By Barbara Palmgren
A phone call came one night at our home. It was my son’s best friend from Niceville High School. I was also his civics teacher and a fan of all the sports he played at Ruckel Junior High and Niceville High School. His voice was low and clear. I would have known it anywhere. It was Mickey Barto.
Mickey now lives in St. Petersburg, and I see him when I visit family in the area. He always comes to holiday parties, and I play golf with him as he harasses my sons and grandsons while they place bets on every hole.
Mickey asked if he could stay with my husband and me for a few days. He had been invited to attend a luncheon to honor his younger brother, Danton, who died due to complications from COVID-19 in 2021. Danton was only 50 years old.
I was absolutely thrilled to see him, and my husband, who is the chef in our household, immediately began preparing menus for dinner. Any chance to spoil one of our extended family members is always an opportunity we never miss.
Mickey asked if I would attend the luncheon with him. We walked together into the Emerald Coast Convention Center, where he was surrounded by old friends and his sister, Sara. There were two honorees that day inducted into the All Sports Association 2026 Hall of Fame. Danton was one, and so was Coach John Hicks, also from Niceville. I knew and admired Coach Hicks when I worked at Niceville High as a guidance counselor and International Baccalaureate coordinator. His record of success from 1999 to 2019 is remarkable. This was Niceville’s moment to be treasured, for sure.
Emcee Bernard Johnson of Florida Power & Light introduced people who knew and worked with Danton throughout his career. They spoke of his achievements in the many sports he played, with football being his first love — his record tackles, his professional football career, his coaching, and his compassion for others. His football jersey, No. 59, was retired by the Memphis State Tigers. His football jersey, No. 44, was retired by Niceville High. And now, this honor from the 57th Annual All Sports Association.
Someone came up to me and said they heard Mickey was as good an athlete as his brother. I smiled. I didn’t want to take anything away from Danton’s special day. Yes, Mickey earned numerous athletic awards at Ruckel and Niceville, playing on the state championship football team in 1988. To say the two brothers grew up learning, loving, and sharing their talents in the sporting world would be an understatement. The difference was that Danton carried his abilities beyond high school into college and professional sports. Danton had a passion for the game that could not be matched.
Danton attended Memphis State, where he was a four-year letterman and two-time Butkus Award nominee. He holds the school record for career total tackles (473). He won the All Sports Male Collegiate Award in 1994. After college, Danton played five years of professional football in the CFL and AFL. He then coached for 10 years as head coach of the Memphis Xplorers, leading the team to its first league championship. Taylor Morton, Rams senior personnel executive, spoke of Barto’s work as an NFL scout. Taylor talked about Danton’s toughness as a football player and his love of the game.
I watched Mickey listen to the stories, holding back tears. How do you measure the worth of a brother? There is no way. But Danton’s memory will not be forgotten in the county where he was loved. Danton will forever be enshrined on the Wall of Honor at the conference center, thanks to the All Sports Association.
With one last look at his brother’s photo on that wall, we walked from the luncheon. It was time to change from suit and tie to golf shirt and shorts and play a round with his extended family at Shalimar Pointe Golf Course.
