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A Cool Character Richard Carlish
I always get great pleasure when I get to write a story about one of our clients that deal with courage and character. Over the years we have seen many of our friends here at the shelter die due to illness, many of which lost long battles with cancer. We were fearful another would soon be added to that list when William Hubbard was diagnosed with the terrible disease in his throat. “Hubba Bubba” which we fondly call him is definitely one of our most colorful characters. He is a man who has experienced many things that cover a broad spectrum in life. Born in Watertown, New York, William was a high school football star and of course like most high school football stars he was a ladies’ man. To look at him to this very day at the age of 74 you can still see why this guy would be so popular and so cool. A pony tail and earring transport him back to his younger days when he belonged to a biker club and listened to his favorite group the Beatles. His youthful years and mannerism would have made for a good MTV movie along the lines of “Varsity Blues.” Bill was also a lifeguard and once tried out for a role in “Baywatch,” but didn’t get it because David Hasslehoff was too jealous. Football star, lifeguard, biker dude are all every young man’s dream. Bill became an iron worker as he got older and made a good living helping to support his mother who as he puts it “was the most wonderful woman who has ever lived.” We know this to be true because every day he talks about her and how he wants to be buried next to her when his time comes. I asked him what he remembered most about her and his answer was one that all children would love to be able to say, “She loved him either right or wrong.” In other words, no matter what she loved her son with everything she had. I personally was responsible for taking Bill to his radiation and chemo therapy every day. Not one trip went by when he didn’t talk about his mother and all he wants is to be with her again someday. To listen to a 74 year old man talk about his mom like that was something I had never heard out of any other clients’ mouth before. When she passed away is when things started to disintegrate in Bill’s life. He had a hard time coping with losing her and as one thing led to another he ended up at our shelter. When first told about his cancer Bill’s thoughts and words were to just let him go so he could finally be with his mother. Loving him the way we do we just couldn’t let that happen as he has way too much energy and zest for life inside of him so we talked him into going for his treatments. Radiation 5 days a week for months, 4 hours of chemotherapy once a week took its toll on Bill, but he continued with it and never complained. He understood we were trying to save his life and didn’t want our efforts to be wasted. The same strength and vigor he displayed as a youngster came to the surface again as he faced this battle with great character and bravery. As miserable as the medicine made him, the fact he couldn’t taste any food and had to have liquid supplements as his meals still didn’t defeat him. He wanted to live so he could continue to have the memories of a wonderful life and all he had experienced. You can’t help but adore this man. He is simply the coolest, most likeable guy you’ll ever meet. Things just wouldn’t be the same here without “Hubba Bubba.” He is everything I wish I could have been and everything I wish I was now. Bill is now cancer-free and looks forward to getting his taste buds back more than anything. Normally I would say he’s dying to have a big fat cheeseburger again but in his case you have to say he’s living to have one and thank God for that!
Football star, lifeguard, biker dude are all every young man’s dream.
Homeless Parking Lot Feedings Spark Controversy Amber Southard
Panama City Mayor Greg Brudnicki is taking exception to a practice that’s been going on for about 9 years. He wants to stop members of local churches who are feeding the homeless twice a week in downtown Panama City. Each Tuesday and Thursday night the group gathers in the parking lot next to attorney Carroll McCauley’s office across from McKenzie Park to feed homeless people, but Brudnicki believes their well-meaning intentions are doing more harm than good. As many as 100 homeless people show up for the free meal every Tuesday and Thursday. Members of the various church congregations believe it’s their obligation to help their fellowman. “God said if you had it in your possession and time to do it then help people not to come against them and down them and criticize them, but show them love,” said rev. Richard Gill. The homeless out there say if it wasn’t for meals like the one’s provided by local churches they wouldn’t get to eat at all, but Panama City Mayor Greg Brudnicki is taking a different view of the practice. He contends the people they’re feeding are vagrants that have been banned from the Panama City Mission, because they’re sex offenders or drug and alcohol users. “So yeah go to Panama City we’ll still feed you, you don’t have to be accountable, you don’t have to work, you don’t have to sing for supper, you don’t have to do anything for it and you can still be fed,” said Brudnicki.
“God said if you had it in your possession and time to do it then help people not to come against them and down them and criticize them, but show them love,” Brudnicki says he and several city commissioners are considering a possible ordinance to ban the parking lot feedings, but supporters of the program, and those who benefit from it, say a ban would be a mistake. “Banning this would cause a lot more crime waves because people would end up having to steal food just to stay alive,” said Laura Foust. “We’re going to continue doing it just like we’ve been doing it for years and if they want to look us up then lock us up,” said Rev. Ron Donnerstag. As many as nine local churches participate in the feeding program.
Our Purpose: To Help the Homeless Learn How to Help Themselves