There is a lot going on in the world, and it is enough to leave you heartbroken.
I write this weekly column about things that either concern me or inspire me.
There is plenty to be concerned about this week, but this week’s Whitesboro News-Record does not bear a front-page story about an attempted political assassination. It didn’t happen here, so we are not reporting about it. That’s the nature of community journalism, but that does not mean that we are not concerned.
In the wake of all the chaos in the world, I am refortified this week to look for positivity and those worthy of praise in our community. There is plenty of good going on in the world, and we need to talk about it more.
After the news broke Saturday, I took to social media to see what folks were saying. I was discouraged. The conspiracy theories did not take long to abound. Misinformation and disinformation from the get-go. It was enough to make me want to swear-off social media for good.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll probably say it again— social media is not real. It is an echo chamber and a vacuum.
I was ready to write this column about my Facebook exit plan and how I would eliminate personal Facebook use. Then I logged on Monday afternoon to message someone I had no means of contacting otherwise. I was prompted to scroll through my feed. Yes, there was still plenty of disinformation and hatefulness. Yes, it was still heartbreaking, but there was also good news that I would not have known about otherwise.
I read about a friend who is retiring from Whitesboro ISD. Somehow these retirements fly under our radar.
As a news organization, we should be more proactive about asking for a list of current retirees.
We did not this year.
That is something we will do better in the future.
I saw that long time Whitesboro ISD ag teacher Billy Shares has retired after 27 years of service. He is a hometown guy, a native Whitesboro Bearcat and has spent his entire career with the district.
Billy celebrated his retirement over the weekend with his large extended family. His children made emotional posts about him on Facebook and I’m glad I saw them.
I’ve known Billy my whole life. He graduated high school with my aunt here in Whitesboro in the mid-80s. About a decade later, he found a second career as an ag science teacher. He started at Whitesboro ISD in 1997. It’s the only teaching job he’s ever had.
I started at the Whitesboro News-Record 10 years later. In the years since, I’ve been privileged to cover Billy, his students, the ag program, their successes and their struggles.
The author Norman Maclean once said, “A great teacher is a tough guy who cares very deeply about something that is hard to understand.”
There is no better description of Billy Schares.
I texted and asked him if I could buy him a cup of coffee. I wanted to interview him and write about his career. I wanted to write about the countless hours he has dedicated to multiple generations in our community. I wanted to write about the times I saw him put in work that no one else saw. I wanted to write about the families who have benefited from his service.
I wanted to write about the lives he has touched and the miles he has driven getting students and their projects to all corners of the state.
He replied and said he didn’t want any recognition. He said he had hometown recognition when he was in high school. He said the retirement party with his family was enough for him.
I was not surprised by his reply.
So, we’re not writing a profile feature about Billy Shares this week. He wouldn’t agree to an interview. He is that humble.
But this is not a profile piece. This is my weekly column and I can write about whatever, or whomever, I want. And this week, despite all the ugliness in the world, I’m choosing to write about a friend of mine who is retiring.
I just wanted to say, ‘thank you.’
Our community is filled with wonderful, dedicated people like Billy Shares. Most of them, just like Billy, like to fly under the radar.
They don’t want the acknowledgement. They don’t care who gets the credit. But still, we owe them our thanks.
Billy Shares will leave big shoes to fill at Whitesboro ISD, and our community is better off for his decades of service.
Best of luck in your retirement, sir. The coffee is still on me— as soon as you get a chance.