43 key seconds

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It has been more than four years since Philip Lutzenkirchen, the former populist tight end at Lassiter High and Auburn, died in a single-car accident on a Georgia country road during an early morning of bad decisions.

Four years, three months and 25 days to be exact, that his family has been trying to make sense of the senseless.

As time passes and the sharp edges of that day inevitably wear away, Philip’s father, Mike Lutzenkirchen, has made it a mission to keep the pointed and painful lessons of his 23-year-old son’s death relevant.

So, cut to Monday and the Atlanta headquarters of the Arthur Blank Foundation. Another campaign had begun. This one aimed at combating the dangers of distracted and impaired driving, called 43 Key Seconds. Forty-three was Philip’s number.

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A daughter of Blank’s wife, Angela, had gone to school with Philip. Later meeting his parents, Blank learned more of the story. Immediately, his message to Mike and Mary Lutzenkirchen was: “It’s an incredible story and your passion is incredible and you have a great delivery. You can make a difference.”

Here was another platform for Philip’s father to make his very personal appeal for more safety and sanity behind the wheel.

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