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Always Answering the Bell

marshallhinsley — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:27:24 +0000

ENNIS, TX — Firefighters learn to respond instantly, even from a sound sleep, to the station’s alarm bell. Before a civilian could figure out what the noise is, the firefighters are wide awake, in their gear and halfway to the ladder truck. Retired with distinction from the Ennis Fire Department last June, Freddy Santos has been answering that bell, in one way or another, for more than 40 years.

First, Freddy has answered by making the most of opportunities as they arise. Beginning in October 1971 when, upon completing his U.S. Navy service, he pursued a new job. Having read of an opening for a Ennis sanitation operator, he met with Thelma Gooch, the city secretary at the time, to apply for the job. Instead, she sent him to see then Chief D.D. Day about an opening in the Fire Department. He still laughs about one of the chief’s first questions: whether Freddy was tolerant of smoke and fire. “I told him I was raised around smoke and fire,” Freddy smiled. “We had lived in several homes that used cast-iron, wood-burning stoves for cooking and heat. So there were days we would be run out of the house by smoke.”

He was hired on a trial basis that month as a hose man, gaining permanent status in June 1972. The following “Though I made many mistakes, the summer the fire department took over the ambulance service — before then, funeral homes provided the only emergency transportation to hospitals — and Freddy trained as one of Ennis’s very first Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). mark of a good

A second way Freddy has always answered the bell is to do his best work, whatever the job. As he did, he rose through the ranks to make captain in 1977. Then, in 1999, he was transferred from firefighting to the Building Code and Code Enforcement program, under the direction of Fire Marshal and Chief Building Inspector Buddy Markham, who just recently retired on December 31, 2011. “I will always believe fire prevention is the backbone of the fire department’s service,” he said. His promotion to the inspection department allowed him to channel his energy into this top priority.

While Freddy takes fire prevention and safety very seriously, he appreciates humor and knows the value of having fun. During his firehouse days, he enjoyed the inevitable ribbing and practical jokes as much as anyone. But the magnum opus of the prank repertoire happened to every brand-new recruit early in his probationary period.

All the other firefighters would get up in the small hours one morning, tiptoeing out of the bunkroom to avoid disturbing the recruit. Then they would climb into full firefighting gear and pull the ladder truck out. The elaborate preparations included smearing soot on their faces and jackets and having someone start washing down the truck as if they had been on a call. When the stage was set, a couple of the men would clatter into the bunkhouse, waking the recruit and then act surprised to see him still there. “Man, you missed a fire!” they would exclaim.

A broad smile creased Freddy’s face. “You should have seen the looks on their faces — they just knew they were going to lose their jobs. It was all in fun, of course. We never did any harm, and when the bell did ring — well, we were all business.” Later, of course, the victim would enthusiastically help pull the same prank on the next recruit.

Besides seizing opportunities and giving his best effort, Freddy answers the bell through his fierce loyalty and respect for his many colleagues, regardless of rank. He would rather tell you about their leadership and assistance over the years than talk about himself. In fact, since retirement, he said, “The most important thing I miss is the camaraderie of the people I worked with.”

He is grateful to every member of the inspection department and the firefighters, both paid and volunteer. Each one has had an impact on his life, especially Buddy, under whom he retired. “We worked side-by-side for over 35 years,” he said. “I would put Buddy up alongside any fire marshal and any building inspector in Texas, as far as knowledge of the job, and he would come out on top.” He smiled and added, “I’m not bragging — it’s just the truth.” Freddy also singles out the fire chiefs

who have led the fire department, from D.D. Day through Rocky Harber and Mike Seeley, to current Chief David Hopkins. All have contributed to its growth. Of Chief Hopkins, he said, “I’ve always thought of him as a visionary. When he first came [in 1986], he implemented the 9-1-1 system — the greatest thing that could have happened to Ennis.”

Freddy reserved his most eloquent praise for Lisa Laza, Ennis Fire Department’s secretary. “We served side-by-side for nearly 13 years, with never a bad word between us. She was my right arm, always willing to assist in every endeavor.”

The flip side of that loyalty and gratitude is Freddy’s humble sense of who he is. Despite the many awards and commendations he has received, including several Firefighter of the Year awards and the Medal of Valor, he refuses to take those accolades personally. Instead, he focuses on the department’s motto: “Protecting the Past … Preparing the Future.” He also points to those who made his success happen, high among them his wife, Mary. “I would not be the man I am today without her by my side,” he asserted.

But Freddy gives even more credit
to Jesus, whom he said he serves first. The Serenity Prayer plaque on his desk “reminded me daily of how much God loves us.” And he viewed his city vehicle as both pulpit and prayer station, praying each morning for wisdom and direction to do the best job possible.

The answer to that prayer was evident at his retirement celebration, where he received great honor and many gifts. One retirement gift sums up Freddy’s service: a miniature fire bell, now displayed in his curio cabinet, engraved “Always Answering the Bell.” Freddy still answers that bell, even in retirement, as he looks for new opportunities and challenges.

To young people considering a firefighting career, Freddy offers this advice: “Talk with some firefighters and make sure it’s the career you want.” As for himself, he is proud to have served. “Though I made many mistakes, the mark of a good person is not his downfall, but his rebound.

“It’s been a long journey,” he mused, then read the motto from the commemorative shadow box he also received at retirement. “It’s important to have an end to the journey … but it’s the journey that matters in the end.”

Written by Janice C. Johnson.

No Regrets

marshallhinsley — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:04:45 +0000

ENNIS, TX – Birthdays are very special days. First birthdays are filled with photos of cake- smeared faces, while gold bells and streamers mark a 50th birthday. But turning 100

is the ultimate milestone, just ask Richard Clark. “I’ll be 100 on January 3,” he said. “I’ve seen a few old people in my time, but I never imagined I would live to be 100.”

Living a long life means the memory bank within is filled to overflowing. Most of the memories are wonderful, but the ones that bring sadness are the losses. “I’ve had some losses in my life,” Richard admitted. “I lost my first wife to cancer in 1971 after 43 years and 3 months of marriage. I’ve also outlived two of my children.”

When he was just a tender boy at the age of 7, he promised his mom he’d never drink, smoke, gamble or curse, and he’s held strong to that promise for nearly 100 years. “I made that promise before my mom left to go to the hospital,” he remembered, also sharing that she never came home from that visit.

