Recently, my husband, Todd, and I headed to Columbia, Missouri, to watch the Missouri Tigers take on the Florida Gators, thanks to a pair of tickets up for grabs at the APRO silent auction. Todd is a University of Florida grad, so I wanted to surprise him with this gift, and I bid my heart out. The tickets were donated by John and Heather Cleek of Cleek’s Home Furnishings/Rentals & Sales, 41-year APRO members and longtime Missouri football fans.
A Winning Bid (Even Without Winning)
The funny thing is, I didn’t win. Patti Ludwinski of Jamison Bedding outbid me at the last minute. When I told John and Heather how sad I was, they said they had another pair of tickets, and we could join the fun if we donated, too. Every dollar raised at the auction, held at RTO World 2026 in West Palm Beach, goes to the APRO Charitable Foundation Scholarship Fund, so how could we say no?
We arrived in St. Louis late Friday night and made the drive to Columbia, the college town that’s home to the University of Missouri Tigers. The next day started bright and early with a tour of Cleek’s Home Furnishings, right in the middle of town. It was a treat to see the store up close, along with the home office where John and Heather run the business behind the scenes.
A Family Tradition Rooted in Mizzou
John – friends also call him Junior or “the Cleekster” – shared the history of Cleek’s, including its values and practices and, perhaps most importantly, its long tradition of posting football score predictions on the front of the flagship store.
The tradition started with Junior’s late grandfather, Clifton Elmo Cleek – known to Tigers fans as “Missouri Mo” – who began predicting Mizzou football games in 1962. An eternal optimist, he always picked a winner. After he was tragically killed in a small-plane crash in 1973, Junior’s dad, known as “Tiger Sr.,” took over the tradition. When his dad was diagnosed with ALS in 2020, the two began predicting scores together.
Tiger Sr. was honored on the field in November 2021 for his years of loyal support of the Tigers football program and to raise awareness of ALS. Junior proudly shared that the Tigers beat Florida in overtime that day. It was the last Mizzou game his dad attended before he passed away on March 16, 2022. Tiger Sr. truly sparked the family’s love of all things Mizzou.
Today, Junior’s weekly predictions are still posted on the front of the store, along with an article in the local newspaper. This week, Junior predicted Florida would lose, and he was right, though the final score was far more lopsided than he expected. Going into the game, plenty of people had picked the Gators to win, but the Tigers would prove them wrong.
We also saw the many awards the Cleeks have earned over the years from APRO, TRIB, and community organizations. John’s office reflects the family’s long history of service to the industry and the Columbia community. Before we left, Junior made sure we had some Cleek’s swag in hand. We’re especially excited about the pizza cutter!
Tailgating, Cleek’s Style
After the grand tour, it was time for some serious tailgating, Cleek’s style. We rolled into the lot outside the stadium and set up the tent, grill, food, chairs, and, of course, cornhole. We were deep in enemy territory in our Gators gear, but the Tigers fans were a friendly bunch. They were quick to share their predictions for the game, along with a few shots. The Cleeks are definitely local celebrities: friend after friend stopped by to greet them with smiles and hugs. It was also wonderful to spend time with Patti and her friend Michelle, who are die-hard Tigers fans (we still like them).
Junior and Heather laid out an amazing spread: the best pork loin sandwiches, steak kabobs, and cheesy potatoes we’ve ever had, plus next-level Chex Mix (we’ve been promised the recipes). We met the next generation of Cleeks, who are as delightful as their parents, and sampled margaritas from the MIZZOU Girls, who were sharing drinks with everyone. When Junior and Patti challenged us to cornhole, we accepted and beat them badly. Unfortunately, that was the only winning we did that day.
Junior started going to Mizzou football games when he was six years old and estimates he has attended 300 or more. “I have many fond memories with my dad, using his Mizzou RV to attend home games where we’d have an incredible tailgate, plus a few road games each year,” he said.
Heather estimates she has attended more than 150 games, most of them since she started dating Junior in 1993. Patti’s oldest son, Riley, attended Mizzou, so she typically goes to one or two games a year. This was our very first Mizzou game, and it was time to find our seats!
We entered Faurot Field feeling optimistic. After a 3–3 first quarter, though, the No. 25 Tigers took control and rolled to a 45–17 victory over the No. 8 Gators. Running back Jamal Roberts ran for 211 yards and three touchdowns. The fans could not have been more excited, and their energy was contagious.
By the second half, they had us on our feet giving high fives and all but deserting our own team. It was a great vibe. The band, the pyrotechnics, and the M-I-Z-Z-O-U chants are still haunting (maybe taunting) our dreams.
“The highlight of the game was having our friends from the rental industry there, who all donated to a great cause… and Mizzou beat the tar out of Florida!” Junior said.
Giving Back Runs in the Family
The Cleeks’ support for students goes well beyond the auction. “You can count on us to donate a game and tailgate experience again next season,” Junior said. “All three of our kids benefited from receiving APRO scholarships while attending college. Our family also donates a $3,000 scholarship each year in my dad’s name, and it was extra special that our office manager’s son won the scholarship this year. Anytime we can help a person achieve their goals, we will do our best.”
Heather added, “We are proud to be members of an organization that supports and values education.”
“I definitely plan to bid on this experience again, and I love that it goes toward the APRO scholarship fund and educating our youth,” added Patti. “Thank you to the generous Cleeks, whose hospitality was so heartwarming. I felt like part of the family.”
No trip to Columbia is complete without a stop at world-famous Shakespeare’s Pizza. We licked our wounds with pizza and a little more beer, consoling ourselves with the knowledge that it was all for a good cause. Best of all, we got to share an unforgettable adventure with the Cleeks and our new friends Patti and Michelle. That’s what the silent auction is all about: members giving generously, members bidding generously, and students benefiting. Thank you so much, Cleeks. We love you and your generous hearts!
Share Your Auction Story
Now it’s your turn to share your auction adventures! Did you win something at the APRO silent auction, such as a getaway, a dinner, or a one-of-a-kind experience? We’d love to hear about it.
Send us your stories and photos so we can share how the auction has brought joy to your life and thank the members who made it possible.
