Recreation, election adviser lives in memories
Editor:
On Thursday, July 15, I was looking forward to going to my Recreation Advisory Board meeting. Instead, I received a phone call letting me know my good friend Bobby Waters had died from a heart attack. I not only lost a good friend that day, but Columbia County lost a great community leader.
Bobby was involved in many things in the community. I first meet Bobby in 1991 when I was a volunteer coach for the Columbia County Recreation Department. Bobby loved helping and working with our kids. After my girls got too old for the Recreation Department programs, Bobby was one of the people who first asked me to serve on the Recreation Advisory Board.
It was then that I found out that Bobby was one of major driving forces behind the Fourth of July fireworks show at Patriots Park. You see, Bobby never let me know that he was the unnamed chairman on the Fourth of July. It was only after I got involved that I found it out.
Because, you see, Bobby was not after fame, or to be the one out front looking for glory. He just loved his community and wanted what was best for it. There was always a smile on his face, and some clever wisdom coming out of his mouth.
I once had something negative to say about a county official. Bobby just listened to what I had to say, and when I was through his only comment was, "They are just a little misguided."
But that was Bobby. He could say so much with so few words, and it would never come out sounding negative. Bobby had a way to let you know that he did not agree with you, but showed that he respected you at the same time. Bobby also had a way to get you to volunteer or get involved. The way he went about it, it was almost impossible to tell him no.
I have thought so many times that Bobby should run for a political office. Instead he was always helping others and running campaigns like he did for me and Commissioner Tommy Mercer. Tommy and Bobby were successful, and Mercer has made a good commissioner. I don't know what Bobby saw in me, for we lost. I know it had to be something though, because Bobby did not align himself with just anybody. So I will be forever grateful to him for his trust and his friendship, and he will live on in my heart and in my memories.
If they had elections in heaven I would be willing to bet he would talk the Apostle Paul into running for something -- Head Apostle, or who knows what.
Diane, thank you for sharing Bobby with us all these years.
George James
Grovetown