Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Laura Meeks Honored As Upchurch Citizen Of The Year

Can't never did, never does and never will.

This was the message Judge Wendell Griffen, of the Arkansas Court of Appeals, had for those attending the 11th Annual Ila Upchurch Banquet Saturday, April 15.

Griffen praised the Ila Upchurch Corporation for the work it does for the young people in the community and showing their community pride.

"It's campaign season," he joked, "and no one told me what to say. This is very dangerous."

Griffen used Cosby-esque humor during his talk, telling the audience his wife, Pat, was in charge, and reminding those men who thought they ran the house how wrong they were.

But when it came to his message, Griffen was serious. He said people need to cultivate their gifts and share with others.

"We don't need to take pictures of our children being arrested," he said, "or give the troublemakers prime time, but recognize, those with positive accomplishments.

"We're all here tonight because we believe the young people around us are gifts." He said the community gets concerned when its young does less than reaches their full potential.

But, he added, it is up to the community to cultivate these gifts, with part of this recognizing the talents they have.

"Often we need to be reminded talent must be recognized, otherwise it begins to shrivel."

Griffen talked about being raised in Delight and Okolona and the teachers who had an impact on his life.

He said while his parents did their part, the rest of the community did its as well. In fact, Griffen talked about getting in trouble at school, then getting spanked by his grandmother on the way home and his mother when he got home. He had to wait for punishment from his father until he got home from work.

This, he said, was the community's way of reinforcing right and wrong. It let him know what the community would and would not allow.

"It is the job of us adults," he said, "to mine this talent, because none of us would e what we are without those who stirred us up."

Griffen told how his father was the king of his life, though he only had an eighth grade education. His dad dimmed somewhat during Griffen's teenage years, but grew brighter after he became an adult.

"There's only so much parents can do," he said. "The community must get involved and help cultivate these lives."

Griffen encouraged the young people to cultivate their own talents.

Young people, he said, see the millions of dollars being made by professional athletes. But, Griffen added, they have a better chance at becoming brain surgeons than making it in the National Basketball Association.

Most of those who play first string college basketball don't get invited to try out for the NBA, he said, and a lot of those who do get invitations don't make the cut.

Young people need to enjoy sports, he said, but remember they have the ability to score points in the classroom as well.

"You can get your college education paid for if you're a good student and have opportunities athletes will never have the change to get. But you need to cultivate your mental gifts."

A lot of professional athletes, he said, lose their fortunes because they have no idea how to think and can't properly manage their money.

Griffen said people need to share their blessings. This is because we're a generation better know for getting than giving. "It's almost as if we've forgotten the word mine' is one we used when we were two.

"Two year olds live in a world of me' and the world only exists for their desires. We tend to spend our energy getting for me and mine while making the lives of others miserable."

People, he said, need to learn to share who they are, what they have and what they know with others.

"There will come a time when we won't have what we own," he said. "We'll either lose it or leave it, so we need to share what we have or leave it."

It is only through sharing, Griffen said, we can touch the lives of others. It is important we become blessings and do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

"Those who sacrifice for others are the highest and longest living. Ila Upchurch has gone, but her name is still here because she learned to share."

People who mean the most give of themselves and their knowledge, direction, purpose, time and lessons, he said.

One way or another, he continued, we share, either our strengths or our weaknesses, our gifts or our faults. The question, he asked, is do we share anything worth having?

"The real test of our lives is about service. The real heroes," Griffen said, "are the ones who do the most for others because they want to be a blessing for others."

He told the audience there are many ways to serve. This can be done by helping the elderly, working with the young, doing community work and not worrying about being paid for it. Another way of serving, he said, is to live by example.

"Remember to live more than you think is possible,"Griffen said. "You can accomplish more if you quit telling yourself you can't."

Griffen had three things to say about can't  (1) can't never did; (2) can't never does; and (3) can't never will.

"The challenge is not to live in a world of can't and not be defined by what others can't see us do," he said. "If we live in a world of will, can and shall, then nothing is impossible."

Prior to Griffen's talk, awards were handed out.

Laura Meeks was named Citizen of the Year, while Ruby Hart earned the honor of Educator of the Year.

Prescott Superintendent Ron Wright was presented a plaque for the support he's given students and the community, along with getting Prescott Middle School renamed as the McRae Middle School.

Carlos Franklin was tabbed outstanding senior at Prescott High School, while the Upchurch Scholarship went to Crystal Moss.

Olen Johnson was presented a plaque for his non-stop work for the Upchurch Corporation and community.