Two guys deserve to be called out
There are two guys I want to call out today for what they are doing for our fine city. These guys have been in the paper but not nearly as often as they should for what they are achieving. They are Northview Marching Knights Band Director Dominic Thompson and Mayor Brian Wyndham.
Dominic Thompson has done an outstanding job leading not just the kids but his staff as the Northview Marching Knights have progressed through their performances on the field and in their competitions.
Dominic has had huge shoes to fill. As he said in his office recently, “Bob Medworth is THE man in Brazil” and we know it is true.
It’s not easy to come in the shadow of someone like Bob. I know I stand in awe of him. Our paths crossed at the gas station one summer day after he retired. We spoke and he called me by name!
That may sound a little silly but not really. I got to interview Bob (Wow, I can call him by his first name!) one summer day after he retired.
He climbed out of an old pick up truck, grinned and returned my greeting.
Before he retired I saw him at homecoming. He was seated on a folding chair in the gym and we shook hands as I walked by to get some photos.
Before he retired, I interviewed him on video and learned much I did not know. That interview was published in our annual band section.
The Marching Knights have been state champions nine times.
When I first came to Brazil in 2001, I was surprised by the loyal following of the Marching Knights. Most high school bands are not treated like rock stars! It took me a while to catch on and your newspaper still needs to improve our coverage of the band but I think our coverage this year shows we are working on it.
So, Dominic Thompson is working in Bob Medworth’s shadow, leading a program that Bob and Ruth Ann Medwoth, Pete Kikta and others created.
Not only does Mr. Thompson must have the respect of the kids but of the staff and those wonderful band parents that do so much for the Marching Knights.
It looks to me as if Dominic has earned that respect in the few short months he has been here.
It’s obvious he is as friendly and gracious as the Medworths. Certainly, it helps that Ruth Ann and Pete have continued on staff to help him.
When you read this, we will know if the NMK is going on to state finals this year or not. But to this untrained eye, judging by the performance on Community Day, I think they deserve a berth among the top 10 in the state.
Now, what can we say about Mayor Brian Wyndham that hasn’t been said in recent years?
Well, we have to go back to the first time I met him and the first story I wrote about his administration for The Brazil Times. It was five years ago. We were newcomers to Brazil. We had only lived here 13 years.
“How did you do it?” I asked him as soon as we shook hands in his office.
“Do what?” he asked with a smile on his face.
How had he financed the paving of Brazil streets when we had been told for nearly 20 years that the city couldn’t afford it?
He explained.
I’m not sure I understood it all but this past week, after the Board of Works meeting concluded, the mayor showed the board and myself a map of the city. He had made little yellow lines — very short yellow lines — on the map. Those little, tiny squiggles represent the streets that haven’t been resurfaced in the past five years. There are not many left! By next year at this time, the city should throw a big party and celebrate having wonderful streets from U.S. 40, which was started by Mayor Kenny Crabb to the completion of all the city streets.
Wonderful job guys! Dominic and Bob and Brian. I guess that counts as three guys instead of two. Oh, well, no one ever accused reporters of being good in math! At least, not this one.
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