[Nfbwv-talk] Buck Saunders Has Died at 75

Thu May 2 17:40:46 UTC 2013

Ed, 

Thank you so much for letting the rest of our NFB family know about
Buck's death.  

I also want to thank you for the Agency Partnership updates. 

Charlene

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbwv-talk [mailto:nfbwv-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ed
McDonald
Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 11:41 PM
To: NFB Chapter Presidents discussion list
Cc: NFBWV Discussion List
Subject: [Nfbwv-talk] Buck Saunders Has Died at 75

I am saddened to report the death of long-time West Virginia
Federationist 
Buck Saunders. He died late Tuesday night at the age of 75 following a
brief 
illness. A memorial service is planned for tomorrow (Thursday) evening
at 
Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church in Huntington, WV.

I am sure a number of you around the country know Buck and his wife,
Mary 
Ann. They have been members for more than four decades and have attended

several national conventions over the years. In addition to their 
involvement at the state and local levels, they have been part of
several 
national divisions, including NAPUB, the Senior Blind division, and the
NFB 
in Communities of Faith.

Buck was the kind of loyal and steadfast Federationist who keeps our 
movement strong at the grassroots. He understood and believed in the 
principles on which our movement is built. He was not discouraged by the
ups 
and downs of trying to keep a small chapter alive in a rural state. At
the 
same time, he brought insight and imagination to our affiliate during
many 
years on the board of directors. Buck was "thinking outside the box"
before 
that popular phrase had been thought of.

In 2010 we inducted both Buck and Mary Ann into our affiliate's Hall of 
Honor--the highest honor we can bestow on a member. Although it is a bit

long, for those who knew him and who may wish to take the time to read
it, I 
am pasting below the profile of Buck and Mary Ann that was written at
the 
time of their induction.

He was a dear colleague and an even dearer friend, and I will miss him.

Peace,

Ed

############################################################

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF WEST VIRGINIA

INDUCTION INTO HALL OF HONOR

Willis G.  "Buck" Saunders and Mary Ann Saunders.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Wheeling, WV

If one were to write the life story of Buck and Mary Ann Saunders, it
would 
be a story of drama, devotion and determination; courage and commitment,

humility and humor, not to mention those three great biblical 
virtues--faith, hope and love.  Running throughout the story would be
the 
constant motif of blindness and involvement in the National Federation
of 
the Blind.  This small part of the story focuses on that "Federation
motif."

As Federationists for four decades, Buck and Mary Ann Saunders affirm
the 
familiar adage about the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. 
Their skills and talents complement each other, and the spirit of one
gives 
strength and assurance to the other.  It is safe to say that their
efforts 
on behalf of security, equality, and opportunity have made a greater and

more lasting contribution to the lives of blind West Virginians than
either 
of them might have achieved alone.

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.

Mary Ann Collins was born in Brownsville, PA, October 19, 1940.  Her 
father's profession as a welder led to frequent moves for the family,
and as 
a result Mary Ann attended schools for the blind in Pennsylvania,
Florida, 
Maryland, and West Virginia.  She graduated in 1961 from the Western 
Pennsylvania School for Blind Children in Pittsburgh.  Four years later
she 
earned a degree in English education from Indiana University of 
Pennsylvania, and she, too, worked for a time for the Pennsylvania 
Department of Welfare.

Buck and Mary Ann met while they were students in Romney, but their 
relationship didn't blossom until the mid 1960's.  After a time of 
correspondence that evolved into courtship, they were married April 17, 
1966, in the Tyler County community of Shirley, WV.  Their early years
of 
marriage were spent in Pittsburgh, but in 1970 their hearts led them
back to 
West Virginia where Buck resumed his education at Marshall.  Their
daughter 
Laura was born in October, 1971, and a second daughter Terri was born in

August, 1974.

Also in 1974 they relocated from Huntington to Point Pleasant when Buck 
landed a social work job at nearby Lakin State Hospital.  Twenty years 
later, they returned to Huntington when Buck took a similar job in the 
recreation department at what is now the Mildred Mitchell Bateman
Hospital. 
He retired in 1998, and they continue to make their home in Huntington.

