A tale of two Bills

I had a long drive today, down to Birmingham, Alabama to visit with an old friend, Walt Stricklin, DOP (Director of Photography) of the Birmingham News. I’m looking forward to catching up. I have to admit that I spent a good part of the trip down reliving the events of the week in Nashville.

Maybe the best part of the video shoot was hanging out with three great friends, Mark Suban,
Bill Pekala, and Bill Frakes. Mark is a new friend, so we are still getting know each other, but I can say without any reservations that he is a class act and one of the best tech reps I’ve ever known.
I don’t think there is anything Mark won’t tackle and get really good at it too. I know that Mark is going to be a tremendous asset to Nikon over the coming years. Even more important to me is I know he is a real friend and someone whose company is always welcome out in the field.

Now to the two Bills. First my boss and my friend, Bill Pekala. Now before you start wondering if this is an exercise in buttering up the old boss, (can’t be, he’s younger than me), drop that thought
right now. Bill Pekala and I met each just a few years after we graduated from the University of Kentucky in the same class (68). Though we never ran into each other in college, we both joke that we were never in jail at the same time, when I did meet Bill he had just joined Nikon and was teaching the Nikon School. This would have been in the early 70’s. Bill and Fred Sisson, (now retired), were two of the people that inspired me to want to make photography my life’s passion. We became friends and our friendship grew over the years. Eight years ago when Bill offered me a job as a NPS Tech Rep, I jumped at the chance, with one stipulation, I told Bill that I wanted him to know that I would never try to trade on our friendship or take advantage of him. I told him I knew he would be my boss and he would get the respect he deserved in that role, but, I hoped we could remain friends. Both things have been true. Bill has been a great boss and continues to be a great friend. I still love to get out and do some shooting with him, even though his job does not allow him to shoot as much as he once did, when he does though, he still is gunslinger with DSLR.

Bill Frakes and I don’t go back that far, but then Bill Frakes a mere youngster compared to me. I have known Bill for a long time and I’ve enjoyed watching him grow from hot, young shooter to a mature, extremely talented legend in the sports world, and now in the video production field.
In spite of Bill’s extraordinary credentials, he has always treated me with the greatest of respect,
something us old guys really appreciate! Bill is one of Sports Illustrated’s top shooters and his list of awards and accomplishments is far longer than I could list here. Needless to say, he is a truly gifted visual artist and storyteller. Even more important to me is that I’ve come to realize what a good guy he is, and how tender hearted he is when it comes to the needs and troubles of others. You know that goes a long, long way in my book. Bill is the kind of photographer that makes you better, every time you get to spend time around him.

Getting to do the truly exciting things I get to do is truly a blessing, but the biggest blessing of all is getting to do it with men like these………..

the pilgrim

Today’s prayer of thanksgiving; Thank you, Father, I know I don’t deserve these kinds of blessings, but I’m so very thankful for your deep love, that causes you to place these people in my life. Father, please bless them, and protect them, and use them to your glory.
Amen