Willard Metcalf This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Sigma Chi.org - News - STRONG ARMS

   www.sigmachihq.org/article.pht - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/17/2002   Last Visited: 10/13/2002

   Willard Metcalf was inducted into the Order of Constantine at the 1999 Grand Chapter. He had not been involved in Sigma Chi much at all after graduation until he was asked to serve as the first chapter advisor for the colony at Furman Univ. here in SC. He agreed and guided that chapter, for over 11 years, to several Petersons, his Sigma Chi International Chapter Advisor of the Year award and they shared more laughs and tears than any message could convey. When he had multiple strokes in 1998, he had just stepped down and his hand-picked replacement had just taken over (and has been doing a great job). Willard had planned to serve at LTW as a faculty member and due to the strokes was going to be unable to attend. His main concern was that he felt he was letting everyone down by missing LTW!
   
   This past year, he attended both Grand Chapter and LTW (as a faculty member). While there, he heard I was having a problem finding a chapter advisor for Clemson (about 30 mins from his home in Greenville) and volunteered to serve until I could find someone else. Little did he know that Clemson had kept telling me they wished they could find someone nearly as good as Willard but I did not want to mention anything about it near him because I knew he would want to help and I felt his health would not allow it. I agreed to appoint him because he was so insistent that he could do it and it would not interfere with his health. Since then, he has worked with them as much as he could and has been very involved in a brotherhood retreat they had.
   
   Earlier this month, Willard learned that one of his carotid (hopefully my spelling is close enough - it is the major artery that supplies blood to the brain through the neck) was almost closed and he was scheduled for emergency angioplasty for the 17th. After that was scheduled, he remembered that Clemson's initiation is scheduled for the 19th. He immediately called and put off the procedure for "a week or so" since he did not think he would be out of the hospital in time to attend the initiation and he felt "his place was there."
   
   When I learned he was going to have surgery later this month, I called him and learned that he had postponed this surgery just to attend the initiation and serve as an interviewer because, "his place was there." I tried to change his mind, appeal to his better sense, etc. but trying to change Willard's mind is like trying to make a boulder fly. All I could do was make sure he knew he would be in my prayers and to hope the chapter appreciated what he was doing.
   
   After I hung up, I wanted to cry. I could not help thinking of how many times I have heard people complain (including me sometimes) that they could not attend a meeting or an initiation because it was too early, or they were too tired, or they didn't know the new guys that well. Willard is almost literally risking death because he felt his duty required him to be there (no matter what anyone else tries to tell him), and still we let excuses stop us. The ritual chairman at Clemson had called 8 other alumni about serving as interviewers yet only 2 called back, and both said they had to decline. Maybe they had great reasons.
   
   I hope when I go down to that dark river of death (with apologies to the apostle Paul for my liberties with his original quote) and its chill waters dampen my feet, that as I look back over my past life and want to say, I have finished my work and brought luster to the White Cross, that I can face Willard, who will undoubtedly already be there to meet me with open arms, a warm heart and hearty handshake. My hope is that I will be able to look him in the eyes and know that I too, did my duty.
   
   Please join me in praying for Willard's health, if only for a moment, for brothers. He is a true and loyal Sigma Chi.
   
   ...
   If you wish to send Willard a card or a note, here is his contact information. I would recommend that you not call since talking on the phone tires him out greatly, although I know he would love to receive a card or fax.
   
   Willard Metcalf 864-627-0194 / 864-627-0195 (fax) 3 Hoke Smith Blvd Apt. E-307 Greenville, South Carolina 29615

2. 2. Sigma Chi.org - News - STRONG ARMS

   www.sigmachi.com/article.phtml - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/28/2004   Last Visited: 11/20/2004

   Willard Metcalf was inducted into the Order of Constantine at the 1999 Grand Chapter. He had not been involved in Sigma Chi much at all after graduation until he was asked to serve as the first chapter advisor for the colony at Furman Univ. here in SC. He agreed and guided that chapter, for over 11 years, to several Petersons, his Sigma Chi International Chapter Advisor of the Year award and they shared more laughs and tears than any message could convey. When he had multiple strokes in 1998, he had just stepped down and his hand-picked replacement had just taken over (and has been doing a great job). Willard had planned to serve at LTW as a faculty member and due to the strokes was going to be unable to attend. His main concern was that he felt he was letting everyone down by missing LTW!
   
   This past year, he attended both Grand Chapter and LTW (as a faculty member). While there, he heard I was having a problem finding a chapter advisor for Clemson (about 30 mins from his home in Greenville) and volunteered to serve until I could find someone else. Little did he know that Clemson had kept telling me they wished they could find someone nearly as good as Willard but I did not want to mention anything about it near him because I knew he would want to help and I felt his health would not allow it. I agreed to appoint him because he was so insistent that he could do it and it would not interfere with his health. Since then, he has worked with them as much as he could and has been very involved in a brotherhood retreat they had.
   