As Richard grew to adulthood, his father gave him advice he has also lived by. “He told me to never raise a hand to a woman, especially my wife,” Richard said.

“If you can’t say something good about someone, then it’s best to say nothing at all. I’ve never been a gossiper. I
was reared in a Christian home with Christian values.”

No doubt these Christian values have caused Richard to be the patient, caring, unselfishly giving husband he is to his second wife, Margie, for the past 37 years. Richard and Margie knew each other from childhood. Their families were entwined early on. Her father worked for his father on the family farm between Bristol and Palmer, Texas. “She was born on my dad’s farm in 1918, although her birth certificate was dated 1919,” Richard said with a smile. “That’s how I first knew her.”

After several years passed, Richard was reintroduced to Margie. One Saturday evening, Richard was at his sister’s beauty shop in Ennis. He was going to take his sister and brother-in-law out to eat. They asked
him to call Margie. He did, and she accepted. A week and two days later, Richard dated her a second time. That date took them to the Texas State Fair. “I wasn’t going to date her because of the seven-year age difference,” he confessed. “Three to four months later, the time came for us to decide if we were going to marry or just date and remain single.”

Richard asked her to marry him in October of 1974. He and Margie were married on January 17, 1975, as the New Year started. Both families took to one another almost immediately. “My kids loved her, and her kids loved me,” he said. “It was a good deal.”

Life was really good until the affects of Alzheimer’s started to rear its ugly head in 1990. “I had taken her to a department store,” Richard explained. “I waited outside on a bench for what seemed like a very long time. I went back in to look for her. When I found her, she said she was lost.”

Six years later, the disease had taken its toll. The only place in Richard’s memory that she didn’t become agitated or confused was at the couple’s church home, Tabernacle Baptist Church. In February 2005, Richard had to make a most difficult decision. “I admitted her to the I.O.O.F. Nursing Home,” Richard said. Just three short weeks after admittance, Margie got to where she no longer knew who Richard was. But, that didn’t stop him from being the husband his parents’ had reared him to be.

Richard and Margie could easily be compared to the couple in Nicholas Sparks’ book, The Notebook. He goes to visit Margie straight from church on Sundays, but tries his best to get to the nursing home between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. the rest of the week. “I feed her lunch, and then she goes right back to sleep,” he stated. “I sit with her until I know she’s really asleep. I love Margie dearly. We’ve had a good life. I don’t ever remember a cross word between us. Margie is my responsibility, but I do what I do because I care for her deeply. She also gives me a reason to get up in the morning.”

Richard is grateful for his good health. “I’m in good health. When I get up on my feet, I sometimes get unbalanced, but otherwise I’m doing pretty good.”

For the centenarian, pretty good really doesn’t begin to describe the man he still is today. As aforementioned, he still drives, but no highway driving since his 90th birthday. “I’ve been driving since I was 11,” he quipped. “I’ve never had a speeding ticket, and I’ve never had an accident, not even a fender bender.” The only ticket he did receive was for parking in a slot that was designated as “No Parking” at the time. “You weren’t allowed to park in that slot until after 1:00 p.m.,” he explained, stating it was after 1:00 p.m. when he parked the car. “My watch was right, but the police officer’s watch must have been slow.” Richard paid the $5 ticket the very same day.

Richard still resides in the same home he and Margie built in 1977. He still cleans the house and prepares most of his meals. He finds enjoyment in baking for Margie, as well as other people who have had the pleasure of enjoying his cakes and pies. “Cake without icing is much better than pie,” he said, referring to what he bakes for Margie. “They’re not so messy, and it’s easier to transport them to the nursing home.” His chocolate pie has been a good witnessing tool on more than one occasion.

Richard noted several changes over the past 100 years. “The advances in medicine are great,” he said, “and it’s very rare to find a gravel road. They’re all ‘hot- topped’ now.”

Each day for Richard begins with a drink of water, getting dressed and reading Scripture. “I have no regrets,” he confessed. “Living a godly life has been the one thing that’s helped me to live a long life. I’ve heard some really good preaching over the years, and I’ve learned from that good preaching.”

Richard has definitely set the bar high when it comes to living a complete and full life. “Living long means an awful lot of good memories,” Richard said. “Life isn’t over just because you age.”

Written by Sandra Strong.

Art and Soul

marshallhinsley — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:50:39 +0000

Ennis, TX — An Ennis Independent School District (ISD) after school class has become an inspiring exercise in community outreach. Thanks to a unique cooperation between the group and Ennis Regional Medical Center (ERMC), members of Leah Smith’s high school art club are learning to draw and sculpt while appreciating the value of serving others.

In an effort to break the monotony of hospital stays by adding interest to an otherwise static setting, Leah and her students contribute brightly- painted ceiling tiles to patients’ rooms in the newly renovated children’s wing at ERMC. Created personally by the students, each tile is an original design, depicting subjects from a brave Ennis lion to scenes based on themes that appeal to children. “With this program kids, who are lying sick in a hospital bed, can look up at a piece of art that brings [comfort],” Leah said. “And it’s touching to know we have been able to help them get through that experience.”

The idea to soothe a child through art may have been Leah’s, but the passion with which the project has been embraced comes right from the big hearts of the 25 students who make up the after hours club the teacher established last year. “These kids are in tune with their community and want to give something back,” Leah said. “I sounded them on the plan, and they went for it. But they have made this their mission. They love it because they know their work is benefitting someone.”

The concept of an art club with a charitable focus came about while Leah was teaching at Duncanville High School. A colleague suggested her students paint ceiling tiles to brighten up the school hallways, as well as children’s hospitals in the area. “The idea was so great, I knew I wanted to try it when I came to Ennis,” Leah explained. “I just jumped right in with it, and we had a good first group, and we have a good one again this year.”

In the past, ERMC has encouraged Ennis High’s art department by displaying students’ work in the facility, so there was little convincing necessary when Leah approached administration officials with a proposal to repeat the success her Duncanville class had enjoyed. “Ennis Regional was just then redoing its children’s wing with themed rooms,” she recounted, “and they asked if we could do tiles that would match the themes. I said ‘You bet!’”

