Jack Strickland is a retired AP writer who is active in the war against cancer. He, himself, is a survivor.
As a reporter he covered many of the major stories in Florida.
He lives in Gainesville where he is an advocate for cancer patients of all ages. Jack finds special joy in getting
sports stars and teams involved in the care young cancer victims. He claims that the athletes benefit from the involvement
as much as the patients. He says he managed to miss many tackles as a football player long ago, and learned that defeat can be
temporary and serve as the foundation for success.
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Ray Shaw’s life was a living textbook on how to help others in need
September 18, 2011Gainesville
Ray Shaw is one of my heroes.
He was a guiding light – like the beacon of a lighthouse guides sailors and keeps their ships on a safe course.
Ray has been a guidepost that helps us navigate the course of our lives. By example, he showed us the way as he taught us how to live and avoid the pitfalls life places in our path. He was a master at helping others overcoming obstacles
Ray died this week at ninety-two years of age. He left an indelible mark on the lives of everyone he touched. His was a life well lived.
He will be remembered for his magnificent service to his country. He was saluted by President Reagan for making America stronger through his work as a dedicated civil servant.
He is appreciated for his lifetime of work that makes our neighborhoods safer – he carried a badge as a chaplain for law enforcement organizations and he worked with prison projects that rehabilitated offenders and gave them a chance to be productive citizens.
He was a leader in the church. He worked to save souls and help sinners find salvation and a ticket to Heaven. He also worked tirelessly to help people overcome financial problems and avoid living a life of Hell on this earth.
Ray Shaw was a tireless Gideon. He gave away so many Bibles friends once teased that he needed to chair a re-forestation project to replace all the trees cut down to make the paper used in printing all those Bibles.
Ray cared about his fellow man and dearly loved people.
I think that is what made him great and causes people to want to emulate the way he lived.
He grew up on a farm in North Carolina. His neighbors and childhood friends were Billy Graham and his family. They enjoyed a powerful influence on each other. The folksy manner that captivated America and catapulted Evangelist Billy Graham to world wide fame and influence is very similar to Ray Shaw’s approach to life.
Ray was a minister, too. His ministry was his dedicated service to his country, church, and community.
Ray was an incredible teacher. By example he taught us how to live our lives. I learned volumes from him.
He once told me that in helping others, first it was important to accurately identify the needs of the person you want to assist. He pointed out that we have a tendency to give away what we don’t want—not provide what is really needed by the person we are trying to assist.
Ray liked to donate cars to foreign missionaries upon their return home from the mission field. When he bought a new car, instead of trading in the pampered nearly new car he was driving, he would take it to a mechanic and pay him to put it through an extensive evaluation and repair any defects he detected. He did not want the beneficiaries of his generosity to have to worry about car problems as they adjusted to their new life back home.
Ray was recently introduced to a group as an Earth Angel – the closest thing to a real angel that can be found this side of Heaven.
He seemed surprised. When he took the mike he talked about living a normal life and doing what he could to make this world a better place. I think his humble approach to everyday life is one of the things that makes him so special.
Ray, who lived in Neptune Beach, leaves behind a large family. Nothing was more important to him than his children and grand children. They, combined with his legion of dedicated friends who strive to follow his example and live like he did, may be his greatest legacy.
Our world is a better place because Ray Shaw came our way. He leaves us with guideposts to help us navigate our lives. He will be sorely missed, but his presence will always be felt in the lives of those who loved him and looked to him for guidance.