Spurling Guitars

One Fred Kelly

Where Have All the Heroes Gone?

We are a society of hero worshipers. But we have had a dearth of heroes in recent years. Most of our leaders, superstar athletes, movie starts, CEO’s, presidents and senators have left us disappointed, frustrated, and disillusioned. These days, we have to look beyond the glitz of Hollywood, the weak excuses of superstar athletes, and the “spin†of politicians and CEO’s to find the true heroes.

Historical research shows that heroes have consistently followed the same set of principles over the last several thousand years without even knowing it. They have left us a well-worn trail to follow by their examples. Each of them, as individual role models, have joined together to form one giant, universal role model.

Heroes have an uncanny ability to look beyond the crisis of the moment and see a purpose so big and all encompassing that they forget, momentarily, about everything else, everything - including their own interests. These are the types of people who have always been our heroes - consistently over the last several thousand of years. These are the types of heroes we need more of today.

But who are these heroes and where do you find them? It turns out you don’t have to look very far.

At my Dad’s recent funeral in the little town of Castroville, Texas, a man came up to me and said, “Your Dad changed my life.†I was shocked.

My Dad was a typical old-style Hispanic authoritarian figure, with a jaw of stone, not prone to show great affection to anyone, including his family. He was a strong disciplinarian. We were terrified of him when we were kids. He could be harsh and cold at times, but he was still my Dad and we all loved and respected him.

He grew up in poverty as a migrant farm worker, traveling with the cotton crop harvest from season to season, living in small tent-cities with all the other migrant farm workers.

At the age of 17, he left home to join the Air Force. He did his basic training at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, like so many other enlisted men during that time. As it turned out, he had a very high IQ and became an intelligence officer, interpreting code as it was transmitted by the Russians during the cold war.

After receiving an honorable discharge from the Air Force, he went to college at the tiny Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, where he decided to study to become a preacher. During the summers, he did volunteer work in the little town of Mason, Texas.

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In that town, lived an impoverished teenage boy named Fred Zavala, who was being raised by his alcoholic grandfather in a one-room shack with no furniture in it except a rusty old bed spring. He was an outcast. One day, a skinny Bible student came to visit. The student was out to change the world, one person at a time. The student invited Fred and his grandfather to church. At first Fred resisted. But, because of the student's warm enthusiasm and zest for life, Fred eventually went to church. It was a small Hispanic Evangelical church in Mason, Texas.

At church, Fred developed a crush on a girl named Janie. But Janie's father knew of Fred's background and circumstances and was, therefore, not fond of Fred. Fred was never invited to Janie's house when her father invited other church members over for dinner after church. Instead, he would walk slowly in front of Janie's house with his head held low, his hands in his pockets, gazing longingly at Janie's house, wishing he could go in.

Eventually, as the Bible student's time in that little town was coming to end, he tried to get Fred a job so he could learn a trade and earn a living. He succeeded in getting Fred a job at an auto-mechanic shop, but things didn't work out there. Then Fred got a job hauling rocks to building sites. Every day, under the hot, burning Texas sun, Fred faithfully hauled his rocks. It was not a glamorous job. But it was a job. He looked on with fascination at the skill with which the stone-masons cut and laid the stone to build beautiful structures. He thought, "I’d like to learn to do that." He made an internal decision to learn stone masonry from the masons to whom he carried stone. By watching them and asking questions, he eventually did learn stone masonry. He pursued this craft with passion until his masterful work began to be noticed by others. His work received so much demand that he eventually started his own building business.

Over the years, he did well financially, and he eventually bought houses and land. He even married his dream girl—Janie! He also started a Mexican food restaurant across the street from the nicest steak house in town. Eventually, the steak house went out of business and the bank asked Fred if he was interested in buying the building. Fred did so and he turned the steak house into a thriving business. Now after church in Mason, Texas, most people eat at either Zavala's Mexican Restaurant or Fred's Steak House. The outcast who was rarely invited to dinner is one of the wealthiest men in town and owns two of the busiest restaurants.

How did this turn around come to be? It started with a poor, young college student with a passion for people. He saw what no one else in that little town saw. He saw riches where others saw rubble. The vision then spread and grew in the heart of a teenage boy who chose to believe in a force higher than himself and thus, came to believe in his own abilities. It happened because two unique men pursued their dreams with passion, consistent dedication, and blood, sweat, and tears. Neither Fred nor the young Bible student will ever be famous, but both accomplished their dreams. Both have lived happy, fulfilled lives. Fred obtained all he ever hoped for. The student accomplished his goals as well; he helped turn the life of a young man around from that of a poor outcast to that of a wealthy, highly respected businessman in the community. The student was my father, Daniel M. Castro. That’s why Fred Zavala came up to me at my Dad’s funeral and said, “Your Dad changed my life.â€

We can now clone animals, and we may even be able to clone human beings soon. But we can’t clone character and integrity and the kind of selflessness that makes up the heart and souls of heroes. So, where will our future heroes come from? They will come from within. When we learn to see through the eyes of heroes, we will see the kinds of things heroes see. We will see riches where others see rubble. We will see opportunity where others see obstacles. We will be able to walk where heroes walk, and we will be able to act as heroes act. But first, it takes a decision. The decision behind the decision is to focus on a purpose bigger than ourselves.

When hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit, people from all over the U.S. invited complete strangers into their homes, and donated food, water, clothing, books and millions of dollars to the victims. It was a comforting reminder that if we ever suffer such a tragedy, there might be a few people out there who would come to our rescue.

When we help other people weather their storms, something unexplainable happens in the cosmos. Electricity starts to flow, we feel more energized, brain cells get more creative, people unite, hearts swell - and sometimes, just every now and then, miracles happen.

You don’t have to look far to find the true heroes among us. You may not see them on TV or read about them in the newspapers. But they are out there . . . changing the world . . . one person at a time.

Daniel R. Castro, author of Critical Choices That Change Lives: How Heroes Turn Tragedy Into Triumph. To download the first chapter free, go to http://www.dancastro.com

About the Author

Professional:
Daniel R. Castro is a business litigation attorney and partner in the law firm of Castro & Baker, LLP, in Austin, Texas. Dan is an honors graduate of the University of Texas School of Law. He has spent the last 25 years mentoring teenagers and law students. Professionally, Dan has represented Fortune 500 corporations in multimillion-dollar litigation, individual corporate executives in employment disputes and small to mid-size corporations in hotly contested commercial and real estate disputes.

Aside from practicing law, Dan is also a business strategist/business consultant, helping clients to find the best strategy for starting businesses, developing business plans, building businesses and solving problems. Dan is also a professional keynote speaker and executive retreat leader and personal business coach and motivator.

Personal:
Dan has an insatiable love of history and has always gravitated toward the stories of people who seemed to prosper in the midst of crisis and adversity when everyone else around them failed. He was curious about what set these people apart and made them heroes. After he started practicing law, Dan started conducting the research that went into Critical Choices That Change Lives. His natural curiosity led him on a nine year adventure of reading volumes of biographies, academic articles, psychological treatises, magazines, newspapers, and observing people. What he discovered was that heroes are people who can literally see and hear things around them that other people cannot.

Fred Goodwin and the Order of the pension?

Surely the most obvious answer to the governments problems have been overlooked here. Everyone is unhappy he is getting £700,000 per year until he dies.

Well why don't they have one of their secret departments kill the cheating Bu**%r, then they don't have all the court costs, and they save themselves up to £20,000,000.

They did it to David Kelly, shouldn't be too hard.

Please, what are you saying? You trying to blow the gaff or what?

No, I think Goodwin is just being used as a scapegoat. Okay, so he's one of the bad guys, a BANKER! But our own dear UK.gov did give him the nod and the wink saying his pension was okay and secure etc.

The UK.gov got this messed up, let them sort it out and stop pratting on about Goodwin and MPs in the House of Cummins all rushing to sign a petition to have his Knighthood removed. Bunch of screaming school tarts if you ask me. They'll do anything to try to draw our attention away from the fact that the Home Secretary has fraudulently claimed almost £700,000 in what is best described as Housing Benefit, claiming that her sister's house here in London is her main residence when plainly it is not, beacuse her bloke and their children are still living in the family Manor Farm place up north somewhere.

I'm not being taken in by all this cobblers. They're all a bunch of nest featherers at our expense they just see us as serfs to be worked to death and fleeced. How dare you ask for benefits when you are unemployed and there's no work to be had! Slave, serfe. Get on your bike and find work; it's out there, somewhere or other.

The other massive scandal which no one seems to know about is that when you are a pensioner like me, if you go into hospital they stop your state pension and all your benefits. A pal of mine died destitute in hospital because he was unable to pay the Council tax and the rent on his flat. A war veteran who's only crime was to get ill in his old age.

Death Brown.

Tobacco Industry and Smoking (Hardcover) $44.33 As the single largest preventable cause of untimely death, tobacco use kills hundreds of thousands prematurely each year. A host of new laws has increased taxes on cigarettes and restricted smoking in public places, and U.S. smoking rates have declined...

