It is with sadness that we pass on the news that Thrashers season ticket holder and reigning 7th Man award winner T.R. Benning has passed away at the age of 89. If his name isn’t familiar to you his face certainly should be. Mr. Benning and his wife Maria were the elderly couple featured on the Kiss Cam on a regular basis and their appearance always got a cheer from the crowd.
The Bennings have been a fixture at Thrashers games since the inaugural season in 1999 and have been season ticket holders since the day they went on sale. Mr. Benning was a decorated World War II veteran and an Atlanta commercial construction giant as one of the founders (along with his father) of the Benning Construction Company. He stormed the beaches of Normandy in 1944 and earned a Purple Heart, Silver Star and Bronze Star for valorous service. The Atlanta Business Chronicle has a piece on him here.
Here is the blog post from last April after the Bennings won the 7th Man Award. Make sure you scroll down to read comments from their children about how honored they were to be an inspiration to so many fans. T.R. will certainly be missed by those who knew him as well as thousands of people who never met him but who looked forward to seeing he and his wife at each Thrashers game nonetheless.
I’m so sad about this. They were just at the Rangers game, I believe. My prayers and thoughts go out to Maria and their family.
Thrashers’ games won’t be the same without Mr Benning…Always a joy to see them on the Kiss Cam…Praying for his family and of course Mrs. Benning.
This is so sad. I remember seeing him and his wife on the kiss cam every time I went to a Thrashers game. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He will be missed!
OK, first, did you guys really just post a link for tickets on a story like this. Very classless in my opinion. But I won’t get into that here…
Very sad. I looked forward to seeing these two at every game. May he rest in peace and condolences go out to his family.
The ticket link is unfortunate, but automatic. It shows up every time the word “tickets” is used.
This makes me very sad – they were the epitome of “Hockey Love”, to me.
Prayers and thoughts to Mrs. Benning and the rest of the family. Seeing them in good health and enjoying life together was something my wife and I looked forward to every game, they served as a sort of hope for what we strive to have for years to come.
This is just terrible news. They were such an inspiration.
What sad news. I always looked forward to seeing them on the kiss cam at every game. My prayers and thoughts are with the family.
So so sad. I hope the team has a chance to say something at the game tonight- they deserve it.
It’s a tragedy to lose such a great american who served our country, as well as a Blueland family member. I hope this proves to be some extra motivation for our Thrashers to have a stellar finish to this season!!
I just got home to the saddest news!!! They were such a sweet couple and the highlight of the kiss cam. You could just see how much they loved each other. My prayers go out to the family!
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I’m so sad to hear this – It just won’t be the same without him at the games. If I didn’t see the Bennings in CNN Center before the game, I always looked for them at the top of Section 114 to see if they were there. I didn’t know his story until today – what a remarkable man! He will be missed.
This is truly a sad day for Blueland. We should all pray for Mr. Benning’s family while they deal with the loss of a family member. America has lost a great hero today. Who else thinks that the Thrashers need to create a patch for their jerseys in memory of him…and maybe name the 7th Man Award after him?
Both are great ideas. I don’t know how long it would take to design and get a patch, but if it could be done before the end of the season, that would be awesome.
My condolences to the family. I will miss seeing Mr. Benning on the kiss cam and around the arena.
Great ideas NC87.
Very sad day indeed. I was unaware of Mr. Benning’s service to this nation during the war. Any man who has served our nation in uniform has always been a hero to me. However, those men who served in WWII, particularly those who charged the beaches on that day in 1944 are a special breed of hero. Godspeed sir, the men we left on those shores that day will welcome you home.
My condolences to the family. Like many others I will miss Mr. Benning on the kiss cam. It was easy to see their devotion to each other.
I hope the Thrashers’ organization recognizes Mr. & Mrs. Benning tonite with a moment of silence and rename the the 7th Man Award to the Benning Award.
