I met Mr. Tony Snow at the American Medical Association meeting in Washington, DC in 2008. He spoke to a large group of Physicians in DC. He spoke about his health and the state of healthcare and the presidential candidates that I found to be very entertaining.

At the conclusion of his presentation, I thought it would have been great to have taken a photo with him. I as sitting at the back of a large ballroom that was at lowest level of the hotel and I thought that I could not run to my hotel room quickly enough to retrieve my camera. I quickly got up and told my friend that I would return because I'm going to get my camera. I ran up two escalators and then to my room using the elevators to the 7th floor. All I could think of was that my camera battery was probably dead and I was wasting my time. I ran back to the large ballroom with my camera in hand and noticed Mr. Snow walking off the stage and was escorted out of the building through a side door and I thought he was gone forever.

I walked around the ballroom to try to find him. He was walking down a long dark hallway adjacent to the ballroom. I thought he would think of me as a stalker, but he was graciously willing to take a photo with me. I told him that we would be praying for him and his family. He said thank you and told me to take my name badge off for the photo.

Mr Snow was a great commentator and a dynamic public speaker. His family will be in our prayers.

When I sat back down in the ballroom, my friend said that I had just missed Tony Snow. I jokingly said, oh man, that's a bummer, then I showed him my camera with his photo. He asked how did you get that photo?

He will be missed!

Rob Melendez, MD
Rio Rancho, NM