For Kenny Gardner, life has been a family album.
All about family tradition. All about family pride.
Each generation, from "old school" to Generation X, has added its presence and accomplishments to the family album.
"It really all started with my uncle, Vern. He was Utah All-American in 1949, and I was born in 1949," said Gardner, his eyes swelling with tears. "So, I never got to see him play. But growing up, I heard a lot of stories about him, and how good he was.
"Then, when I was fortunate to receive a scholarship to play at Utah, many, many Crimson Club members and Utah supporters and fans would tell me stories about uncle Vern. I very much cherish those memories."
Gardner said he learned many lessons from his family.
"All my cousins and I were so very fortunate to have all our uncles, DeLos, Vern, Darrell, Lincoln and my dad (Ken) to be so involved with all of us. The confidence and support I received from them always was and will be the most important part of my life."
At 52 years old, with a flowing white head of hair and maybe 20 pounds heavier than his best playing weight, Gardner knows his chapter in the family album needed a lot of space. He became a charter member of the State of Utah's Basketball Hall Of Fame in 1999.
"I don't think I have the words to tell you how much that has meant to my life," Gardner said. "It was such a great event. And a lot of my family was there to support me and cherish the memories of my accomplishments with me. That's a real sense of family pride for us."
Gardner's first basketball experiences came in Clearfield, where he led the Falcons to the Class A championship in 1967, defeating Hillcrest 73-67. It was the Falcons' only state basketball championship.
He earned Prep All-America, being selected to the Top Team by Coach & Athlete Magazine, while averaging 20.3 points and 11.5 rebounds per game during his three-year career.
Basketball wasn't his only sport. He was an all-state quarterback and first baseman.
"Sure, I always look back at what we accomplished at Clearfield High," Gardner said. "We weren't a very tall team, but because of coach Marcus Garrett, we all played so well together."
But that wasn't all Gardner accomplished for the family album. He didn't do badly in basketball playing for Jack Gardner and his Runnin' Utes from 1968 to 1971. Teaming with All-American Mike Newlin, Gardner started for three years and led the Western Athletic Conference in rebounding two of those years. He was All-WAC for two years.
He is listed at No. 18 for career scoring at Utah. He averaged 16.3 points per game and scored 1,279 points. And he is listed No. 5 among the top career Ute rebounders, with an 11.3 per game average.
"Actually, I think it was because of the family tradition, which was the reason why I continued to pursue my basketball endeavors at Utah," Gardner said. "At 6-foot-5, I was the smallest player to ever lead the WAC in rebounding.
"The thing you really appreciate over the years is the fact I was able to get a college degree and make great lifetime friends. That's what really counts in life, when you think about it."
Gardner, who has worked for Delta Air Lines for the past 23 years, played pro ball in France for six years and also at home the last year of the Utah Stars in December 1975.
His sons, Nate — who also played for Weber State coach Joe Cravens while he coached at Idaho University — and Josh both played prep basketball for East High. "It brought goose bumps to me, and the hair stood up on back of my neck watching them compete for East High. Those are rare moments in my life."
Gardner still has two young daughters, Bailey and Taylor, at home.
"I'm trying to get them interested in basketball," he said. "But right now, they are just interested in riding their scooters."
For them to get interested in basketball, it would be a great sense of Gardner family pride.
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