By Steve O'Dell

I was asked to write a weekly column about the people I meet as I travel through the neighborhoods of East Memphis. Columns about people like you.

I met a true hero on Feb. 12. His name is Craig Nicholson.

Nicholson, a special education teacher at Kingsbury Elementary for four years, should be an inspiration to us all. In a time when we hear about all the troubles with schools, Nicholson has chosen to make life better for his students. He is putting wheelchair-bound kids on their own bikes.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention those kids who inspire him and now me. They are Will Strohn, Cordell Davis, Tia Green and Cynithia Thomas.

Thank you, Random Readers Book Club for allowing me to visit with you during your monthly meeting. It was an honor to talk with you about books and the newspaper.

Mary Ann Ford was gracious enough to host the event and Maxine Pyron was kind enough to extend the invitation. The ladies were a joy and a comfort for this fledgling editor.

Steve Parrish showed me what quality time with children was all about. He and his 17-year-old daughter, Lindsey Parrish, cut off their long hair for Locks for Love. I learned you cannot judge a book by its cover. Steve had long hair and looked more like a hippie than a professor at Memphis Theological Seminary. Which is actually what he is.

Louis Pittman is the program chairman for the East Memphis Exchange Club. He, his lovely wife, Charlotte, and club members awarded Laura Austin their Good Deeds Award for all of her voluntarism.

East Memphis abounds with special and remarkable people. Here are a few more I have met along the way: Beth Russell of MUS; Lisa Busby; Susan Yandell, the matriarch of Buntyn Preschool; Cathy Gay, whose love for St. Agnes shows in her glowing face; Lonnie Lewis, who sets the tone for fun at the McWherter Senior Center; Flora Collins, my 107-year-old hero; and Ashley Serio, our new Miss Memphis.

I am certain there are people I have left out and I apologize.

In closing, Will Strohn, who is mentioned above, is preparing for a spring of surgery and rehab to get him eventually and hopefully out of his wheelchair and on a walker. From there he will ride his new bike.