Meanwhile, after their first child was born, Mary Ann chose to be a 
full-time mother and homemaker.  Eventually, though, she worked several 
part-time jobs including that of proofreader for the Braille production 
project at Huttonsville Correctional Center.

In addition to work and family, Buck and Mary Ann have always found ways
to 
serve their church and their community, and for the past four decades
the 
National Federation of the Blind has led the list of their community 
involvements.  Buck was first attracted to the Federation during the
late 
1950's and became an avid reader of the BRAILLE MONITOR.  Early on, he 
wanted to be part of an organization which--as he put it, "wasn't afraid
to 
stand up on its hind feet and say enough is enough."

Mary Ann discovered the Movement some years later, and they attended
their 
first convention of the National Federation of the Blind of West
Virginia in 
Morgantown in 1969.  Dr. Kenneth Jernigan was the national
representative, 
and his message and charisma persuaded Mary Ann that the NFB really had 
something worthwhile to offer.

Soon after returning to West Virginia in 1970, they joined the
Huntington 
chapter, known in those days as the Huntington Lighthouse Club.
Long-time 
Federationist Sid Allen was an important influence on their growth in
the 
Movement.  Buck even became chapter president for a couple years before 
moving to Point Pleasant.

Under the leadership of affiliate president Dick Porter, they became 
increasingly involved in Federation affairs at the state level.  In 1980

Buck was elected to represent the Huntington chapter on the state Board
of 
Directors, and he held that position for some 20 years.  Their first NFB

national convention was in Baltimore in 1981.

In 1982--despite living an hour away in Point Pleasant-- Mary Ann was 
elected president of the Huntington chapter.  Except for two years
during 
which Buck held the office, she has continued to lead the chapter to the

present.  Over the years she has also served at the state level as
chairman 
of the scholarship committee, as second vice-president, and for one term

each as first vice-president and secretary.

When the National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia established 
NFB-Newsline--the telephone based news and information service--in the 
state, Mary Ann became its coordinator.  The job included recruiting and

assisting new subscribers as well as monitoring and troubleshooting the 
daily operation.

At the national level, they have been involved in the NFB Writers'
Division, 
Human Services Division, Senior Blind Division, and the National
Federation 
of the Blind in Communities of Faith.

But a list of dates, elective offices, committee assignments, and other
such 
facts doesn't tell the whole story of the Saunders' commitment to the 
Federation.  For example, while living in Point Pleasant, they were the
only 
active blind people in town, and so they became the faces of independent

blind people and the voices of Federationism for the whole community. 
Despite organizational competition within Huntington's blind community,
they 
have kept the Huntington Area Chapter alive, active, growing, and
grounded 
in a philosophy of independence and self reliance.  They have taken on
jobs 
as diverse as raising funds through the sale of raffle tickets and
Yearbook 
advertising, helping frustrated individuals to find their local papers
on 
Newsline; mailing scholarship forms to prospective applicants throughout
the 
state; and organizing a technology seminar for blind people in the 
community.  They have introduced Federation ideas in their church and
have 
articulated the concerns of blind persons as members of a mayor's
committee 
on disabilities.  The NFB gave them the practical and emotional tools to
be 
successful blind parents, and they are proud that their two daughters
are 
now adults with jobs and families of their own.

A deep and thorough understanding of Federation philosophy has given
them 
the strength and courage to be more confident and assertive in all
aspects 
of their lives.  Mary Ann even characterizes their Federationism as an 
uplifting source of spiritual community and strength.  Recognizing the 
experiences and even some of the mistakes in their own lives, they are 
motivated to keep working to make life better for generations of blind 
persons to come.  And so, as they approach four decades of involvement
in 
the Federation, Buck and Mary Ann show no signs of curtailing their 
involvement and commitment.

Thus, we in the National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia are 
pleased and proud to induct Buck and Mary Ann Saunders into the Hall of 
Honor.  To borrow a phrase that is often shared with members of the 
Movement: We call you our colleagues with respect; we call you our
friends 
with love.

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