Tim's Journey
From delivering newspapers in Fort Lauderdale to co-founding a restaurant empire and winning five polo championships — told through the moments that mattered most.
Photos from the pages of Bloomin' Adventures · Pre-order the book →
84 photos · 12 chapters
The Early Years
1949.
The Gannon children.
The Gannon family, Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale News Carrier of the Month.
Childhood portrait.
High school graduation.
The Heatley Years
With Phil Heatley as young men.
With Johnny, Phil, and Jeff Heatley on the manure pile at Twin Farms.
Bud Heatley addressing his troops during World War Two.
Painting Bud Heatley's stables in El Paso with Phil.
Florence & Travel
Florence, 1969.
Villa Fabbricotti, Florence. Home to the Florida State study abroad program.
Crossing the Alps by motorcycle, May 1972.
With Mom at Piazza San Marco, Venice.
The Kitchen
With Chef Paul Bocuse, New Orleans.
Cooking jambalaya at the food trial for the 1984 World's Fair, which led to the chef role at Pete Fountain's Reunion Hall.
Stephen and Martin's, New Orleans.
The Bloomin' Onion
The Bloomin' Onion.
With Steve Harvey and a Bloomin' Onion.
Building Outback
On the cover of F&B magazine, November 1993.
The three Outback Steakhouse founders beneath a Foster's sign.
Inc. magazine: Entrepreneurs of the Year.
Bob Basham: 'He'll give you the shirt off his back.'
Chris Sullivan on the Bloomin' Onion and Outback's success.
F&B Magazine on the Bloomin' Onion story, November 1993.
The original Outback Steakhouse entrance.
The original founders of Outback Steakhouse. Tim Gannon, Chris Sullivan, Trudy Cooper, Bob Basham.
The original Outback Steakhouse.
The Polo Life
Riding Chiquita.
On horseback.
On a white horse.
Championships
Tim and Phil Heatley share a smile on the polo grounds.
A tough moment during a match.
Before winning the U.S. Open trophy.
The USPA Open trophy and its 103 championship medallions.
Fist bump on horseback after a play.
U.S. Open champions. Vale Aguilar, Memo Gracida, Mike Azzara, and Coach Joe Barry.
Christening the yacht.
Full backswing during a match.
With the Queen of Spain after winning the Silver Cup.
Chris Gannon, Alvaro Domecq Romero, and Tim Gannon on horseback in Spain.
Charging downfield.
With Phil, hoisting the Silver Cup in Spain.
The Silver Cup.
Trophy in hand.
Championship celebration after winning the Gold Cup.
Gold Cup action at Sotogrande, Spain.
Wearing number 1 against White Birch.
After a match in Wellington.
The Outback team between chukkers. Chris among the players.
Gold Cup celebration, Boca Raton.
Adolfo Cambiaso at full gallop.
Tommy Lee Jones, Lolo Castagnola, Adolfo Cambiaso in Outback jerseys.
Royalty
Before a match in England.
With Prince William, Jose Donoso, and Chris before a match at Sandhurst.
A bump with Prince Harry during a match.
Riding out before the crowd at Sandhurst.
A letter from Buckingham Palace. No stamp required.
With King Charles.
The silver cavalry spurs gifted to King Charles. He wore them at every match after.
A book inscribed to the Sandhurst Polo Club, signed by King Charles.
With King Charles and Carlos Gracida at Sandhurst.
A letter from King Charles on Highgrove House letterhead.
Charity match at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Prince William, Chris, and Jose Donoso.
Giving Back
Surprising Mom with a new car.
With Norman Brinker.
Family
The Gannon family. Pete, Maureen, Kathy, Judy, and Bethy.
The Gannon family.
Mom. She raised six children on her own.
A young Chris Gannon.
With Shannon.
With Shannon on the Ponte Vecchio, Florence.
With Blake.
Kathleen and Chris at Palm Beach Polo after a championship.
With Mom at a polo match in Wellington.
Chris
Chris Gannon is driving toward the ball.
On the sidelines with Chris.
Chris helping with riding boots before a match.
With Chris at the polo club.
Chris and his first cup win.
Chris in the Outback number 1 jersey.
With Chris. Both Ernst and Young Entrepreneurs of the Year.
With Chris, founder of Bolay.