Stephen Panus

Stephen Panus has been a publicist, sports agent, artist, attorney, sports marketing executive, and motivational speaker. He’s represented an NFL Pro Bowl player and Super Bowl champion, a multiple-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and a “Dancing with the Stars” champion, international star tennis players, and serves as president of The Jockey Club’s America’s Best Racing brand. Yet, the only title that’s ever mattered to him has been being a father to his two boys, Jake and style="margin-left:0px;">When his elder son, Jake, was tragically and suddenly killed as a passenger in a reckless car crash at the tender age of sixteen in the summer of 2020, Stephen’s life imploded. Seeking to both survive and move forward, he wrote “Walk On” to confront his daily agony and inspire a renewed and resilient faith in living and regaining style="margin-left:0px;">The most trusted, authoritative and influential voice in the publishing world, Kirkus Book Reviews, raves about "Walk On" proclaiming it to be "a raw, moving memoir that deftly explores grief and hope in equal measure . . . It is Panus’ unique and sometimes poetic turns of phrase, however, that truly bring Jake’s story to life . . . The author’s acknowledgment that grief is an “unwelcome topic in our society” makes his willingness to tackle it head-on even more style="margin-left:0px;">"Walk On" is an inspiring read of turning pain into purpose, transcending grief, and has received praise from the likes of: Hall of Fame radio personality Jim Rome; ESPN's and best-selling author Marty Smith; Fox Sports' Lindsay Czarniak; NFL Network Insider Ian Rapport; President Emeritus of the University of South Carolina, Harris Pastides; NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" Kyle Brandt; Kenny Mayne; New York Times best-selling author, Joe Drape; author and sportswriter, Dana O'Neil; Fox Sports' Chris Fallica; ESPN's Lauren Sister; author, Ann Finkbeiner; and former ESPN Sportscaster host, Neil Everett, among others. Stephen and his wife, Kellie, live in Connecticut with their son, foster daughter and two