T.M.F. 

(Tank Mark Forman)

From Coach Allison:

Each year, I introduce the players to ‘TMF’. ‘TMF’ stands for ‘Tank Mark Forman’. Growing up I did not have a father. I did however, have several father type figures that I would latch onto for guidance. When I was 28, I was a young hot head coach working at Leavenworth High School, who believed he knew it all.  2 things special happened that year. 1. I met my wife! 2. Retired Lieutenant Colonel Mark Forman was hired onto the LV HS football staff. His passion for life and football immediately won me over. My wife and I became close friends with Mark and his wife Tish, spending a lot of our free time with their family. As many young couples find out, there is an adjustment to starting a new family. Mark was there for me on more than one occasion. As our families grew closer, Mark would begin traveling up to Omaha with my wife and I for our annual trip to the College World Series. He would adopt one of the teams playing at the games we would attend and join their fan base as their #1 fan. He was always the life of the room and party. In 2017, as I drove home from a summer HS tourney game, I received a phone call from one of our best mutual friends and he shared with me that Mark had died in a biking accident. Mark, who could never tell anyone no, was testing out motorized ten-speeds for the military on some back roads in Atchison County. The bike he was testing hit some gravel, fish tailed, and he rode over a small embankment where he lost control of his bike and wrecked. The wreck caused Mark a severe neck injury and he died almost instantly. As my wife will tell you, I am not a very emotional person. This news got me though. Mark had served 20 plus years in the military, been on the front lines in 3 different US wars, survived a helicopter crash and a Humvee roll over, so how could he be taken from us because of a biking accident? Regardless of the cause, I had lost my best friend, a brother, a father, a coach, and a true leader. I could count on him for anything. I know that several of you have someone like this in your life whether it be your actual father, a brother, grandfather, sister, mom, grandma, or just a best friend. If they are still in your life, then please take the time to let them know how much they mean to you. If they are not, then you understand my point of view and how important it is for me to share Marks legacy with you and the players.  

 

In remembrance of Mark - my wife, myself, and 7 other close friends of Marks created a memorial TMF scholarship fund for senior student athletes that plan to attend college. The past 8 years our scholarship board has distributed a total of 29 scholarships to 29 different seniors at Leavenworth High School. The funds for this scholarship are generated via donations, sponsorships, and a yearly dinner where we auction off prizes. If you would like to contribute to this scholarship fund please contact Coach Allison.

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

  

 

 

'Tank' Mark Forman Legacy
Retired Colonel Mark "Tank" Forman lost his life in a bike accident June 1, 2017.   On that day, the world lost a hero in every sense of the word.  A hero who made everyone he met just a little bit better, try just a little harder, and believe in the cause a little more firmly.  You couldn't be worried, anxious, or angry for very long when you were around him.  He had the uncanny ability to make anything that sucked, suck a little less, often a lot less.  It didn't take long for anyone that met him to realize that he lived large and had the personality to match!  He knew what was important in life and lived life to the fullest every day.  He was a role model of a dedicated husband and loving father.  Mark was an Infantry Army Officer for 30 years. He enjoyed family, friends, hunting, fishing, coaching football, and his Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The funds collected will go directyl to the Mark "Tank" Forman Scholarship Fund.  This scholarship will be eligible to student athletes planning to pursue secondary education through military, technical, junior college, university.

Thank you for your funding consideration, and I will leave you with words of wisdom from Mark to the LV Pioneers on a game night in 2010: 

"Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal.  Live this day as if it were your last.  The past is over and gone.  The future is not guaranteed... Let's Get R' DONE!!!

       -Coach Forman