Today on our local bulletin board in the "general discussion forum" was a question asked "Where have all the role models gone" Then there were discussions about people like Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant etc. Here was my response



Most if not all of my role models are still around. None of them are professional athletes except for some professional motorcycle racers Ive known.

A couple of my role models were teachers I had in high school.As a side note some of my teachers in high school were also jerks.

My uncle, Ralph Davis, a combat vetern of WWII. Yep he was a role model. Most of my role models were never on television. They weren't professional golfers. They were regular but exceptional people that I knew personally.

Tiger Woods? Never talked to him. No idea what his personal life is. No idea if he would be a role model for me but from some of the things Ive seen on TV and radio about him I doubt it. Bigger than life celeb's, Nope, not role models of mine.

So to answer the question, where have all the role models gone Id have to say mine haven't gone any place except maybe a couple of them went to the grave. Still got plently left that are still alive.

Well said Larry! Most of my role models were not well known to regular people, they were like yours. I did have one who was a TV/Movie star. When I was little I always went to the saturday matinee at the local movie theatre. I especially liked Roy Rogers and I have to say, throughout his life he never let me down. Most of the Sports and movie/TV stars are not like that, sooner or later they show their true colors and it ain't pretty. I wrote a story some time back and I believe that it is still in the story forum, it's called "Heroes".

Jim Henry

Three that I have been fortunate enough to call friend and mentor.
Ron Wood, Jim Dour, and Ken Maely.

I never had the honor of meeting Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock II.
Such being said.... His discipline, dedication, honor and general
demeanor have truly inspired me.

Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock II.
AKA: Long Trang du Kich / White Feather Sniper.

Dale

Nice to know one of your role models was from Wisconsin Dale. Ken Maely told a great story one year at Beaver Dam Wisc 1/2 mile about a trip he took with his father in a car that had wooden spoke wheels. I had the chance to meet him and he used to try to come to Wisconsin for a race or 2 each year.

dt18k wrote:

QUOTE:
Nice to know one of your role models was from Wisconsin Dale. Ken Maely told a great story one year at Beaver Dam Wisc 1/2 mile about a trip he took with his father in a car that had wooden spoke wheels. I had the chance to meet him and he used to try to come to Wisconsin for a race or 2 each year.

Hi Larry,
Ken was a truly amazing man.
A very good man.

Dale

I finally met one of my heroes, Ron Wood, at Pomona this year. He was pitted with Jimmy Wood next to the Lloyd Bros. team that I was with. That made my drive from New Jersey worthwhile. I got to spend some time with Kem Maely at the Hall of Fame race weekend in Harrington,De,(2002?) shortly before his death, another of my heroes too! And let's not forget JB Norris who I spent time with at Vernon, NY race last year! Many of our heroes are just that because they got to do what they enjoyed most in life, being involved with motorcyclists and motorcycles! Bob Mundy

To me there could be a big difference between role models and heroes. The line between the two may be blurry sometimes because a role model could also be a hero but a hero may not necessarily be a role model.

So I will stick to role models. On the dirt track side of things for me, Jim Sehl comes to mind. He always treats everybody with respect and will do whatever it takes to help anybody that asks for his help. Always jovial and with a smile on his face. In over the 30yrs. that I have known him, he remains the same. Jim's wife Marilyn is another.

Chris Evans's Mom & Dad are cut along the same mold as Jim Sehl, good honest people that you would have no problem having your son or daughter growing up to be just like them.

I got to spend an afternoon at Ken Maely's place in 1982. and it is refreshing to hear that my perception of Mr. Maely, is exactly how I felt about him after the short amount of time I was there. He truly was an amazing man. To me, these 5 people are the meaning of a role model.
The list could be a lot longer, but I only type with one finger and would take up too much time.

To make my point about heroes and role models I will bring up how some people look at Hollywood individuals, thinking they are their heroes and role models. To that I say, one person comes to mind. Roman Polanski and all those Hollywood stars??? who are standing up for him.
To show I have no hard feelings about any of them, I say let him date Your!!! 13yr. old daughter, those people are out of touch with reality anyway.