The members of Leah’s afterschool club went to work at once, contributing three large 5×4 double tiles to three

patient rooms. “It was a hit,” she said, “and our club is now doing three more rooms at ERMC, so we’re really having a good time.”

Leah believes art is the perfect medium for impacting lives. “The idea of art is to spark imagination, to create a story,” Leah stressed. “Drawing people into the work on display, getting them to think about what the artist is saying; that’s the purpose of art.” She admits some art can be hard to interpret, but insists most forms of great art are direct in their affect, causing a distinct reaction in the viewer. She instructs her students to follow the route of inspiring feeling in their work, so observers can “get caught up in the emotion of it.”

To this end, Leah sees the objective of her club as two-fold: training young people to express themselves artistically and teaching them the importance of using their talent to better their community. “But really, they are teaching us now,” Leah points out. “They care more about giving back than I ever expected. They’re models for all of us to follow.” The group is led by four student board members: Alma Avila (president), Jessica Gonzalez (vice president), Mayra Chavez (secretary) and Nayely Soto (fundraising chairperson).

In addition to fostering her club members’ charitable spirit, Leah’s goal is to expose them to world class art and culture. Last year, students were treated to field trips to Fort Worth to the Modern Art Museum and the Kimbell Art Museum. “They loved it, and I had a lot of fun, too,” Leah recalled. “It was a blast.” She promises museum tours again this year for her art club members who will vote on which venues they attend.

Leah confesses that with education cutbacks due to today’s recessionary atmosphere, it’s difficult to make ends meet for the club. “Buying paint and other supplies can be really expensive,” she said, “so we have fundraisers to help us and, of course, we welcome sponsors.” One church organization has recently donated ceiling tiles for the club’s ERMC efforts, and Leah and her students are grateful for the largesse.

Last year, the club took on in-class projects to raise money, selling coffee mugs, coasters, CD and DVD cases, flags and other products bearing students’ artwork. Current fundraising plans involve a Gallery Night where Ennis High School art teachers will present their pupils’ work. “Our art club will also participate,” Leah said, “and hopefully we will sell some pieces.”

Leah is proud of her classes, both Art 101 students and her club, for being such agile learners. “Some are just curious to learn more about art, and others have a natural gift and a love for it,” she said. “But all are good.” In her regular class, it’s all business, but Leah is able to get to know the kids more in her art club, which is especially proactive and eager to tackle new projects from jewelry design to candle making, work the pupils are so pleased with on completion that they prefer to take them home instead of exhibit them in class. “I like to have their input in all that we do,” Leah said. “I want to know what they are most interested in and we go from there.”

Apparently, giving to others is what the club does best. Along with finishing the decorative ceiling tiles for ERMC’s children’s wing, members are now meeting twice a week to design Christmas and New Year’s cards for

local troops serving overseas. “The kids brought this up as something else they wanted to do to benefit the community,” Leah said. “They have a deep sense of responsibility and want to reach out to make a difference, particularly at this time of year.”

The club as a whole is motivated beyond Leah’s expectations, being more culturally and politically aware than students she’s taught at other schools. “The club members are not just in tune with what’s happening in the world,” Leah said, “they have a determination and energy that you can see, which tells you they’re headed for something big. They have such drive. It’s obvious they’re future leaders.”

Written by Randy Bigham.

Home of the Brave

marshallhinsley — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:18:37 +0000

ENNIS, TX — Veterans Memorial Park of Ennis has been open to the public since August, and many are enjoying its recreational amenities. The central feature of the property, a salute in brick and mortar to the men and women of America’s Armed Forces, remains under construction. “Hopefully we can finish it by Memorial Day next year,” said Larry Fincher, chairman of the committee overseeing the project of installing a permanent memorial to troops past and present. “But by then we will at least have completed Phase 1 of the effort.”

The initial stage involves laying the foundation for a circular promenade with a centerpiece devoted to veterans and surrounding sections dedicated to specific conflicts, from World War I to the current War on Terror. Larry stressed the main objective in funding the park’s namesake memorial is to pay homage to enlisted personnel en masse. “We want to honor all U.S. veterans,” he said, “whether they served in a war or not, whether dead or alive and whether they are from Ennis or not.”

Local American Legion Post Commander Dan Cook, whose organization is sponsoring the project, underscored the mission’s broad appeal when he interjected, “If you put the uniform on to serve your country, this is your memorial.”

Football and soccer fields, walking paths and a playground at the new park will accommodate leisure activities for years to come, but members of the building committee hope the memorial now underway will become the hub
of the facility and the heart of the community. “This will be a place for people to go to remember loved ones, a place for the town to gather for patriotic events,” Dan pointed out. Marylyn Wylie, fundraising coordinator for the memorial, agreed. “The park will be where Ennisites can come and be reminded of the sacrifices our soldiers have made,” she said. “We can’t forget what they have done for America, and we want these grounds to be an ongoing tribute to their courage that will last for generations.”

The idea for the local memorial was conceived during the 2008 campaign for Honor Flight of Ellis County, an Ennis- based branch of the national initiative to transport World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the monument erected there in their honor. The Ennis group was the first from Texas to attend, and has since served as a model for others around the state. “We discussed then that Ennis didn’t have a central spot to honor vets,” Dan said. “We have plaques at different locations, but no common meeting place.”

Public interest in a memorial grew considerably during the stop the Traveling Vietnam Wall made last year to the Bluebonnet City where it was erected on the site of the present park, a onetime Ennis Independent School District campus. Hosted by the American Veterans Traveling Tribute, the touring wall proved an emotional experience for citizens who crowded the area every day of its brief time in Ennis to pay their respects. “People were really moved,” Dan continued, “so we knew we had to do something. That’s when we got behind Larry to make a permanent memorial happen.”

Luck was on their side. When the city of Ennis purchased the land where the Vietnam Wall stood and began making plans for a park, Larry and his supporters asked the city council for permission to allocate part of the property for a military memorial. Council members voted unanimously to set aside a tract of land for that use and to name the facility Veterans Memorial Park of Ennis.

Work has been steady at the site since, and fundraisers from raffles and spaghetti dinners to an auction and 10-K run have netted large sums toward the effort to complete the memorial by May 2012. The committee is now appealing to corporate entities to aid in sponsoring the organization to ensure a timely finish to the veterans’ portion of the park. “We are making strides to build this memorial but we need help,” Larry admitted.

