Reader: Area resident made ‘profound impact’
Many years ago, the generosity of a very special person made a profound impact on my life. Often, we neglect to appreciate the importance of people or how each has influenced who and what we will become. It is only when we recount the days of our childhood do we fully understand the significance of that particular thread in time.
Devoted, dedicated, committed and selfless are qualities we rarely discover in people today, and even more infrequently are they possessed by the same individual. As a father and husband, I embrace the hustle-bustle of everyday life and its many, many responsibilities. I also understand how difficult it is to entwine serving into that agenda.
Bill Winters is the embodiment of these qualities.
Through the mid 70’s and 80’s, Mr. Winters was the manager of the Waynesburg playground. I’m not sure if Mr. Winters was compensated for his time at the playground during those summers, and to be honest, it doesn’t much matter to me. His loyalty to the youth of Waynesburg at that juncture in his life was nothing short of amazing. The playground was an extremely momentous slice of my past, and Mr. Winters was a huge reason why.
When I think about my youth and the enthusiasm of childhood, those days of being a “playground rat” frequently resurface. I vividly remember the Pee Wee Olympics, playing kickball and wiffleball, knock hockey and of course the many rounds of “Hot Potato.” Sometimes breakfast would be served to whoever wanted to partake. I couldn’t prove it but if I had to guess, Mr. Winters offered it because he was concerned for a handful of the children. Now that’s compassion.
The memories I cherish most and find remarkable are the recollections of how Mr. Winters treated every boy and girl with fairness and dignity. His ability to look beyond their imperfections and approach each person with a unique perspective was in my opinion, incredible.
I treasure those summer days of a time gone by, and whether he realized it or not, his willingness to give of himself left a lasting impression on me and many others. Only later in life have I realized what Mr. Winters understood way back then, that all people matter. Not just the ones who happen to be good athletes or the ones who wore a certain brand name clothing or rode a shiny new bicycle, but all the kids that attended the playground from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday during those summers. Mr. Winters made the playground “the place to be” for young kids like me, and for that I’m eternally grateful.
Thank you, Mr. Winters, for your selflessness and above all, thank you for the lessons you never knew you taught us about how to treat people. I believe I can speak for many when I say that you have made the world a better place, even if only a small part of it. I consider you to be a wonderful man and deeply appreciate the time and effort you were willing to offer.
Jason Lohr,
Waynesburg