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Fred $7.99 Fred

Fred Claus $7.99 This is a story you've never heard before, a hilarious and heartwarming comedy about Fred Claus, Santa's brother -- and complete opposite. After growing up in a saintly Nick's shadow, Fred becomes a grouch who's lost his belief in Christmas. Then, one magical December, Fred flies north (first class via reindeer) to find brother Nick is in trouble: a scheming efficiency expert is out to shut down Christmas fever! Expect fun by the sleighful as Fred helps save Christmas and rediscovers the gift of family. Join Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatii, Miranda Richardson, Rachel Weisz, Kathy Bates, Kevin Spacey and more in a yuletide treat to enjoy for years to come.

Kelly $17.56 Kelly

Fred Claire $19.48 Fred Claire, the former general manager who spent 30 years in the Los Angeles Dodgers front office, offers a look into the inner-workings of one of baseball's most storied franchises.

Fred Macmurray $24.95 Fred MacMurray was one of the most durable stars in motion picture history. Fred arrived in Hollywood in 1934 and within a year he was one of the top leading men in the movie industry. He was the leading actor or one of the leads in films through 1973 when Walt Disney Studios released his final starring role in a motion picture, Charley and the Angel. Thirty-nine years - five separate decades. Few stars have equaled that distinction.

Breakfast With Fred $12.98 Fred Smith s 6:30 A.M. breakfasts have become legendary. Now readers can join those whose lives have been stretched and enriched by words of wisdom from mentor and best-selling author Fred Smith, Sr. This book is a collection of 52 inspiring thoughts from Fred on a variety of topics including leadership, perseverance, success, character, faith, friendship, family and heroes. Following each insightful entry is a thoughtful response/reflection from 52 of Fred s good friends, including Zig Ziglar, John Maxwell, Pat Williams, Ken Blanchard and Charlie Tremendous Jones, who call him mentor and credit him with having a significant influence on their lives and ministries. Men and women worldwide will breakfast with Fred and grow in faith, understanding and purpose. His wisdom and principle-based approach to life will enable them to grasp life with a stronger hold. And thought-provoking questions, one-liners and Scripture references will allow readers to personalize the impact of each reading. Grab a cup of coffee and get ready for a life-changing breakfast with Fred.

The Fred Factor $9.94 From the Publisher: Meet Fred. In his powerful new book THE FRED FACTOR, motivational speaker Mark Sanborn recounts the true story of Fred, the mail carrier who passionately loves his job and who genuinely cares about the people he serves. Because of that, he is constantly going the extra mile handling the mail - and sometimes watching over the houses - of the people on his route, treating everyone he meets as a friend. Where others might see delivering mail as monotonous drudgery, Fred sees an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those he serves. We've all encountered people like Fred in our lives. In THE FRED FACTOR, Mark Sanborn illuminates the simple steps each of us can take to transform our own lives from the ordinary - into the extraordinary. Sanborn, through stories about Fred and others like him, reveals the four basic principles that will help us bring fresh energy and creativity to our life and work: how to make a real difference everyday, how to become more successful by building strong relationships, how to create real value for others without spending a penny, and how to constantly reinvent yourself. By following these principles, and by learning from and teaching other Freds, you, too, can excel in your career and make your life extraordinary. As Mark Sanborn makes clear, each of us has the potential be a Fred. THE FRED FACTOR shows you how. About the Author: MARK SANBORN is an international known author, motivational speaker, and the president of Sanborn & Associates, Inc., an idea studio for leadership development. He gives nearly one hundred presentations each year on leadership, team building, customer service, and mastering change. Mark and his family live near Denver, Colorado.

Fred Clarke $29.95 Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945, Fred Clarke began his career in 1894 with a record day at the plate, going 5 for 5. He would go on to play for 21 years spending most of that time as the player-manager of the Pirates, a team he led to four pennants and one World Series Championship (1909).

