What Makes A Leader

This article first appeared in the October 10, 1990 issue of The Camden Chronicle. If anyone knows the Larry Vick mentioned in the article, I'd be interested in what happened to him and the project he supported.

It is gratifying and reassuring to see so many letters to the Editor on the Opinion page of The Chronicle lately. Gratifying because that is what the Opinion page is for, it is the place for people in the country to call attention to a problem they feel is plaguing the community or to just get something off their chest. In addition, it is the place in a small community, sometimes the only place, for the thinkers to put forth new thoughts and ideas.

Many people feel the places to look for leadership and innovation in our political and social worlds are among our federal politicians and in our appellate courts. If not that high, at least to the elected and appointed officials at the State level. However, when we examine the process closely, most of the time we find the real thinking comes from the grass roots. With few exceptions, our political and social leaders are so busy maintaining the status quo and perpetuating themselves in office there is little time left to think of the people who elected them.

For this reason it is unexpected and reassuring to see a local politician taking the bull by the horns when he feels there is a need and putting the political process to work in the way it was intended at the local level.

In the past few weeks, County Commissioner Larry Vick has just about single-handedly sold the County on building a Civic Center to provide a place for young people, as well as the elderly, to meet and play and enjoy themselves in a manner that is good and right. I don't know Larry Vick, but I like the way he works. He sets forth his ideas in a coherent style and asks for help without whining or begging. He knows that alone he can accomplish nothing, but when a community works together, a lot can be accomplished in a very short time.

As mentioned before, I never met young Mr. Vick, but I knew his father personally and his grandfather by reputation, so I know the bloodline is good. When one tires, as I do, of reading about greedy inept politicians in our big city newspapers, reading about Larry Vick's energy and interest i his community is like a breath of fresh air.