“The committee is offering business and industrial establishments a chance to partner with us and to lead us like a general would lead his troops.” There are five corporate packages available, ranging from increments of $500 to $10,000, and all contributors at these levels will be duly recognized. The strained economy has put a dent in donations, however, and committee members are urging citizens to contribute even small amounts.

“We know times are tough,” Marylyn acknowledged, “but we have faith in Ennis’ hometown spirit and know it will pull us through so we can make this park all that it should be for our vets.”

Larry added that those unable to make sizeable donations can give $5 or $10 toward buying a flagpole, a tree or a bronze service seal for the monuments. “They say every little bit counts,” Larry remarked, “and it does.”

The most personal aspect of the forthcoming memorial is creating pathways composed of brick pavers engraved with the names of servicemen and women from all branches of the Armed Forces and from all parts of the country. This feature is one of the most popular ways locals are contributing to the memorial. Each individual paver, engraved by Giles Monuments, costs $125 and will be placed at the entrance and on other walkways inside the esplanade representing fields of service or wars. “Every U.S. vet is eligible for an engraved paver,” Larry noted, “whether they are presently serving or have passed away. They can be from here or anywhere else. We already have bricks engraved with names of vets from Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Georgia.”

In addition to soliciting monetary donations, the Veterans Memorial Committee encourages increased involvement within the organization from Ennis and other Ellis County residents. “We would love to welcome more people to our meetings and to serve on subcommittees,” Marylyn said. “I love this little town and want to share the pride of having something so special right here to honor our heroes.”

Larry concurred. “I grew up here so this means a lot to me and it will mean a lot to all of us,” he stated. He believes the best thing about the memorial is how it will serve as a great educational tool. Kids playing in the park, who might not know much about America’s patriotic past, can learn about it in a setting befitting the sacrifices made to preserve national freedom.

“I can’t wait to celebrate our first Memorial Day on the site,” Dan enthused. “Like the Vietnam Wall, it’s going to take people’s breath away.”

Written by Randy Bigham.

Editor’s Note: For more information go to www.veteransmemorialennis.com.

Modern Day Drs. Dolittle

marshallhinsley — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:22:39 +0000

ENNIS, TX – Life for Norman and Sandra Williams is anything but dull. If they aren’t busying themselves doing something for others, they don’t feel as if they are really living. While some individuals are adopting children in need or opening their homes to foster children, Norman and Sandra are offering a “forever home” for stray animals in need. “Living out here on Highway 34 makes it real easy to adopt all the strays that come along,” Sandra said, as Norman just smiled in agreement. “I remember one time when someone left a baby kitten in a cup in our mailbox.”

“The strays just seem to gravitate to our home,” Norman added.

Norman and Sandra were destined to be “modern day Drs. Dolittle” they’ve become since moving to Ennis on July 4, 2004. Their love for animals was strong long before they ever met and married. Norman grew up in Italy, Texas, while Sandra’s early years were spent in West Texas. “Some people are born animal lovers,” Norman stated, “while others learn from seeing. I learned from my dad.”

Sandra was reared in the city, so there were never any animals in the house. First grade was a year she still vividly recalls. “I got my first dog that year,” she confessed. “He was a Shepherd named Rex. I’ve
had so many more since then. I really do believe I was destined to be an animal caretaker and caregiver. They do require so much work, but it’s good work.”

Norman is a bailiff in Dallas County, while Sandra works in the office of the Attorney General. They meet lots of people in their lines of work, and they hear so many stories, too. Norman was intrigued with one story in particular about a trio they now call the three amigos. The heartwarming tale began outside a wedding chapel in Garland. A Great Dane named Judy and a goat named Minnelli were spotted wandering around, obviously lost. Come to find out, Judy had escaped from her owners, and Minnelli just followed along. A call was made to Eastlake Animal Hospital in North Dallas. They quickly came and rescued the lost pair.

Somehow Dallas County officials found out about the goat, and that’s when everyone concerned realized that Judy and Minnelli were “joined at the hip” so to speak. “A goat is considered livestock, so she had to be quarantined at a different location, far away from Judy,” Sandra explained. “When they were separated, the dog barked and the goat bleated.”

Minnelli was finally reunited with Judy at Eastlake after 10 long days. During this 10-day separation period, it seemed as if everyone was looking for the animals’ owners. They were having no luck at
all. After several media outlets carried the story, Norman felt the need to do something more than just talk about the pair. “The first thing I did was make a phone call to Sandra,” Norman said.

In July of 2010, almost immediately following her answer in the affirmative, the couple began what they thought would be a fairly easy adoption process. “Boy, were we mistaken,” Sandra said.

Since the story had been publicized on a national level, Eastlake had to make sure the duo would go to the best home. Scads of paperwork was filled out and retuned in July, and Norman and Sandra began the waiting game. As they followed the ongoing story on the Internet, they learned about Lucky, the three-legged Labrador Retriever. “When the owners saw the other two animals on television,” Norman stated, “they decided to drop Lucky off at Eastlake, too.”

“What started as two,” Sandra said, “quickly became three.”

Finally in November after waiting what seemed like forever, staff from Eastlake called the couple and made plans for a home visit. “They had gone through hundreds of applications from people who wanted to adopt these guys,” Sandra explained. “We were one of the top five being considered.”

Once Eastlake staffers completed their visit, they told Norman and Sandra they would get back to them at a later date, because they still had several other homes to visit before making their final decision. “They left here at 3:00 p.m.,” Norman said, “and called back that same day around 6:00 p.m.”

The following Sunday, Eastlake held an adoption fair, where Norman, Sandra, Judy, Minnelli and Lucky finally met in person. National Geographic magazine had been following the story from
the very beginning, so it made perfect sense to have them present during this first meeting. In fact, the magazine interviewed Norman and Sandra at this same time.

Thanksgiving was only two short weeks away, so Norman and Sandra didn’t pick up their three new family members until the day following the holiday. “We waited to pick them up,” Sandra confessed, “because we didn’t want them to be all alone while we were with family in Amarillo.”

