Jim Dailey

Stephan McAteer and the MacArthur Military History Museum

Government employees often get a raw deal lumped under the concept that they are paid too much, work too little and care less about the task at hand.  Fortunately this is a perception, not fact … the real facts being,  most government workers do care, work exceptionally hard, are underpaid, love their jobs and do it well.

One of these that has shown his passion for the task, is paid less than he could get elsewhere, is doing a fantastic job and continues to build a museum the citizens of Little Rock can be proud of is Stephan McAteer, Exec Director of the MacArthur Museum of Military History.

In his quiet unassuming way he has built one of the best Military History Museums in Arkansas.  He  has resurrected a decaying historic structure, the Birth Place of General Douglas MacArthur, and through sheer will has returned it to its deserved glory days.  He has reenergized a Board of Commissioners, has lobbied successfully for funding from individuals, the city and the State and has organized significant events  reminding all of us of Arkansans who have served our Country in Military roles.

I have proudly watched this humble committed man keep his energy and passion and vision alive.  Thank you Stephan for a job well done.

Stephan McAteer is one of my Local Heroes.  Stephan, I salute you.

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Aunt Marguerite Alford at 106

Patti out front of Aunt Marguerite’s birth home on 12th Street in Little Rock.

It all comes together once told that Marguerite Alford was born in this home more than 100 years ago. Just standing here, brought back treasured memories to Patti as she recalled she and her sisters (Suzanne and Margie) visiting grandparents , sitting on the front porch swing, watching the men clean the fresh fish catch on the lower level and so many more reasons to something special about this place in our Capitol City.

Sisters. Suzanne. Patti. Margie.

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This Hero entry was written in the fall of 2011.

Today was another very special day … A Cool, brisk and breezy fall day … certainly special in its own right but not the complete story of the day.   Over lunch I met with my old friend and former coworker, Ron King.  Ron was one of my first hires when I formed Dailey’s Office Productivity Center, an upscale office design company. In our years together we formed not only a great work relationship but a close personal friendship as well.  However, in the mid 1980’s I sold the company, left the business and unfortunately lost contact with Ron.

Today we reconnected and it felt really good.  Ron is still in the same business but now he’s the business owner.  What made this reunion even more meaningful to me was his invitation to tour the business.  What made this reunion a huge eye opening surprise to me was walking thru his front door, making a right turn and stepping into a cavernous warehouse space with more than one thousand bicycles neatly arranged row after row.  And, What made this reunion so heartwarming was seeing and hearing his story.

After reading a newspaper article highlighting the need for bicycles for kids three years ago he formed a charitable entity named “Recycle Bikes for Kids”… . In this same three year period he totally refurbished more than 2000 bikes and donated them to kids at Christmas.

Wow!!!   Talk about a “Local Hero” … I cannot imagine anyone more deserving than my recycling friend, Ron King.

PS: It’s also rather nice to have a recycled friendship.

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This morning was just like most any other … crawl out of bed at 5AM, head for the fitness center, work out for an hour, head home for breakfast, then off to the office.  However, on this morning, July 26, 2011, I experienced one of those “conversations with God” experiences.

I had stopped for gas … while filling the tank I observed a middle age black man approach a car driven by another African American, apparently asking him a question whereupon that car drove away.  Assuming this unshaven man in stained, bedraggled clothes was asking for money,it did not surprise me when I was approached.  What did surprise me was his request … a request I give him a ride to his job.  In my mind having  already concluded he was not be trusted, or was too dirty or that I was not going his way, or I didn’t wish to be bothered I easily declined, cleared my conscience and stood there filling my tank with $3.60 per gallon gas as this poor man walked away.

Then the “God experience” hit me … I simply could not take my eyes off of this man as he crossed the bridge over the freeway and disappeared on the sidewalk past the Little Rock Zoo. Wow, now I’m really feeling conflicted … should I have agreed to take him to work, does he truly need help, should I go pick him up … what should I do.  Sure there are the concerns for safety but I am having these nagging nudges to go pick him up and take him to work.  So, I get in the car, still struggling and pull into the traffic lane that will put me on the freeway leaving him behind … but, no, I cannot just drive away, that “God conversation” is still going on in my head and in a split moment as the light changes, I change lanes confident I am making the correct decision … that is, to pick him up and take him to his job.

So, I picked him up, found he had already walked all the way from Southwest Little Rock, is semi homeless living sometimes with a relative, his car is in the shop and yet… this maintenance man, this misjudged person has the character, determination, personal dignity and pride to make it to his job even if he has to walk all the way across town.  Now, that’s a real local hero … my hat is off to you, Mr. K. Goins … Bravo and thank you for touching my soul today.

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