(Photo: Floyd Farley and his daughter, Kelly, during his retirement party)
By Bill Collmer, Hornell Sun Senior Sports writer
AVOCA — I believe in everyone’s lifetime they meet someone or in most cases several people outside of family members who make a difference in their lives. I didn’t realize it at first but one of those people for me was my friend Floyd Farley.
In 2001 when I was 23 years old, I was attending a varsity boys basketball game in Avoca with my friend Frankie Rundell.
At the game I ran into a fellow Avoca guy I knew Dean Wightman. Dean had just recently been hired to coach modified boys basketball at Avoca and asked me if I’d be interested in being his assistant coach.
Coaching basketball was something I’d never really considered but jumped at the chance to get into coaching and was glad I did. It ended up being one of the best decisions of my life.
Shortly after agreeing to help Dean, he had his father in-law, retired Steuben County Referee Floyd Farley come to a practice to go over the rules with our boys.
I had heard of Farley but hadn’t met him until then. Over the course of the next few months, I interacted with Farley several times and instantly took a liking to him.
I found out rather quickly that we were both basketball junkies.
Because I was a volunteer assistant and wasn’t getting paid to coach, Wightman and his wife Kelly, who was Farley’s daughter, offered to buy my tickets and take me to Glens Falls with them that March to the New York State High School Basketball Championships.
I had heard of Glens Falls but had never attended the New York State Final four before.
It turns out, a large group of people from not only Avoca but neighboring towns in Steuben County attended every year whether or not a local team was playing.
We all stayed at the same hotel and ate together at local restaurants and watched 17-or-18 basketball games in three days. I would continue to go on that “vacation” 13 years in a row. I really got to know Farley and his wife Betsey.
A few years later ,Dean and Kelly and their son Patrick, would move to Prattsburgh and Patrick would play for Coach Jim Burke and after he retired, Ted Haydon.
I would end up watching hundreds of basketball games with Farley over the years, many of them in Prattsburgh, Rochester, Buffalo and Glens Falls.
Like me, he could watch two teams from anywhere play as long as there was a ball and a couple of hoops, it didn’t matter who was playing. One thing was certain — we never agreed on the officiating — I never saw a good call, and he never saw a bad one. But it always ended with a smile and a laugh. It was always in good fun.
I remember him calling me a few times on the phone with a question about an upcoming game or news about a local team.
Basketball was our common bond.
He had a smile and a laugh that would light up a gym. His grandson, Patrick gave him the nickname “Famous” Floyd Farley because he couldn’t go anywhere without running into someone he knew from his years as a basketball official.
We had a lot of great times after games at Pizza Hut in Bath listening to Coach Burke tell stories. If I close my eyes, I can still hear Farley laughing.
Shortly after Farley’s sudden death in 2020, a beautiful cat showed up on our doorstep. My girlfriend Jenna opened the door to go inside and the cat followed her inside. Five years later he’s still inside. I named him Floyd. And just like his namesake he’s a difference maker too. We swear he’s a therapy cat because he knows when one of us isn’t feeling well or needs a friend.
I’ve learned in life that we learn a lot about someone after they pass away. When I read an obituary for someone, I knew who passed away I learn a lot more about them.
Farley was no different.
I had been friends with him nearly 18 years when he passed away and I learned a few things I didn’t know.
I still watch a lot of basketball games but I’ve never been to the state final four without Farley being there and I Just don’t think it would be the same without him there.
Sadly, I never realized how big of an impact Farley had on me until he was gone. He was a good friend who I shared a lot of laughs with and watched a lot of basketball with.
This Saturday, I will proudly help honor and remember my friend with his family, friends and several officials from Board #156 in attendance. This year’s Hall of Fame Basketball Showcase at Wayland-Cohocton High School will be played in Memory of Floyd Farley.
Fittingly, it will be at a Basketball Showcase, where we’ll watch five basketball games.
As much as I love basketball, I will hate looking at the empty seat next to me where Floyd should be sitting.
So if you see me shaking my head on Saturday, it’s because I didn’t agree with a call and Famous Floyd Farley will be smiling as the game goes on because the referee is always right.