R. Kelly - R. Kelly $8.99 Personnel: R. Kelly (vocals, various instruments); Ronald Isley (vocals); The Notorious B.I.G. (rap vocals); Ray Bady (various instruments, background vocals); Mr. Lee, Mario Winans (various instruments, programming); Jim Slattery (various instruments); Ernie Isley (guitar); Lafayette Carthon (keyboards, background vocals); Peter Mokran, Stephen George (programming); Strings, Alfonzo Walker, Charlotte Horton, Eleanor "Tinkey" Hampton, Kimmie MacFarland, Ronda V., Pepe Epting (background vocals); Kirk Franklin.Engineers: Peter Mokran, Stephen George.R. was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. "When A Woman`s Fed Up" was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.Personnel: R. Kelly (vocals, keyboards, background vocals); The Notorious B.I.G. (rap vocals); Ernie Isley (guitar); Peter Mokran (keyboards, programming); Lafayette Carthon, Jr. (keyboards); Mario Winans, Mr. Lee, Stephen George (programming); Charlotte Horton, Ray Bady, Ronald Isley (background vocals).Audio Mixers: Mr. Lee; Peter Mokran; R. Kelly; Stephen George.Unknown Contributor Role: The Notorious B.I.G.R. Kelly starts this disc off with a straight-up gospel sermon, and his vocal style is well-suited to it. He learned his craft in church, and he gives praise to God on the disc`s liner notes. Of course, the second song is called "Hump Bounce," so that also tells you where this popular, strong-voiced soul singer is coming from.Kelly sings about different aspects of love, sex, and relationships, with a style that owes much to those who came before him--Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and a host of others who refined and perfected the art of expression through vocalization. His formula is simple: take a slow or mid-tempo modern R&B structure, add a healthy dose of gospel-inflected vocal runs, up and and down the scale, and Presto!--another hit.Kelly`s material is almost all of the slow-groove style. This is music to make out to, plain and simple, and Kelly is good at what he does. On "Not Gonna Hold On," Kelly and producer Barry Hankerson create a truly hypnotic jam, one that gives the singer room to flex his impressive vocal chops. The arrangement is spare, with just a steady drum tap, and a synthesized keyboard flowing like rainwater behind the background vocal track. Kelly knows how to create a mood, and he does it over and over again. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.

Fred MacMurray $25.48 Fred MacMurray is one of the most successful American film actors of the 20th Century. From 1935 until 1973 he was the star, or one of the stars, of more than 80 films. Along with his amazing career longeivity Fred proved to be very versatile, working succesfully in different genres. In addition to his comedic skills (Rosalind Russell considered Fred "the most talented light comedian I ever met"),he was also one of the great romantic leads of his day. Considered by some to be a light-weight, the truth is that even when he played opposite the likes of Colbert, Lombard, Hepburn, Stanwyck, Dunne, Arthur, and Crawford, he was never overshadowed. Because his screen persona is multi-faceted, he is hard to define as an actor. Warm, down-to-earth and comforting to be around, he could also be the consummate cad. Always taken for granted, the critics didn't champion him, and he never received a major industry award. Only by looking back on the whole of his long and amazing career can we begin to see and understand his remarkable achievement.

Kelly Sweet - We Are One $11.99 Personnel: Kelly Sweet (vocals); Tim Pierce (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Grant Geisman (acoustic guitar); Ramon Stagnaro (steel guitar, classical guitar, nylon-string guitar); Mark Portmann (piano, keyboards, drums, programming); Steve Tavaglione (EWI, programming); Brendan Buckley (percussion).Audio Mixer: Mark Portmann.Recording information: MPM Studios.Arranger: Mark Portmann. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.

Living With Fred $11.98 Mark Cloud is back in Fred, Texas but Fred is not the same. The town drunk has got religion. One of Mark's classmates has started spitting out scriptures like a gumball machine. But more drastic things are in store for this small East Texas town. And for Mark. Once again a forgotten book buried on a dusty library shelf incites revolution. Mark begins to ask troublesome questions. Mark begins a pilgrimage that challenges the open-mindedness of his father and the forbearance of the deacons. As his answers lead him further down the path of least expectance, he ultimately finds himself facing the fear that haunts every PK: I could cost my dad his job. Mark must choose between remaining faithful to his understanding of the gospel or appeasing the prejudices of those with the power to make his family pay for his decisions.

Ode to Fred $12.5 My husband Danny was a wonderful man with a great sense of humor. He loved spending a day on the water fishing with friends and or family. There have been many a great story develop from those fishing trips.This book is a true story based on one of those such trips. On this particular day Danny took a friend named Fred fishing and this is about the events that happened after returning to the dock. Fred was 73 and well over 6'' tall at the time and didn''t know how to swim. We lived on a canal in Pelican Cove and on this day the tide was low. However, when you can''t swim depth doesn''t matter. The story has been told over and over and thank goodness it turned into a funny story from what could have been a tragedy.

Louisville Colonels Managers: List of Louisville Colonels Managers, Bill McGunnigle, Fred Clarke, Kick Kelly, Billy Barnie, Jack Chapman $19.99 Louisville Colonels Managers: List of Louisville Colonels Managers, Bill McGunnigle, Fred Clarke, Kick Kelly, Billy Barnie, Jack Chapman

Secretaries of State of Michigan: Candice Miller, Harry Kelly, Frank Fitzgerald, Terri Lynn Land, Washington Gardner, Fred M. Warner $19.99 Secretaries of State of Michigan: Candice Miller, Harry Kelly, Frank Fitzgerald, Terri Lynn Land, Washington Gardner, Fred M. Warner

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