My family was saddened to learn of Mr. Benning’s passing. Actions speak louder than words. Mr. and Mrs. Benning showed us everything that can be great about marraige: longevity, passion for life and dedication.
Our deepest condolences. A little something will be missing from Thrasher games in the future, but we’ll always remember his dedication and love for the game.
Tonight’s Kiss-Cam – just a picture of this couple.
I read the obit in the linked article…he landed at Normandy in ’44 and received a Purple Heart and the Silver and Bronze Stars.
Dear Blueland Family -
Thank you for all your kind comments and suggestions.
All of us here at Benning Construction Co are truly heartbroken over the loss of this remarkable man. People like TR simply define “The Greatest Generation”
Please keep the Benning family in your prayers as we move forward.
Mr Benning was a true “Southern Gentleman” and it was an honor to work for him the last 16 years. Reading all of the comments above just shows how he touched more lives than he will ever know. RIP Jr.
I had the pleasure of working for Mr. Benning for the past 11 years. He introduced me to the sport of hockey. I never knew how exciting and fun it could be. His enthusiam for the game was infectious. He truly loved the game! He wil be missed.
Sad news indeed. It was wonderful to see them so many times. Condolences to his family and all his loved ones. He will be missed.
This is terrible news and loss the Trasher family. My deepest sympathies to the Benning family.
Amazingly, Mrs. Benning is at the game tonight in her usual spot at the top of section 114. Some fans have stopped by to offer their condolences.
Wow, what an amazing man. My fiance and I always promise each other to love each other just like them, that one day we will be “that couple” on Kiss-Cam.
Mr. Benning you are a hero, and you will be missed greatly!
I have had the great pleasure to know Mr. Benning for the past 7 years. He was a wonderful man who will always have a place in my heart. I will truly miss him.
Until today I never knew his name. I always said “hello” to them on my way back from warm ups. They were very nice. I admired the way they kissed at an old age. The kiss cam will never be the same.
Mr. Benning was my Grand Uncle, my Grandfathers brother. Something most probably could imagine but is worth confirming… he was a wonderful, giving and loving man. My entire 32 years of life he had a constant presence. Not a week passed that I did not see him when I was a child. As I grew up I saw him on holidays and the occasional visit. He cared for not just his immediate family as some people unintentionally do, he cared for his entire family, immediate children as well as nieces, nephews and grand nephews. When I was told Friday morning of his passing, a large piece of my childhood died. For those who did not know him personally, he really and truly was a fantastic man and an American Hero.
Thank you all who have sent condolences and messages, just knowing he touched you all is a testament to his wonderful nature and personality.
To start, I would like to thank God for giving us the opportunity to meet and cherish the Benning family. In a day and age of shameless self promotion, the Bennings emulate the ideals we should all strive for, duty, honor, respect, and humility.
Their generation has endured hardship without asking for anything in return. If you haven’t seen the movie Saving Private Ryan, take a few hours out of your day to understand the definition of sacrifice and honor. Then ask yourself, would you have the fortitude to storm Utah and Omaha beaches at Normandy: Mr. Benning did.
Watching Mr. Benning continue to “date” his wife in his more distinguished years by taking her to Thrashers games, conveys a charm, elegance and chivalry our society has largely lost, while, at the same time, providing a goal for all of us to attain. His sense of duty to his wife was “on display” nearly every game. Even after Mrs. Benning was unable to walk into the arena on her own, Mr. Benning continued to bring her to the games, displaying a sense of chivalry lost on subsequent generations. So men, to honor Mr. Benning, take your wife out on a “date”, open the car door, open the restaurant door, and generally act like real men, not just today, but for the rest of your lives.
I would like to thank all of the Thrasher fans who took the time to write emails that resulted in the Bennings winning the 7th Man Award. In retrospect, this seems like the least we could have done, yet, in doing so, we performed “our duty” to honor such a magnificent couple.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Benning family, and as Thrasher fans, we know there is an extra angel looking out for everyone.