As part of a recent series on heroes, Pastor Tim interviewed Judy Willman about her Dad, a modern-day hero. Judy eloquently described his troubled childhood and how his determination ultimately gained him a seat on the UW crew that won the 1936 Olympic Gold Medal.
I came away from that service knowing that there was so much more to this hero than what Judy or Pastor Tim could convey in the time allowed, so I boldly asked for an up close and personal interview, which Judy graciously set up with me.
Our conversation lasted more than two hours! As we talked, I became increasingly aware that the story of this man and why God placed him in the circumstances at the exact time He did needs to be told in a book. Judy assured me that she had already consulted with a published author and he has agreed to mentor just such a book with her. Judy is a gifted writer herself. The eulogy she wrote on the occasion of her Mom’s passing is a beautifully crafted piece from her heart.
My question as a student of human behavior is always, “What makes this person the unique creation of God he/she so apparently is?” There are as many answers as there are people, I suspect.
As an after thought, Judy flagged me down at church the other day and offered some random thoughts about her Dad. She said she had actually seen him sit for a very long time in a bed of clover, waiting to spy the acclaimed four-leafed variety. He never failed to find it. Apparently, two of his unique qualities were focus and determination. But there was something more: his belief that it was there somewhere and he knew he could find it if he just concentrated. That speaks to me of a very patient and confident man.
Perhaps that is why, in spite of repeated losses and abandonment, he just kept looking, believing that someone was going to show up in his life that would hang around for the long haul. And he found her - his beloved Joyce! They were a committed team from the day they met in high school until her death (which preceded his death by five years.) Her reluctance to die, in spite of excruciating pain, was because of her concern for Joe. It was only when Judy promised to care for Joe after she was gone that Joyce could leave in peace. Joe died in 2007 at the age of 93, a much beloved and well-tended father.
The other tidbit Judy wanted me to know about her Dad had to do with his allegiance to the UW crew after his freshman year and his position on the crew was pretty likely. She asked him one day why he felt the need to continue this very demanding and grueling sport when he was working a variety of on-campus jobs and carrying a full load of classes which would eventually earn him a degree in Chemical Engineering. It boiled down to “community.” This man, after all the years of enforced loneliness, having to problem-solve and somehow scrape together a survival all by himself as a very young child, had found a camaraderie and friendships in the other oarsmen that he had never experienced before in his life.
Joe Rantz has left Judy and her family a remarkable legacy and thanks to Judy, we can all learn something about what makes a hero by being inspired by one who lived his life so well. She said her Dad loved to teach. I think,because of her devotion and honor to Joe, he is still teaching and inspiring us to live our lives well, using all the gifts God has given us. I can hardly wait for the book!
Pastor Sally Jo Holmes
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