Needless to say, the “going away party” at Eastlake was second to none. The trailer the couple used to load Minnelli was aptly named the Mayflower, after a horse they used to have. The two dogs were loaded in the back seat of the pickup truck. “We still refer to the trip as the maiden voyage of the Mayflower,” Sandra said, with great emotion.

The three amigos came home to a small house of their very own, equipped with heat and air conditioning. Norman and Sandra gave the trio the forever home they deserved — a place where they could heal and be together for the rest of their days. As Judy recuperated from her heart worm treatments, Minnelli regained weight, and Lucky’s coat grew back thick and blonde. “Their journey was complete. They had come home,” Sandra said, “and they knew it.”

“Animals have distinct personalities, traits, wants and needs,” Norman explained when asked why they do what they do. “They are very much like children that never really grow up.”

“They needed someone to love and care for them in a really bad way,” Sandra added. “We’re kind of like Noah’s Ark out here. We’re just waiting on the flood.”

Adopting and giving stray animals a home is just what Norman and Sandra do. This is evident with the other dogs, cats, ducks and chickens that call their modest abode on Highway 34 home. While it is rewarding and heartwarming, it can also be bittersweet and heartbreaking at the same time. The Williams know just how heartbreaking any loss can be. They experienced it firsthand when Judy passed in July from the residual effects of her battle with heartworms. “The animals are the story,” Sandra said with a tearful voice. “We’re merely the guardians. It’s just who we are.”

Written by Sandra Strong.

Menu Madness

marshallhinsley — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:12:42 +0000

ENNIS, TX – What started as a dare in the fall of 1999 quickly turned into something Ennis Lions fans look forward to year after year. Gary Macalik and his dad, Joe Ben, found a unique way to support the Ennis Lions during football season. They don’t use poster board and crepe paper streamers to cheer their team to victory. Their special mode of spirit takes a parking spot at the H-E-B grocery store, a back windshield, some white shoe polish and a menu fit for a den of hungry lions. “I can’t really remember exactly how it all began, but someone dared us to write something on the car window,” Gary said with a smile, “We had so much feedback from people that first year that we continue what has become somewhat of a tradition here in E-town.”

With all this school spirit, you might think Gary, and Joe Ben for that matter, had a long history of their own playing football for the Ennis Lions. That would be an untrue assumption. Joe Ben never played, and Gary only suited up for a single season. But Gary’s memories of the first game he attended with his father are still vivid. As he reminisces, the excitement he felt comes flooding back. “We saw someone really special that night,” he said. “He was a running back and kick returner named Stanley Robinson. He was electric. Every time he touched the ball, we held our breath because we knew something magical was about to happen.”

A few years later when Gary was in the seventh grade, he went out for the football team. This was his one and only season of play. “I soon found out that 120 pounds and slow feet would not be
a winning combination,” Gary admitted. “That was the only year I actually suited up to play.” One might think this alone would squelch any football spirit, but it made no difference to Gary and Joe Ben. They continued to go to as many home games as they could. Memories of Gary’s freshman year at Ennis High School (EHS) came rushing back. “It was 1975,” he stated. “Ennis won the Class 3A title in a game against Cuero.”

As time marched on, Gary graduated, married Valerie and had a family of his own. He and Joe Ben continued to make the games as often as they could. In 1999, Gary’s son decided to go out for the football team as a seventh grader. “Things really had changed since I was in the seventh grade,” Gary said. Over 100 young men tried out for the squad, which had grown to include three teams – the maroon, the white and the gray. They dominated their opponents, so much so that the maroon and white teams took district honors. “This was the year Dad and I started going to away games, too,” Gary said. “It was also the year Coach Sam Harrell got the ‘E-train’ going.”

Coach Harrell took the team to the playoffs that year, eventually losing to the 1999 Champions from Stephenville. At the beginning of this playoff round the dare was levied. “I was dared to begin the Lions’ menu,” he laughed, “and it wasn’t long before I had a cult-like following. I had friends, fellow H-E-B employees, family and E-town fans asking what was going to be on the menu next.” Gary admits that some of his menu ideas came from Paula Deen cookbooks or from the Food Network.

Tasteful and fun menu items over the years have included every school mascot the Lions have ever played. Looking back, Gary cannot recall a week of play that a menu wasn’t posted. Before the first game, the menu will read, “E-Town Football, We Believe.” During the months of play, menus will include Panther Puddin’, Smoked Tiger, Cougar Burgers, Tiger Kolbase and the ever- popular Indian Pot Pie. When the season comes to a close, the back windshield simply reads, “E-Town Football, We Thank You.”

E-Town football fans like Gary and Joe Ben believe in their football team. From 1999 on, fans have planned the Thanksgiving holiday, last minute Christmas shopping and family birthdays around the Ennis Lions’ playoff schedule. Once Coach Harrell went to a spread offense in 2000, the team started mauling their competition. Quarterbacks Tate Wallis and Graham Harrell and receivers B.J. Jones and Vincent Marshall punched the excitement of the game up several notches during their tenure with the team. “We were winning playoff games every year in Texas Stadium, which we called Lions Stadium North,” Gary remembered. “I think our Lions won more games in that stadium than the Cowboys did.”

As Gary and Joe Ben started attending more games, they took on a sidekick, the one they like to refer to as the “bus driver.” Joe Ben stated, “Judge Lee Johnson started catching as many games as he could with us. I think I remind Lee of his father. That might be why the three of us have so much fun.”

“Lee liked the idea that no matter where we went, someone knew my dad,” Gary added. “Lee got a real kick out of that.”

Gary and Joe Ben aren’t the only two football fans in the family. They just happen to be the two who have kept the dare going all these years. Gary has two sisters who also have a great deal of Lion pride and school spirit. Sharon’s two girls were always cheerleaders, while his younger sister, Kathy, has a son who is playing football as a ninth grader this year. “When the girls were in school, it was a family event,” Sharon said. “It was nice to have everyone there together.” All these many years later, it’s still a time of father-and-son bonding for Gary and Joe Ben. “When the kids were little, Joe Ben was too busy to go to football games on a regular basis,” Helen, Joe Ben’s wife of 54 years, said. “Now that they have time to go, it’s brought them closer together.”

This closeness is what prompted Sharon to make a call. She wanted to share the story of this bond between a father and his son that’s not only special, but heartwarming. All the dare of a Lions’ menu did was add spice to an already close relationship. “Gary really is a football fan,” Sharon confessed. “He loves the Ennis Lions and the Washington Red Skins equally.”

