Beach is still a great place to go and and have some fun listen to some great music and enjoy the sun. Patti Kingsbakers story her story of her encounter well her almost encounter with Frank Sinatra here on our american stories so here at our american stories we bring you inspiring stories of history sports business faith and love stories from a great and beautiful country that need to be told but we can't do it without you our stories are free to listen to but they're not free to make if you love our stories in America like we do please go to our americanstories.com and click the donate button give a little give a lot help us keep the great american stories coming that's our american stories.com all-inclusive vacations make life easy with endless eats bottomless drinks and never-ending fun so booking an all-inclusive vacation should be easy too right that's where apple vacations comes in book your all-inclusive getaway with apple vacations and receive exclusive perks at select resorts you'll find the best deals to sun and sand destinations in mexico and the caribbean and enjoy a selection of exclusive non-stop vacation flights turn on easy mode at apple vacations.com or call your local travel advisor to get started i'm malcolm glambo i live way out in the country i drive everywhere and you know what scares me that feeling of finding myself stuck on the side of the road but now all of us can avoid that pain by getting our vehicle the part it needs before that breakdown oh no moment with ebay guaranteed fit and over 122 million parts and accessories you can make sure your ride stays running smoothly for the parts and accessories that fit your vehicle just look for the green check get the right parts the right fit and the right prices ebaymotors.com let's ride eligible items only exclusions apply looking forward to spring break graduation and girls nights out get outfitted today at lulus lulus is all about providing on-trend looks for any occasion whether it's a current trend or a closet staple you can find it at lulus and when you make an account with lulus use code lulus fan 20 to save 20 off your first order that's lulus fan 20 place your order today at lulus.com terms and conditions apply see lulus.com for details