Some parting thoughts for a friend……
The last time I was with Wilson we were beginning the celebration of the Christmas season. His team had beautifully decorated the main Lodge of the Tremont Lodge for Christmas, a roaring fire was going in the big stone fire place and I sat across the leather couch from him. He looked at me, and a little smile crept over his face. He looked at me for moment and said with child like excitement, “Joe McNally and Anne Cahill are at my lodge!” and then he said, “Bill, the Summit, it really worked, it was great!” and then he said, with the most sincere expression I’d ever seen him have, “Thank you.” No Wilson, thank you!
Wilson Reynold exhibited one of the greatest traits I could ever hope to have, his childlike enthusiasm and love for others. When we talked about the various issue of putting on the Summit he always said, “We will do what ever we have to do, to make it great for them!” Them, to him, was the people that honored him by coming to the Sumit and giving him a chance to provide them with a great experience. Wilson truly loved those people, every one of them, and he loved our team, he was so appreciative for their efforts, and their efforts were legion!
Portrait by Joe McNally
Wilson was a man of incredible personal accomplishments, but he would never tell you about them, you had to hear them from someone else and ask him if it were true, he would always fend it off as no big deal. His friends were often very well known people, but he rarely mentioned it, and when he did it was as off handed as if he were talking about just anybody. During that last workshop we were sitting eating and he said I was just with a friend and I told him I wanted him to meet you, he said Dick Cheney is really nice guy, matter of faclty. The former Vice President of the United States! and he’s “a really nice guy”, that was Wilson.
Wilson’s dream was about helping people enjoy the Smokies, have fun photographing them, and teaching them all he could about how to do it better. It wasn’t about making money, not in Townsend, he knew how to make money, apparently he made a lot, but when I was with him it was always about, “how do you think it’s going, are they having a good time??!!” I can imagine if he was reading this he would say, “Enough already, get to work, you have a Summit to put on young man, and take care of my people!” “Yes Sir, consider it done my friend! but, just let me thank you for letting me be part of your life and your dream!”
Now I’ll get to work.
Blessings,
the pilgrim
This entry was posted on Monday, January 11th, 2016 at 7:00 pm
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Amen my brother
Yes, amen!
We know Wilson had a huge smile on his face when he arrived Home. It just got bigger and wider when he saw what you have written.
I hope he knows how much we care, not sure how that works up there, on thing is for sure his smile will now last for eternity!
Saddened to hear that Wilson has gone ahead of us. After the Summit he thanked me for the Sunday devotion and said that he was looking forward to spending time with me in the future. I thought he meant on this side but I will continue to look forward to spending time with a kind, generous man who loved things that count.
Yes we will have plenty of time with him there! Looking forward to doing the Summit again with you!
If there are Summits in Heaven, I’m sure Wilson is already scouting out the best locations for the next field trip. I hope to be in his group some day.
Me too Gale
Really great tribute to a great man that I look forward to meeting at the big Summit!
Thanks for sharing.
Jim Erickson
Truthfully, I’m really looking forward to that Summit! Meet you at the Gate!
I had the pleasure of meeting Wilson last spring at the Tn. State Photographer’s Spring meet. He was one of the nicest men that I have ever met. He shared his gift with all of us taking us into the mountains to photograph the wild flowers. Then asked if we wanted to go and shoot a waterfall! What an opportunity to be with him and enjoy his precious Smokey Mountains! My husband and I just commented that we would not miss this spring meet and couldn’t wait to see Wilson again. So happy to know he had a deep faith and that I will see him again. Thank you for you wonderful post about him.
Thank you for sharing that!
Hi Bill,
I didn’t know Wilson like you did. I’m so “Thankful” for you Shari g more about Wilson. My last words with Wilson, he wanted to know if I was having a good time at TGSMPS, and if I felt like I got my money’s worth! I knew then that Wilson’s passion for the Smokies and people was very genuine. I told Wilson, I’d never been to a photographic event that excited me more, and gave me more bang for the dollar anywhere.
I just wish I had gotten to know Wilson more. With that, I’d like to personally offer my assistance to you and the entire TGSMPS team for 2016! I would feel honored to help Wilson’s memory and dreams for photographers to continue.
God bless you and the TGSMPS team!
Danny Wilson
Thanks Danny, and thanks for sharingthat, it was so Wilson!
So sorry to hear of Wilson’s passing. If he’s looking down on us, I hope he realizes how much we appreciated all his work in putting on one of the best photo summits last fall. He, and all the other pros, made us feel so welcome. He will be missed.