Hello All,
During my 9 years or so of undergraduate studies spread out throughout the 2000s, I was fortunate enough to meet some truly wonderful people. I'd like to share one of them with you. Bill Larzelere. He is not going to be happy I wrote this, but he will just have to deal with it.
I got to know Bill almost 10 years ago when we were teammates at Clemson. Shout out to Clemson Crew! If I only had one word to describe Bill, I'd go with loyal. We don't get to see each other very often these days, but he has always been there for me over the years. He would move the earth to help someone in need and that is exactly what he was doing this past week.
After working 21 straight days of 12 hour moonlight shifts on the oil fields of the southwest as a Geologist, he immediately drove from Kansas to join my disaster response team here in Moore, Oklahoma. He didn't want a day off. He wanted to help the survivors of the tornadoes!
The temperatures this past week have been close to 100*F and Bill has worked nonstop to take down unstable homes, clear fallen trees and debris, and just today he helped build a new food pantry that will help feed the displaced residents from the tornadoes. I don't think I saw him take a single water break all week. He would occasionally rest just long enough to bust my chops or provide some humor to our group of volunteers, but other than that, there was no quite in him.
Bill, on behalf of the survivors here in Oklahoma and my disaster response team, I would like to thank you for going above and beyond. Your work has helped to change the world.
I am proud to have you as a friend.
Mark/Chops
PS. Safe travels to my good friend Zack Siddall. He is en route to Rwanda where he will undoubtedly change the lives of many. Your a good man Charlie Brown and I'll miss you.
The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days
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BILL IS THINKING... "IS ANYONE ACTUALLY SURPRISED CHOPS ISN'T WEARING A SHIRT? WHAT AN IDIOT!"
MAY, 2006 |
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| CLEMSON VARSITY AND FRESHMEN LIGHTWEIGHT 8s WIN GOLD! IF YOU CAN FIND ME, BILL IS IN FRONT OF ME. |
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| BILL AND ME. TIRING! |
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| DOING SOME CHAINSAW'N WITH MY BOY ZACK BEFORE HE HEADS OFF TO AFRICA |
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| SAW'N LOGS IN MY CLEMSON CHAPS |
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| COULD WE HAVE STUCK OUT ANYMORE? THIS IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING |
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| I WONT SAY WHO BILL WAS PRETENDING THE TARGET WAS |
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| YIKES |
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| NOT TOO BAD |
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| NECHAMA SHARP SHOOTERS! JESS, ZACK AND ME. |
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| BEGINNING OF OUR COMPLETE DEMO. STRATEGIZING ON HOW TO BRING THE HOUSE DOWN. |
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| BILL IS TAKING OUT THE CHIMNEY! |
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| HALFWAY DONE RAZING THE HOME! |
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| ASSESSING OUR OPTIONS FOR TAKING THE ROOF DOWN |
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| I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF BILL |
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| 75% DONE! |
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| OUR HOME ON 11TH AVE IN MOORE WAS SAFELY TAKEN DOWN! |
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| MAGGIE AND JESS LINE DANCING LIKE COWGIRLS! |
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| FRONT ROW AT BULL RIDING! TRYING TO TALK THEM INTO LETTING ME RIDE |
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| OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING MEMORIAL. INCREDIBLE TRIBUTE. |
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| SITE OF OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING |
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| MOORE, OKLAHOMA JUNE 10TH, 2013 |
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| CATCHING AN OKLAHOMA CITY REDHAWKS GAME THANKS TO MY BC HIGH PAL AND FORMER REDHAWK PLAYER DREW LOCKE! |
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| THE GUYS WERE NOT MAKING IT EASY FOR ME TO GET A GROUP PICTURE AT THE GAME. |
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| PLAZA TOWERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MEMORIAL. MOORE, OK |
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| FARWELL DINNER FOR BILL. ON BEHALF OF MY TEAM AND THE SURVIVORS OF MOORE, OKLAHOMA, THANK YOU BILL |
