Conference quark::mennotes-v1

636.0. "The guy who shows you the world..." by CSC32::S_HALL (Wollomanakabeesai !) Wed Aug 14 1991 11:48

	I wanted to write about a strong influence in my life, who
	is now an old man, puttering about in a trailer in rural Florida.

	He's not my father.  My father never did much of the 
	stuff with me that is sorta traditional:  fishing, hunting,
	building things, working on cars.

	When I had just graduated from high school, and was working as
	a reporter/photographer for a small-town paper, I met this
	huge, bombastic man at a city council meeting.  He was a
	"stringer" for a TV station in the nearby metropolitan city,
	and regularly attended the local goings-on.

	Bill was 55 or 60, weighed better than 250 lbs, had grey,
	almost white hair, and had an incredible, booming voice that
	he had trained during his years in radio announcing.

	He offered some tips on photos of the city council members, and
	we talked for awhile after the meeting.  

	I got to know him better over time, as we ran into each other
	at various events in town.  One day, he asked if I'd like to
	ride with him during his weekend duties at the TV station.

	I jumped at the chance, and then began one of the most
	exciting, sobering, and valuable two or three years in my life.
	He would drive into town early Saturday morning, pick up a
	car with radios and scanners from the station, get any 
	scheduled assignments, then basically "patrol".

	I saw things that most people are never exposed to.  We 
	raced ( discreetly ) to murder scenes, fires, accidents,
	hospitals and riots.  I got to see polticians turn on like
	lightbulbs when the camera began to roll.  I started out
	as a glorified "gofer", but as I learned more, I got to	
	film stories, edit film, and eventually write the text of
	the news stories.

	This was great stuff for a shy, somewhat geeky kid from
	the sticks.  I got to do and see interesting stuff, but,
	importantly, I got the benefit of my aging mentor's crusty
	evaluation of each scene.  He was often cynical, certainly
	brusque, and by most peoples' standards boorish.  But his
	evaluations of events often turned my perceptions on their
	heads.  I'll never forget the time we covered a protest at
	a city-run low-income housing project.  The residents had
	had enough of the crummy conditions, and were picketing the
	housing office.

	Bill filmed the story straight ( no editorializing ), then
	shut off the camera, and spoke with the (politically naive)
	residents: "You're doing it the right way, here.  Keep everything
	levelheaded, and keep the pressure on."  They got their
	plumbing repaired.

	Bill told stories of his coverage of some riots in the downtown
	area during the 60s.  He put on a football helmet and rather
	waded in with his hand-held camera.  He told stories of lying in
	a ditch with the sheriff's deputies during a shootout with 
	a deranged man.  He just held the 9-lb camera up with one
	hand and filmed as the shots flew.

	He was rough to work for.  A real taskmaster.  He had a need 
	to be the guy in charge, and occasionally it was embarrassing.
	When the TV car with the logo pulled up, a crowd naturally began to
	form, so we were always under scrutiny.  He would sometimes
	"be the boss", quite vocally:

	"Put the tripod over there.  Not THAT way, SON !  Do it the
	way I showed you..."  And so forth.  But it was nothing personal.

	He treated the new reporters that were placed under his wing
	with the same genteel manners !  I'd have to say it was worth it.
	I saw the seamy underbelly of a big city that I'd never have seen
	without his tutelage.  I learned how politics and politicians
	really work, aside from the brass bands and BS speeches.
	I saw the results of drunk/reckless driving, and the corpses 
	being pulled from the wreckage ( I wear a seatbelt, religiously, 
	to this day ).

	I saw what bad guys ( I mean, really evil people ) do.  Murder
	is not what goes on on TV.  It's incalculably more brutal,
	more disgusting, more violent.

	I also had the opportunity to "make a ripple", if you know what
	I mean.  Some film that Bill and I shot is still used on network
	retrospectives about the return of POWs from Vietnam.  That gives
	me a good feeling.

	I doubt I can ever pay this guy back.  But they say the best
	way to pay someone back is to pass something on.  I hope
	I can do that someday....

	He wasn't my father, but he helped me grow up...

	Steve H

    You were a lucky man -- no everyone has the opportunity to have such a
    remarkable mentor -- you made the most of yours.
    
    And you're right -- the best thing you can do is pass on the best
    of who you are to a younger man -- not necessarily your son.
    
    					andrew

    
    Steve,
    
      Thanks for the inspiring and interesting note to share. I recalled
    several good deeds from my deceased uncle who was my father's younger
    brother. He made my life enjoyable and respectful.
    
    Thanks for sharing,
    
    Dave
                       

    .0
    
    Hope you mail him a copy of your note...

    I think it's wonderful that you had such an opportunity.  Did you
    pursue your journalism career further?  It seems, you had a terrific
    start.  I'd love a chance such as yours!   
    
    Cindy

>	I doubt I can ever pay this guy back.  But they say the best
>	way to pay someone back is to pass something on.  I hope
>	I can do that someday....

 That's the key; that's how you pay him back. By doing the same for someone 
else, you prove to him that you learned something, that his efforts were 
not in vain...