Gary and Joe Ben have hearts for football. They love kickoff, when everyone throws the “L” sign in support of their team, and Gary’s heard yelling, “Come get some.” They love watching the team win, and they’ve also been to the few games when the team has had to eat some “humble pie.” Joe Ben laughingly stated, “We don’t hunt or fish. Football is the factor that has brought us closer together as father and son.”

Written by Sandra Strong.

Heart to Art

marshallhinsley — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 22:03:23 +0000

ENNIS, TX – Local actress, Fran Jeffery Anderson, has turned her dreams of a community that cherishes its heritage into dramatic reality. Based on her belief that the performing arts can educate, as well as entertain, the unique theatrical troupe she has founded is enjoying wide acclaim. Targeting a black audience with black themes, Inspiration, Inc. has become inspiration central for the Ennis-based entertainer whose passion for music and drama defines her life. “We as African-American people have such a rich history to celebrate,” Fran said. “The goal of Inspiration, Inc. is to educate our community about that history through the arts, especially theater.”

The high-spirited director is quick to admit her incentive for forming the group is as personal as it is altruistic. “It stems from my upbringing,” she said. “I was an Army brat and lived in France when I was little. I didn’t know my own heritage and discovering it was a big deal. That’s why I do black theater. It comes from the heart.”

Born in Louisiana, Fran was an infant when her parents moved to a military base near Paris. Five years later the family returned to the States, taking up residence in Fort Worth, where Fran was reared. “It was a culture shock,” she said. “I wanted to know who I was, and in my teens I even went a little wild, wearing an Afro and a pick. I was trying to find my blackness.” Fran’s search led her to Ennis in 1998 as a regional organizer for the Boys & Girls Club, the local affiliate for which she eventually served as executive director. “I loved travelling and meeting people,” she said of her job as roving trainer for the club’s facilities in Fort Worth, Arlington and Amarillo. “But I prayed for a set position so my children’s education wouldn’t be interrupted.” Fran also wished for an outlet for her first love — performing. She found both in Ennis, the Bluebonnet City.

Of her tenure with the Boys & Girls Club of Ennis she said she “loved every minute of it,” adding that her projects for local youth were “well-received” from every quarter – from the Ennis Independent School District to the Lions Club. Fran made her mark creatively, too, by bringing artistic programming to the Boys & Girls Club, and to the public at large, as a member of the Ennis Arts Commission, to which she was appointed president in 2001. Meanwhile, she was becoming known citywide for her gospel singing and motivational speaking.

Although she left the Boys & Girls Club for Texas Discovery Gardens, Fran remained active in church circles and the artistic set surrounding the Ennis Public Theatre, where she appeared in two successful plays, Little Shop of Horrors in 2007 and Proposals the following year. “I love the Ennis Public Theatre,” she said. “Bill and Suzanne Rhoten and the whole gang there are great.”

Inspired by Bill, who became a mentor for the actress, Fran said she decided to branch out on her own to establish a family-friendly, Christian theater group focusing on the black community. She said she had long noted “a need among African-Americans for the arts.” Yet material was seldom geared to the black experience, and she wanted to fill the gap. “I realized there was a lot of talent here in Ennis that wasn’t being used,” Fran explained, “and I thought that with the right vehicles, blacks and other minorities, who haven’t been involved in local theater, could take part.”

By forming Inspiration, Inc. in 2009, Fran has accomplished her goal of providing positive, faith-based entertainment aimed primarily toward African-Americans. Over the last two seasons the group has sponsored youth acting workshops, a summer theater camp and open mike nights at venues ranging from the Ennis Public Library to the First United Methodist Church. Students learn monologue delivery, hear guest lectures by professional actors and put their training to the test by appearing in select vehicles approved by a board of directors. One of the most popular productions staged by Inspiration, Inc. was a benefit for Meals on Wheels with a World War II era theme, Black Nativity, which drew 200 people to Baylor Baptist Church. Also, the musical Crowns, was performed to overflow crowds in Dallas, Duncanville, Waxahachie and Arlington. “I loved Crowns,” said one fan, Doris Collins of Ferris. “It was heartwarming.”

Crowns, written by Dallas playwright, Regina Taylor, tells the story of a New York City teen, embraced by her Southern grandmother and her hat- wearing church friends. The musical, which features traditional gospel tunes like “His Eye is on the Sparrow” and colorful African costumes, was a bigger hit than Fran expected. “Crowns wasn’t scheduled for this season,” she said. “But we have had so many requests for it that we brought it back.” The play was last presented on the campus of The University of Texas at Arlington where Fran is studying theater administration.

Fran is proud of the success Inspiration, Inc. has enjoyed and has high hopes for future seasons. She credits her actors, musicians and advisers – Sandra Struggs, Markus Sallie, Kellie Kovar
and Sue Powell — for contributing to its growth. But board member, Sandra Wakefield, acknowledges Fran as the real force behind the scenes. “Fran is so affirming,” she said. “She is a great encourager. She wants everyone to shine.”

Fran isn’t one to rest on her considerable laurels. “There’s still work to do to get us where we need to be,” she confessed. “We don’t have a regular venue, so that’s a challenge. Right now we put on our shows anywhere we can find a spot.”

Her family is also proud of the work she has done to promote black theater. Fran has four children, two of whom live in Fort Worth, and two who live with her in her Ennis home, where she displays her collection of African-American art

and some of the “church lady” hats
worn by her cast in Crowns. Fran’s son, Joe, whom she singles out as the “techie” who helps her with sound systems and computers, is attending classes at Navarro College.

Forthcoming Inspiration, Inc. productions include The Gospel at Colonus. “It’s set in a black Pentecostal church,” Fran enthused, “and the music is awesome.” A Raisin in the Sun, the Lorraine Hansberry classic, is in the planning phase, too, qualifying that it won’t matter how fine the vehicle is without community interest and aid.

“Our goal is to encourage more black people to support and participate in the arts,” Fran said. “You can join Inspiration, Inc. by performing, donating money or time and helping out with costumes or props. There is a place for you in theater. It’s right here in Ennis!”

Written by Randy Bigham.

