Still MORE people that make Stockton a special place
Maybe it’s just the holidays, or the fact that 2009 is coming to a close and people are waxing nostalgic, but there seems to be a lot of love going around the Internet today.
It started with Mike Klocke, the Record editor, who posted his Many people make Stockton a special place article this morning. Then, Matt Beckwith, host of Podcast Stockton added on to spread a little more cheer and pay the goodwill forward.
I don’t like to be left out of dishing out the good stuff. There are fewer and fewer people, it seems, taking time to point out GOOD Stocktonians, I would like to be one of them.
My fiance Linda - In life you must have a partner that causes you to constantly challenge what you think and what you do. For the last five years I have been downright fortunate to have a strong, opinionated woman who has never let me get away with being mediocre and NEVER agreed with me for the sake of agreement. She speaks her mind whether it is popular or not. She and my kids truly make me the man I am today and I can never tell them enough how much I love them and what they mean to me.
My family - From my dad to my mom, brother and sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, they are the reason I am in Stockton and not off on some Army post somewhere else. I moved back home to be with the people I love and who love me. I grew up with the love and support of my family and am happy that I made the choice to come back after being away for 10 years. To my mom and dad I say thank you for always believing in me no matter how crazy my ideas, to my brother Nick, even though you are in Indiana now, you still make Stockton a great place because of all the things you have helped me to love about this place since I came home, to my sister Tiffany, thank you for loving your big brother no matter how hard it has been at times, I can only hope that we all find better luck soon.
Matt Beckwith - There exists no person on this earth that is more proud of his hometown than Matt. Out of his deep sense of disappointment with the outside world’s view of his city, Matt began Podcast Stockton which was created to highlight the good our town has to offer. From it’s humble beginnings, Matt’s hard work and dedication Podcast Stockton has quickly become a pillar in the online community. His show has connected many people in the city and stands to grow into an even more influential force in 2010. I am proud to call him a colleague and more than that, my friend.
Adriana Brogger - I have a cousin who used to demolish me in all things academic. She excelled in everything she did when it came to her school work, while I just kind of skated on through. What she did do though, was push me to stand out in other ways and helped me be the best I could if only to keep up to her standards. Adriana is exactly that cousin, only not related. She is a mother of four boys, one of which has a medical condition that requires constant attention, yet she has managed to find herself as a producer and part-time reporter for the number one news station in the area KCRA3. Whether she knows it or not, she has always been my sparring partner and the measuring stick for my professional career. I have appreciated her input and support in all of my crazy endeavors.
Melissa Deverall - There are few people in this world that can truly and honestly be labeled as “nearly flawless,” but Melissa wears it with grace and humility. We in the Delta Radio and Television department lovingly refer to her as our “den mother,” but those who are lucky enough to know her, know she is a lot more than that. She is a friend, confidante and someone who you can rely on at any time. There is no limit to what she will give in order to help a person be them friend or foe and her generosity is infectious and helped create a positive environment for all of us who walked through the doors of Shima 146. What’s more is she would never tell you that she thinks she makes a difference, she just does. I have said it before and I will say it again, the world need one million more Melissas.
Alex Schuetz - He’s been the little brother I never wanted…(he knows I am just kidding) This 21 year old kids knowledge of all things tech, makes my head spin. I used to fancy myself as someone who knew a thing or two about the inner workings of the computer and the Internet, but after meeting Alex, I knew I had to hit the books again. Alex has pushed me to learn everything about what the computer world looks like in the now and not how I remembered it from the 90’s. He also jumped in headlong with me in my Valley Sports Network experience and never doubted for one minute that we could pull it off. I have thanked him before, but I will do it here so all can see.
Will Story - Not to double off of Matt’s list, but Mr. Story is one of the main reasons that I am where I am with the goals that I have for the future. Story took me in off the street, (not literally mind you, but still he had no idea who I was when we first met) shoved a microphone in my face and said, “you want to be a sportscaster, here, be a sportscaster.” It was his constant encouragement and willingness to give me the keys to whatever I needed to accomplish the mission at hand that helped me to find my voice and become a success both in the community and in the local media scene. Very soon if you look at the landscape of the media in Stockton, I am convinced that you will find Will Story is behind a vast majority of the most successful personalities.
The entire Stockton Twitter community – We are few but we are proud. I can not begin to imagine just what my life would look like today without having stumbled upon this thriving community of civic minded and caring people who while we may not always get along or see eye to eye on the important issues, we will never turn our backs on each other in a time of need. I consider each and every one a friend, even if I have not meet a vast majority in real life. The interaction I receive everyday from that silly bird and what it stands for has given me more than I could have asked for. I thank you all for helping to make Stockton a place worth living.
There is the short list, again I will echo Matt’s closing sentiment that it would take a years worth of blogs to recognize every individual that should be acknowledged, and a task that I am more than willing to take on when I write my life’s story. But until that day comes and if you do not see your name on this list, please know that I hold each and every person in my life with the deepest respect and adoration…thank you all for helping me every day to see why I chose to live in Stockton.
