[Nfbwv-talk] Buck Saunders passed away last night at age 76

Anita Adkins aadkins at atlanticbb.net
Tue Apr 30 21:02:26 UTC 2013


Hi,

I also offer my condolences. Buck was always friendly to me and willing to 
give advice. Anita

-----Original Message----- 
From: Smyth, Charlene R
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 2:23 PM
To: NFB of West Virginia Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Nfbwv-talk] Buck Saunders passed away last night at age 76

Brad,

Thank you so much for sharing the beauty and essence of what was Buck.
I just can't stop thinking about him and what a huge loss his death is
to our Federation family.  I will sincerely miss Buck and his
creativity, loyalty, and caring nature.

Mary Ann, please do not hesitate to let me know if you need anything and
feel free to call me at any time of the day or night if you need or want
to talk.

Charlene


-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbwv-talk [mailto:nfbwv-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Brad Hodges
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 12:15 PM
To: NFB of West Virginia Discussion List
Subject: [Nfbwv-talk] Buck Saunders passed away last night at age 76

This is one of the most difficult messages I have had to send in recent
memory, because it is to let you know that at around midnight yesterday
Buck Saunders passed away.

Many of us were gathered together when we inducted both Buck and Mary
Ann into the NFB of WV Hall of Fame. Here is a brief quotation from the
remarks which Ed McDonald delivered at that presentation.

"Willis Gene Saunders was born September 13, 1937, in Huntington, WV.
As a young boy attending the West Virginia School for the Blind in
Romney, his imagination was forever captivated by the drama of science
fiction heroes, gangsters, villains, detectives and crime solvers that
he heard on the radio.  Fascinated by the heroic adventures of Buck
Rogers, he took on the moniker that has stayed with him throughout his
life.  Buck is a 1958 graduate of the School for the Blind, and in 1971
he earned a degree in speech and psychology from Marshall University.
His early employment included jobs as a clerk typist with the
Pennsylvania Department of Welfare and as a police and fire dispatcher
in Cabell County."

>From my perspective as a relative newcomer to the NFB of WV family Buck

immediately impressed me as a man who was Always properly skeptical of
the self important, yet he was never cynical about his fellow citizens
or the idea that by working together we can improve the human condition.

Buck had a habit of posing an idea by beginning, "I've been thinking of
something which you may think is really far out, but..." There was no
question that the commentary which followed was likely to be complex and

would challenge the listener to follow his very unique narrative, but at

the end of the trail there was something of value, worth thinking
seriously about.

Mary Ann is with her daughters, Laura and Terri,  this morning. As soon
as plans are announced we will forward them to you.

At the Hall of Fame presentation Buck was quoted as saying he wanted to
be part of an organization which "wasn't afraid to stand up on its hind
feet and say enough is enough." That is the spirit of Buck Saunders
which will always remain close to my heart

Brad     Hodges.




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