   Earlier this month, Willard learned that one of his carotid (hopefully my spelling is close enough - it is the major artery that supplies blood to the brain through the neck) was almost closed and he was scheduled for emergency angioplasty for the 17th. After that was scheduled, he remembered that Clemson's initiation is scheduled for the 19th. He immediately called and put off the procedure for "a week or so" since he did not think he would be out of the hospital in time to attend the initiation and he felt "his place was there."
   
   When I learned he was going to have surgery later this month, I called him and learned that he had postponed this surgery just to attend the initiation and serve as an interviewer because, "his place was there." I tried to change his mind, appeal to his better sense, etc. but trying to change Willard's mind is like trying to make a boulder fly. All I could do was make sure he knew he would be in my prayers and to hope the chapter appreciated what he was doing.
   
   After I hung up, I wanted to cry. I could not help thinking of how many times I have heard people complain (including me sometimes) that they could not attend a meeting or an initiation because it was too early, or they were too tired, or they didn't know the new guys that well. Willard is almost literally risking death because he felt his duty required him to be there (no matter what anyone else tries to tell him), and still we let excuses stop us. The ritual chairman at Clemson had called 8 other alumni about serving as interviewers yet only 2 called back, and both said they had to decline. Maybe they had great reasons.
   
   I hope when I go down to that dark river of death (with apologies to the apostle Paul for my liberties with his original quote) and its chill waters dampen my feet, that as I look back over my past life and want to say, I have finished my work and brought luster to the White Cross, that I can face Willard, who will undoubtedly already be there to meet me with open arms, a warm heart and hearty handshake.
   ...
   If you wish to send Willard a card or a note, here is his contact information. I would recommend that you not call since talking on the phone tires him out greatly, although I know he would love to receive a card or fax.
   
   Willard Metcalf 864-627-0194 / 864-627-0195 (fax) 3 Hoke Smith Blvd Apt. E-307 Greenville, South Carolina 29615

3. 3. Sigma Chi.org - News - STRONG ARMS

   www.sigmachi.org/article.phtml - [Cached]

   Published on: 7/23/2000   Last Visited: 1/23/2004

   Willard Metcalf was inducted into the Order of Constantine at the 1999 Grand Chapter. He had not been involved in Sigma Chi much at all after graduation until he was asked to serve as the first chapter advisor for the colony at Furman Univ. here in SC. He agreed and guided that chapter, for over 11 years, to several Petersons, his Sigma Chi International Chapter Advisor of the Year award and they shared more laughs and tears than any message could convey. When he had multiple strokes in 1998, he had just stepped down and his hand-picked replacement had just taken over (and has been doing a great job). Willard had planned to serve at LTW as a faculty member and due to the strokes was going to be unable to attend. His main concern was that he felt he was letting everyone down by missing LTW!
   
   This past year, he attended both Grand Chapter and LTW (as a faculty member). While there, he heard I was having a problem finding a chapter advisor for Clemson (about 30 mins from his home in Greenville) and volunteered to serve until I could find someone else. Little did he know that Clemson had kept telling me they wished they could find someone nearly as good as Willard but I did not want to mention anything about it near him because I knew he would want to help and I felt his health would not allow it. I agreed to appoint him because he was so insistent that he could do it and it would not interfere with his health. Since then, he has worked with them as much as he could and has been very involved in a brotherhood retreat they had.
   
   Earlier this month, Willard learned that one of his carotid (hopefully my spelling is close enough - it is the major artery that supplies blood to the brain through the neck) was almost closed and he was scheduled for emergency angioplasty for the 17th. After that was scheduled, he remembered that Clemson's initiation is scheduled for the 19th. He immediately called and put off the procedure for "a week or so" since he did not think he would be out of the hospital in time to attend the initiation and he felt "his place was there."
   
   When I learned he was going to have surgery later this month, I called him and learned that he had postponed this surgery just to attend the initiation and serve as an interviewer because, "his place was there." I tried to change his mind, appeal to his better sense, etc. but trying to change Willard's mind is like trying to make a boulder fly. All I could do was make sure he knew he would be in my prayers and to hope the chapter appreciated what he was doing.
   
   After I hung up, I wanted to cry. I could not help thinking of how many times I have heard people complain (including me sometimes) that they could not attend a meeting or an initiation because it was too early, or they were too tired, or they didn't know the new guys that well. Willard is almost literally risking death because he felt his duty required him to be there (no matter what anyone else tries to tell him), and still we let excuses stop us. The ritual chairman at Clemson had called 8 other alumni about serving as interviewers yet only 2 called back, and both said they had to decline. Maybe they had great reasons.
   
   I hope when I go down to that dark river of death (with apologies to the apostle Paul for my liberties with his original quote) and its chill waters dampen my feet, that as I look back over my past life and want to say, I have finished my work and brought luster to the White Cross, that I can face Willard, who will undoubtedly already be there to meet me with open arms, a warm heart and hearty handshake.
   ...
   If you wish to send Willard a card or a note, here is his contact information. I would recommend that you not call since talking on the phone tires him out greatly, although I know he would love to receive a card or fax.
   
   Willard Metcalf 864-627-0194 / 864-627-0195 (fax) 3 Hoke Smith Blvd Apt. E-307 Greenville, South Carolina 29615