Celebrate Safely

marshallhinsley — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 04:30:01 +0000

ENNIS, TX — Fireworks are loud, beautiful and exciting. They are a part of many Independence Day celebrations, and it is very important to remember that as beautiful and amazing as fireworks are, they can also be extremely dangerous. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were two deaths and nearly 9,000 emergency room visits related to firework injuries in 2009. Burns and lacerations to the hands and face were the most commonly reported injuries with more than one-half of the injuries related to sparklers, firecrackers and/or bottle rockets.

Safety Tips to Remember:

• Before celebrating with fireworks, make certain it is legal to use them in your area.
• Never allow children to use fireworks without strict adult supervision.
• Do not give fireworks to small children. Even sparklers can cause serious burns. Many people do not realize that sparklers burn at an approximate temperature of 2,000 degrees and remain very hot for several minutes after burning out.
• Never attempt to make your own fireworks.
• Always read and follow the label directions, warnings and instructions.
• Never light a firework of any kind indoors. Only use fireworks outdoors and on a flat, smooth surface away from all buildings and away from dry leaves, trees or grass.
• Never lean over fireworks when lighting them or hold them when
lighting them.
• Never try to relight a firework that failed to go off.
• Tie your hair back, wear safety goggles or safety glasses and do not
wear loose-fitting clothing that could catch fire easily.
• Make certain that other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.
• Never throw fireworks at another person, vehicle or animal.
• Do not set fireworks off in glass or metal containers.
• Keep a bucket of water or water hose close by in case of fire.
• Be courteous of your neighbors and pets. Fireworks make a great deal of noise.

After having a safe and fun holiday with fireworks, dispose of them properly by soaking them thoroughly with water to prevent a trash or grass fire.

Thank you to the military and their families for allowing us to celebrate Independence Day and enjoy our freedom each and every day.

Written by Kim Loflin, RN, CEN, Trauma Coordinator Ennis Regional Medical Center

A Man Can Dream

marshallhinsley — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 21:52:39 +0000

ENNIS, TX – Henry Odlozil has always loved airplanes. Born and reared in Ennis, he remembers spending lots of his spare time building model airplanes and dreaming of the day when he would be the pilot of his own aircraft. In a young man’s mind it may have seemed like forever, when in reality it was only a few short years before Henry began to actually start living his dream. “It was 1947, and I wasn’t even out of high school yet,” Henry said. “My dad had to sign papers so I could get my pilot’slicense.” He signed the necessary papers to allow Henry’s dream to take flight, but Henry’s father never got close to the planes or the airport.

Thirty hours and one year later, Henry took his first solo flight, and what a flight it was. Henry learned to fly in a Piper J-3 Cub, a plane where the pilot takes the backseat and flies the plane using a “stick,” while the passenger, or instructor in this case, rode in the front seat. “We were flying, making touch and goes,” Henry said, explaining that touch and goes are when the plane lightly touches the ground and then quickly lifts to go back up again. After a few of these, the instructor got out and walked back to the hangar, allowing Henry to take to the skies of Ellis County by himself. “I said my prayers and went,” he smiled. “I had to make three takeoffs and three landings while the instructor watched and graded me.”

As the teenager grew into adulthood, he met and married Mary Jane Slovak, his wife of 62 years, who was also reared nearby in the still-rural community of Bardwell. The two married on a Tuesday in February 1949, just a couple months following Henry’s proposal on Christmas Eve 1948. “It was very much a surprise,” Mary Jane added about the Christmas proposal. And luckily for Henry, Mary Jane wasn’t scared of flying, or Henry’s other hobby — riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles. They were living and working in Dallas as a young married couple, building their family to include five children — Catherine Hefner, Henry Odlozil Jr., Janice Kirk, Cynthia Odlozil and Mary Minter, now grown with families of their own. Mary smiles as she recalls a story that never gets old in the retelling. “It was the early 1950s,” Mary said. “Dad would pick Mom up from work on his Harley. She would be in a dress or a skirt, but she’d hop on the back and ride. The family stills laughs about this story all the time.”

During this time of early marriage, Henry continued to fly. He flew planes belonging to others for enjoyment, while still dreaming of the day when he would have the title to a plane of his own. In 1964, the couple made plans to come back home, buying a 40-acre farm in Bardwell, still referred to today as the Flying O Farm. They spent their first night in the home as a family a year later, once the updates and remodeling had been completed.

Before long, Henry had another thought that would lead him one step closer to realizing his dream. Even though most of the acreage was planted in cotton and home for cattle, Henry decided a landing strip would be a good idea. “I remember the ‘strip party’ we had,” Mary stated. “We sodded 3,400 feet of Bermuda to build the landing strip that put the farm on the map.” To this day, the Flying O Farm is still listed as an airstrip on sectional and aviation maps. Soon after the strip was complete and a hangar was constructed, Henry was able to buy the plane of his dreams, a 1956 Champion 7EC. “This was a two-seater,” Henry reminisced. “It flew with a stick, and I owned it outright.” Henry also partnered with three other men on the purchase of a second plane that held four passengers. This second plane was used mostly for business, while the Champion provided many hours of family fun.

Airplane memories include 14 consecutive years of Flying O Farm fly-ins. As members of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 168, no fewer than 32 planes would land in Bardwell on any given year. Once everyone was on the ground, the stories of the year gone by would begin. Even after Henry’s health prompted him to give up flying his plane, the fly-ins continued until September 1999.

The Odlozil children and grandchildren didn’t realize what a unique childhood they had until they became adults and had children of their own. “As a kid I thought we were abused,” Mary said, laughing now at how absurd that sounds. “We would leave for Mass at St. John’s Catholic Church by 6:00 a.m., just so we could hurry home to fly 20 minutes to Red Bird Airport to

have a burger for lunch and then fly 20 minutes back home. Now I know how unique my childhood really was.”

Dianna Glenn, Mary’s daughter, has fond memories of her time in the air with her Grandpa, as do all the grandchildren. Her first flight is best retold by Henry.

“Dianna was sitting in her mother’s lap when I took off,” he said. “She got so excited that she began to scream and squeal. I think maybe because the strip was so bumpy. Once the plane lifted off, she calmed down. She loved looking around.”

