The Spring 2008 edition of the UT Alumnus tells the sad but also inspiring story of Walter Chadwick. His story was also told in a 2007 issue of Georgia Trend. He was a football star at both DHS and UT. In 1967, he helped UT win the SEC with a 6-0 record and achieve a record of 9-2 (losing in the Orange Bowl). Litkenhous named the team the National Champion. Walter led the team records for two years:
Less than four years later, Walter's life changed dramatically as the result of a tragic auto accident which left him physically impaired for life. The financial settlement, which seemed large at the time, seems meager today.
Unlike some people with no physical challenges, Walter tries to enjoy every minute of every day. He's always friendly to everyone, and loves to meet new people.
Recently, I've heard [and read] a lot of people have donated to the renovation of his townhouse off Katie Kerr road. [See articles linked above and the one in the continuation.] I hear they are going to throw one heck of party for him soon. That's all well and good. [Having seen it earlier, I can report "derelict" is too strong a word for describing his place's condition beforehand. It was no Taj Mahal, but it was decent.]
But, in my humble opinion, what he needs MOST is a safer form of transportation. That should have been addressed FIRST. It could be logically argued that he should only walk or ride with others. But, just as you are I would, he wants to get around on his own. He currently rides a bicycle. At least he often wears UT orange, which makes him easier to see. Since he prides himself on collecting aluminum cans to earn money, he''s often seen holding a large trash bag full of cans at each handlebar, which makes the bike even more dangerous. He has no lights or reflectors on his bike. He's not normally out after dark, but I have seen him out at least once.
Bikes in the city are dangerous even for physically healthy people about his age, as this blogger is. I've recently had a close encounter of the potentially deadly kind with a car. A slightly younger friend still has vision problems months after actually encountering one up close.
He MOST NEEDS something like a motorized scooter, such as those designed for the handicapped. I've seen some getting around Decatur in such vehicles, so I know they are allowed. He needs a vehicle which is allowed on the sidewalk. He shouldn't be on the street, except to cross it at lights and marked crosswalks.
If his friends at UT can't raise the money for such a vehicle, and his legal guardians can't use the insurance money to buy one, perhaps we need to raise enough money to get him one.
I don't want to hear about a second accident, which might be his last.
Continue reading "What Walter needs MOST is a safer form of transportation" »
Recent Comments