A Shining Light Is Gone, Yet He Lives On

by Sid Edwards, Head Football Coach, Central High School

CENTRAL — “Every day’s a great day — because you woke up!”  Arthur Richardson said with a smile.

Arthur passed away recently and has left a big hole.

He was a shining light in our community.

Arthur was a janitor at our school, Central High School, and he touched a lot of people’s lives.

I was one of them.

He’d say to me, “I want to talk to you!”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because you know…” he said.

“Then you know too!” I said, and we both laughed.

“Every day’s a great day!”

I told the coaches he died, and a lot of them had never met him.  What a shame!

I went to his funeral, and I figured I’d be the only one there from the school.

But when I got there, I saw so many people I knew!

He had touched so many lives!

He was at Central Intermediate for years.

He’d give a student a sucker or a silver dollar or two.

And he’d tell them, “Every day’s a great day, because you woke up!”

Mr. Arthur’s wife works at the Clerk’s office.  At the funeral, a lot of people came from the Clerk’s and the Assessor’s offices.

Mr. Arthur had retired, and he didn’t need to work.

But he did, and he spread happiness and encouragement to everyone he met.

What an honor it was to be his friend!

Mr. Arthur was 66.  He left two children and a granddaughter.

A shining light is gone, but thank God, Mr. Arthur lives on!

Always remember, “Every day’s a great day, because you woke up!”