I tell people when I was selected winner of the Elmer Ferguson Award to make it into the writers wing of the Hockey Hall of Fame, that Gordie Howe came to the luncheon to hear me make my speech.

He was there all right. But that was the year Mark was inducted into the Hall of Fame. And Gordie was there to honour Mickey Redmond, the former Red Wing who was the inductee as winner of the Foster Hewitt Award as broadcaster and was the other guy making his speech at the luncheon.

At the hotel Gordie talked with my son and would walk up to my wife, who had found herself briefly standing alone again, and start up a conversation.

Wayne Gretzky always maintained Gordie Howe was the greatest player in the history of hockey. He may have been the greatest guy.

Before he goes, we all should let him know.

-Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun on Gordie Howe. Read more from Jones on Gordie Howe.