“Yes, I still remember how Lake Bardwell looks from the air,” Dianna confessed. “To see things above with the eyes of a child, to be able to point things out was special.” And just like her mom before her, Dianna thought all kids went flying, but as an adult she realized this wasn’t true. “There’s a much different perspective from above,” Mary added.

If memory serves Mary Jane correctly, all of the couple’s nine grandchildren were able to go up with their Grandpa before he landed the plane for good due to health issues. The five, soon to be seven, great-grandchildren are experiencing flight with their Great- grandpa through the stories he still loves to share. After four generations, Henry is still keeping his dream alive, albeit one- story-at-a-time.

Has Henry led a colorful life? You can bet he has. His life has been filled with airplanes, motorcycles and the Merchant Marines. His favorite memories by far still are found in his airplanes and the times he spent behind the stick. He still has the desire to go up one more time. “In his dreams,” Mary Jane stated, “in his dreams.” Well, a man can dream, can’t he?

Written by Sandra Strong.

Living in the Moment

marshallhinsley — Mon, 30 May 2011 05:21:42 +0000

ENNIS, TX — Last year around this same time, Sam and Kathy Harrell and Steve and Suzie Betik had just returned from from their first trip to Hospital Punta Pacifica, a John Hopkins’ affiliate, in Panama City, Panama. While there, Sam and Steve underwent their first round of stem cell treatments to help slow down and hopefully reverse the adverse effects of multiple sclerosis (MS),
a debilitating muscle and nerve disease both men have suffered with for years. Just a few weeks after returning home, they began to see and feel improvement in specific areas; the most important for both men being balance.

Suzie, Steve and their 5-month-old granddaughter, Aniston

Understanding what new stem cells do in relation to damaged areas in the brain and spine was knowledge both families needed prior to returning home so they would be able to recognize improvements, however large or small, during this year following treatment. The body’s nervous system is made up of nerves, which act as a messenger system for the body. Each nerve is covered by a fatty substance called myelin. “Myelin insulates the nerves and helps in the transmission of nerve impulses between the brain and all other parts of the body,” Sam explained in the simplest way possible. “These nerve impulses control the muscle movements that allow the body to walk and talk.”

Although the nerves can regain myelin, the body’s natural rejuvenation process is not fast enough to outrun the deterioration that occurs with MS. “MS attacks the protective covering with a vengeance,” Sam added, as the other three nodded their heads in agreement. “MS causes small, hairline cracks in the myelin. We were told the stem cell treatment was supposed to repair these damaged areas.”

Doctors in Panama were up front with Sam and Steve, realistically preparing them for the 12 months following their initial treatment. As the Stem Cell Institute’s pamphlet states, each treatment is unique because each patient is unique. There is no guarantee of what results will be seen or how quickly they may be observed. Some patients see results during treatment, while others notice positive changes after they return home. “They [the doctors] told us not to look for immediate changes,” Kathy remembered. Thankfully, positive changes were felt almost immediately. As aforementioned, balance was the first thing both families noticed, with improvement in stamina, strength and cognitive thinking following closely behind.

No one ever said life after stem cell treatment would be easy, quite the contrary. Sam and Steve have had a year of ups and downs and lots of life changes, but they’ve never once lost hope. It’s that hope, their strong faith and the giving hearts of the community that have kept them moving forward, literally one step at a time.

There are many different kinds of MS. Sam has been diagnosed with secondary progressive MS, while Steve has been suffering with the roller coaster ride relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) causes. In fact, shortly after his return, Steve was hospitalized for what he called an episode. “I don’t really know what I do to bring these episodes on,” Steve admitted. “But, I credit the stem cell treatment with my faster-than-normal recovery from that relapse.”

The months following the relapse recovery have been eventful for Steve. He was able to enjoy the birth of his newest granddaughter in October. His speech is easier to understand. Thankfully, balance has improved because Steve hates using a cane or walker. “His kidney and bladder control is much improved,” Suzie noted. “I think that’s the most significant positive from Panama.” Just a few weeks prior to spring break, Steve was chosen to be part of a study with Acorda Therapeutics, which provides medications to help MS patients with balance and the ability to walk. “It was a six-week trial,” Suzie said, “and Steve hasalways wanted to be on the cutting edge of anything that will improve the quality of life for those suffering with MS.”

Steve has also become much more self-sufficient. He still drives to and from his appointments with Dr. William Davis where he undergoes chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture, which help tremendously with his day-to-day pain. He is once again able to ride a stationary bicycle. He shakes his head as he thinks of his granddaughter. “I sit on the couch and I get to hold her for a minute or two,” he smiled.

Sam’s year has been filled with changes, too. He admits that he was a bit naive after that first treatment. “I was expecting the ‘one-trip miracle,’” he stated. “I was thinking that in three to four months, I’d be back to where I was before the MS diagnosis.” Sadly, that hasn’t been the case, so in the fall Sam decided it was time to stop coaching football – a job that for years has been synonymous with the Harrell name. To make a long and painfully emotional story a bit shorter, the same day Sam went to say goodbye turned into a day when a heavy burden was lifted. “I went in to retire from coaching,” Sam remembered, “but they gave me an option to take a six-month leave of absence from coaching, and the district also offered me an advisory position, which had been vacated earlier.”

Going to another job within the district proved much easier than leaving altogether. In December, Sam revisited the idea of returning as the Ennis High School head football coach, but decided it was in the best interest of all parties involved to step down permanently. As this school year came to an end, Sam made another decision. “I decided to retire altogether. I’m now planning on doing things that aren’t so physically demanding and that keep me out of the heat. It’s the heat that zaps all my energy.”

Steve and Sam both agree that multiple trips to Panama for stem cell treatments are the ticket to the lifestyle they were both accustomed to prior to their MS diagnoses. Sam was able to return for his second round of treatments during spring break, and he’s already seeing some improvement in the cognitive issues that still somewhat troubled him following his first trip. Steve plans to return once the medical trials are complete.

Both men still “live in the moment” of each day they are given. They’re still thankful for the giving hearts of a loving community. “We want to be a picture of hope for those who may be feeling hopeless,” Sam said. “We want our story to influence and affect others in a good way.” Bottom line, they want everyone who has been so supportive to see what stem cell treatment can do for the overall quality of life. Stem cell treatment – it really does a body good.

Written by Sandra Strong.