“America, sweet America…”
Dateline: Fairmont, WV
“People in West Virginia do have cars, we have indoor plumbing, we even use knives and forks.”
John Kruk
I come from, Bad Rap.
Born and raised in, the butt of jokes.
Grew up a punch line.
I’m a Buffalo, New York guy. Cut me, I bleed blue collar.
I am not, NOT, covered in soot, up to my neck in snow, nor a loser because of any sports played in my hometown.
I am from the first city of lights in America.
I lived a couple blocks from homes built by Frank Lloyd Wright. I have walked hallways filled with Monet and Picasso. Mark Twain, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Joyce Carol Oates lived in my city. Two American Presidents grew up here, Grover Cleveland & Millard Fillmore.
I grew up between two inland sweetwater oceans, Lake Erie and Ontario.
Sixty percent of my state, New York…IS A FOREST. I grew up in an area of 1,900 square miles of lakes, 52,000 miles of rivers and streams, Alleghany Mountain peaks soaring to 2,500 feet.
And yet, to America, I’m Chicken Wings.
I have lived my entire life as some sort of stereotype. Be it Buffalo, be it long-haired, be it born crippled-up, be it hippie, be it whatever those who point, point at.
Age though brings wisdom, age though brings understanding, age though brings DEFIANCE.
Understand this, if you are going to stereotype anything or anyone around me you will see an extreme lack of patience on my part.
Extreme. Consider yerself warned.
If you degrade a land, a place, a person, we are going to tussle.
At some point in time if we are going to civilize civilization, kind in man has to be at the forefront.
Because of growing up in Buffalo, in my soul, I am also, West Virginia. I have heard all the jokes about this state, it’s people, but I have to tell you, I stand with these folks, with this state, stand with them to bring you the other side of the story.
Their story.
Unfiltered, truthful
Last night I sat down with the West Virginia B.A.S.S. Nation team, talked to 14 guys, DIDN’T KNOW A ONE OF THEM, never saw them before in my life.
And one by one, alone on a couch out of earshot of anyone else I asked each of them one question, the same question, over and over, the same question asked 14 times.
The Question: “Tell me sir about West Virginia.”
And tell me, they did.
“…you know…”
Jimmy Summers, Fairmont, WV, Retired Coal Miner:
“We are friendly people, a diversity of life here, I can climb cliffs, fish streams, walk in the woods, all within a mile or two of each other. West Virginia is a friendly, beautiful state.”
Mark Garner, Bridgeport, WV Heating & Air Conditioning Contractor:
“Amazing culture that goes way back, love the people here, the environment and fresh air, small town feel in the cities, it’s a refuge from the real world.”
Tony Ford, Rainelle, WV, Truck Parts Salesman:
“West Virginia has an easy pace, we are easy going, not so much the hustle and bustle, we know and care for each other.”
Jim Dingess, Huntington, WV, Retired Boiler Maker:
“West Virginia has all the seasons, is a mid size state easy to get around in, great place to raise a family.”
In my notes after Jim Dingess I write exactly this, “Buffalo with mountains.”
“…God done shed his grace on thee…”
Tony Keller, Charleston, WV, Chief Deputy Sheriffs Office:
“West Virginia is the road less traveled. Mountains, hills, valleys, lakes, rivers, streams surrounded by the nicest people in the world who will do anything for you. Help you when you need it, leave you alone when you don’t.”
Tim Boothe, Beckley, WV, Retired State Trooper:
“There is a pioneering spirit in West Virginia, people who stay are good, hard working people you are proud to call friends. And nature, you get it all out here, the beauty and the beasts, have seen on patrol panthers, cougars and mountain lions.”
Bill Pioch, Beckland, WV, Retired State Trooper:
“Love how real rural it is even real close to cities, everyone knows each other, good family values, perfect place to raise kids.”
In my notes after Bill I wrote down exactly this: “All 3 cops talked about how great the people are.”
“…he crowned thy good, yes he did, in brotherhood…”
Carlos Smith, Cool Ridge, WV, Project Manager Steel Company:
“Yeah it is actually cool in Cool Ridge, its almost the highest part of West Virginia, you know, West Virginia is like a hidden jewel in America, great outdoors, great people, four seasons, what more would you want.”
Tyler Webb, Glen Daniel, WV, IT Tech:
“West Virginia to me is the New River and the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, if you are an outdoor lover this is the place, not only because of how beautiful it is but because so many of the people who live here love and respect the beauty of the state.”
J.J. Dickens, Beaver, WV, Production Supervisor:
“Simple living man, simple living, the people are friendly, the area is beautiful but you can live simple here, the good life, you’ve got it all right here.”
Chad Brinegar, Berkeley Springs, WV High School Athletic Director:
“My town actually has springs in it, we bottle water there so it’s not just a name that doesn’t mean anything, but I’m with the kids all day and I have to tell you, you want to raise good kids, come here, good people, real good people.”
Sammy Bounds, Charleston, WV, School Bus Driver:
“West Virginia is a sense of family, everyone is close no matter where you go, everyone cares about everyone else here.”
Jim Embrey, Belle, WV, Turnpike Maintenance Foreman:
“It’s beautiful out there, I see it every day, no matter were you drive, look around, it is just beautiful.”
And then came Mark Ochkie.
Mark fishes with the West Virginia team but lives in California, Pennsylvania.
“I’m a Captain in a Correctional Institute, a prison.”
“Why do you fish for the West Virginia team.”
“I live close to the state, have fished it all my life, it is beautiful down here and the people, the people are great, really nice. I love the place.”
“…from sea…”
Sure, this is not nirvana, but if all you know about this state is what you see on cable about hillbillies and moonshiners, it isn’t that either.
On my way to our weigh-in site I pass an exit for NASA.
On my way to launch I pass the coolest looking modern building that holds the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Supercomputing Center.
SUPERCOMPUTERS…it ain’t all about brewing hooch in the woods here.
Last year I drove 36,000 miles through America, this year will be about the same.
Not one of those miles driven was in Manhattan, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Miami or Dallas.
My truck didn’t get parked in the lots of ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN or Fox News.
I park in driveways.
I park in America, forgot.
America in the middle.
Give me Buffalo, NY.
Give me West Virginia.
Give me America real.
We are not the America of Wall Street, Ivory Towers, Media Centers and beltways.
Out here we are the America of family.
Of faith.
Of Nature.
Of country.
And if you have a problem with that, that’s just to damn bad.
Frankly, to the Kings and Queens of America, I’ll take the Buffalos.
I’ll take West Virginias.
I come from, Bad Rap.
Born and raised in, the butt of jokes.
Grew up a punch line.
And I thank God, for that.
“…to shining sea.”
America The Beautiful
Ray Charles
“Attempting to get at truth means rejecting stereotypes and clichés.”
Harold Evans
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