Tony is originally from Orlando, FL; he attended Jackson Sr. High School in Miami, where he ran track and played running back in football. He was in the National Guard, stationed in Kentucky. He has three adult children, 30, 29, & 28. He has a son, who is a truck driver, and two daughters. One is studying law at Florida A&M, and the other is in med school at the University of Miami. Tony's wife died of AIDS several years ago.
He was living with his brother, who kicked him out of his home because Tony would not share his food stamps with him. He had just returned from Atlanta to attend his father's funeral when this occurred. He said that although he's now homeless, "It's better than when I was living with my brother. He drinks too much and his girlfriend is a prostitute. She would turn tricks in the house. I didn't want to be around that. So, now I'm out here."
His plan is to go to the Salvation Army to seek help, "and once I get back on my feet, I going to move with some family up in Atlanta."
In the meantime, he will spend the late afternoons in Bayfront Park. "I like to come here when it cools off to watch the boats and look at the water. It's very relaxing. It's nice."
