A Tribute to a Great Man & Good Friend
January 21, 2012 in Bill Shiver Articles
It was with sadness that I recently learned of the passing of Mr. Hubert Wells. He was a man whom I deeply admired and respected. We can ill afford to lose men of his character, dignity and devotion.
Mr. Wells gave of himself in the military. He served and he sacrificed for all of us. He gave later of himself to his love of education. There are many of us who owe him such a debt of gratitude that we will only be able to repay it through trying to live up to his standards.
I was in the second class to graduate from Brooks County High School. There are still some of us around who recall the trials and tribulations of that school consolidation. At a point, the city and county divided itself. There were the “city boys” and the “plowboys.” Hard feelings were held by both camps. The county schools were resolutely proud of their schools and their heritage. We city folks were equally protective of our own base.
It could have been a time of much turmoil. But for the leadership and guidance of Mr. Wells, the situation could have been quite awful. But, thankfully, we had a steady, fair-minded and strong leader to take the helm. He guided the ship through rocky shoals and narrow channels. Mr. Wells brought us through more united and revitalized than ever.
I last saw Mr. Wells in Pickle’s Drug Store before we moved up to the mountains. I sat with him for a while and told him how much I appreciated all that he had meant to me. Now, that brief conversation means more to me than I ever imagined.
If ever we wanted to measure ourselves, our integrity, devotion, and ideals against a true measure of what it means to be great but humble, that yardstick would be Mr. Hubert Wells. Few of us will ever have the opportunity of affect the lives of so many. He did so with honor, respect and the grace of a true gentleman.
