Even NFL players lose their wedding rings!Recently, I received a call from Michael in Montgomery, Texas, who had spent weeks searching for his missing wedding ring.
Michael has a large property with his own golf tee box and driving range. Before practicing his swing, he slipped his wedding ring into the pocket of his athletic shorts. After hitting a bucket of golf balls, he walked downrange to collect them and, on the way back, reached into that same pocket to toss several golf balls back toward the tee.
Unfortunately, somewhere during that process, his wedding ring came out with the golf balls and disappeared into the grass.
Like many people, Michael purchased a metal detector and spent days searching on his own. Because of the size of the property, I initially suggested he divide the area into search grids and continue looking. After another week without success, he called back and asked if I could help.
The following day, we met at his property and reviewed the events one more time. Rather than searching acres of ground, we focused on the areas where the ring was most likely to have fallen.
It didn’t take long before my detector gave a solid signal just outside the tee box.
About an inch beneath the surface was Michael’s wedding ring.
With the heavy rains we’ve experienced recently—and likely being stepped on during practice—the ring had worked its way beneath the surface, making it virtually impossible to see.
Then came the second surprise.
During our conversation, I learned that Michael was Michael Thomas, former Miami Dolphins safety (#31), who spent five seasons in the NFL and now serves as the Director of Player Affairs for the NFL Players Association (NFLPA).
It was a real pleasure meeting Michael and his wife. More importantly, it was an honor to return a wedding ring that means far more than its value in gold.
No matter who you are, losing something with sentimental value can happen in an instant.
If you’ve lost a wedding ring, class ring, jewelry, keys, or another valuable item, don’t give up. Professional equipment and a systematic search often make all the difference.
Follow our page to see more successful recoveries from across Texas, underwater recoveries, buried treasure searches, and behind-the-scenes stories.
No Comments »