It’s the Journey that Counts by Jimmy Blevins, Ashe County Chief Executive officer (CEO) of SkyLine/SkyBest she went through raising five kids. To support our family, Daddy worked on the maintence crew for a local town, and Mom worked in a school cafeteria.
I was born in a small community in the Bristol area of the county. My father was an alcoholic, but I had a very loving and caring mother. Mom took the five of us kids to church and encouraged us to get involved in sports, to do well in our schoolwork, and to go to college to further our education. Times were difficult for Mom because she had three boys and two girls, but she never gave up, even with all the difficulty
Sports were a huge influence and a big part of our lives. All of us kids played sports. I played football, wrestled, and ran track. We were very active in school. We’d stay late at practice because, truthfully, we dreaded going home. But in spite of that, we were committed to doing our best the way Mom had taught us. At times, Daddy would get violent and we’d have to leave. Mom would drive to the old hospital parking lot and we would sleep in the car. This kind of life affects you in so many ways as a child. I’ve told my son that no one knows what kids go
through the night before going to school the next day. Many teachers have no idea what “little Johnny” has gone through, why he doesn’t have his homework or his lunch or why he is sad. Made Better Because of Trials I never got to know my Daddy. When he wasn’t drinking he was a very likable man, but at 21 and a junior in college I realized I never got to know him. That summer, as I did for eight years, I was working with the Chuck Gardner family at their Christmas tree farm. Gardner’s son, Rick, was my boss. I came home from shearing trees one day
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Winter 2011 3
