Super-Brad

Superheroes have a way of capturing our imaginations.  At some point, we’ve all considered driving the Batmobile or holding Captain America’s shield or throwing Thor’s hammer.  I’ve even often thought about wearing Wonder Woman’s outfit.  But at the end of the day, we realize these are only fantasies.  While the characters may not truly exist, we don’t need to look far to see real life heroes.  There are a lot of people whose impact on society is far greater than the recognition they receive.  From firefighters to police officers to teachers, everyday heroes are all around us.  Jameson Camp is fortunate enough to have one of those heroes on staff.  He is the Site Manager and his name is Brad Higgins.

 

Born a Hoosier, Brad was raised in Marion, Indiana and lived there until he was 22.  He graduated from Marion High School in 1980, long before the internet was invented, and possibly even electricity.  After high school, he attended Marion College (now Indiana Wesleyan), the same college at which his parents met.  Brad majored in Business Administration and one of his first post-college jobs was with a successful auto-racing business, RACE Marketing.  He worked there for a while and did a lot of traveling before eventually returning to the Midwest and settling in Indianapolis.

Unfortunately, in 1994, Brad suffered two devastating losses; first his job, then his father.  This double-whammy happened within 2 months.  “I kind of bottomed out,” he said.  The following year Brad went to a family member’s cabin in Maine to find peace and solitude.  It was a time of uncertainty for him and as he put it, “It was literally one of those experiences where I went hoping to hear the voice of God tell me what I’m supposed to do with my life.”  He enjoyed the trip and it encouraged him to change his approach in regards to settling down.  “I had always done the conventional thing but now I decided I was going to go somewhere I wanted to live and look for work rather than the other way around.”  After visiting Maine, Brad’s intention was to move to Wisconsin near family.  But ironically enough, it was a chance encounter with one Indiana family member that changed everything.

A week after he returned from his trip, Brad stopped by Dairy Queen in Clermont.  While he was enjoying an M&M blizzard, he ran into his cousin.  Fortunately no one was injured.  With his cousin that day was a woman named Julie Marsh.  Does that name ring a bell?  Probably not because I just introduced her.  At the time, Julie was the Executive Director of Jameson Camp.  Through conversation and frozen creamsicles, Julie learned that Brad was in between jobs and that he enjoyed outside work.  She invited Brad to visit Camp and help the Site Manager, Bill Freeman.  Brad said yes and two days later he was at Jameson.  While Brad was filling out paperwork in the main office, Bill walked in and said he needed to talk to Julie.  He walked in to her office and closed the door.  30 minutes later Bill walked out of Julie’s office and said to Brad, “I don’t mean to put you in an awkward position, but…”  As Bill closed the door on his way out of the main office, Julie’s office door opened.  “Brad, could you come here?” Julie called Brad into her office and said, “Bill put in his 2-weeks notice.”  As the old saying goes, when one Site Manager’s door closes, another one opens.

After Bill left, Brad worked at Jameson Camp part-time.  It was the beginning of September and Summer Camp had just ended.  Julie was patient with Brad and she told him, “If it’s something you’re interested in, keep at it for a while and if it seems like something you think you’d like to do long-term, and it works for us, then I’ll offer you the job.”  It didn’t take long for that offer to come forth, and soon enough Brad was the full-time Site Manager.  “Brad’s a very spiritual man,” Julie said.  “I believe as soon as he stepped on to that property, he had a sense that it was the right place for him.”

Brad w/ Office Manager Carol Richard (Howden) circa 1999 or 2000

Camp underwent many changes during the late ‘90’s and early 2000’s.  More cabins were built and more full-time staff was hired to keep up with the growing population of campers.  Although the grounds required more upkeep, Super-Brad never received help from a sidekick.  “From 2000-2002, we worked on the Master Plan,” Julie said.  “It was in the plan and I promised him that he would have a full-time assistant.”  15 years have passed since then and Brad still doesn’t have a helper.  Sure he receives help each year from wonderful volunteer groups like CNO Financial, but the preparation and clean-up of the camp beautification events falls on Brad’s shoulders.  Fortunately he was blessed with strong shoulders.  “He’s very athletic,” Julie said.  “When Brad first came here, we had a camp dog named Maggie.  One day she ran after someone and he took off like a jackrabbit.  I always knew that if there was an emergency, Brad would be there.”

The worst emergency Brad and Julie ever faced at Jameson Camp just so happened to be one of the worst U.S. tragedies in modern history. After the September 11th terror attacks, planes were grounded across the country. With the camp located only minutes from the Indianapolis Airport, Brad suggested to Julie that Jameson should be offered as a shelter. Soon enough buses were pulling up to camp and unloading passengers, many of whom were schoolchildren from Mexico on a U.S. field trip. The language barrier did nothing to prevent Brad, Julie, and the rest of the Jameson Camp staff from being extremely generous and welcoming. In fact, a week later, Julie received 2 notes from children who had been affected by the event.

The first note was written by a mother: “I wish to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the loving care that you so willingly gave to my daughter and son-in-law.  They could only rave about the wonderful people that they met at the camp…the numerous kindnesses shown them by everyone they encountered.  They told us of a very nice man who took them to the supermarket and came to visit regularly.” (I wonder who that was?) “They still cannot believe the wonderful people who donated food, toys, toiletries, games, etc. and those who just took the time to drop by to see how they could help out.  We will be eternally grateful to all of you and will always have a special place in our hearts for each of you.”

In the second letter, a young girl, with the help of her mother wrote, “I was on Flight 881 of Mexicana and was your guest at the camp due to the terrorist attacks on September 11^th.  I want to thank you all for your kindness, your hospitality, and for making us, that group of youngsters, feel safe with you.  Please thank everybody on behalf of all of us, and especially me, because you made me feel at home and taken care of.  I would like to have the opportunity to come back to your camp on a different moment and be able to participate in any way to give back all the love you gave us.”  This young girl was from Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico where she attended the Hellen Keller School.

Whereas most superheroes have otherworldly powers, Brad’s strengths are in his character.  The 9/11 incident was a perfect example of Brad’s greatest quality: his unfailing, unending selflessness.  An uncle to 5 nieces and nephews and 5 great-nieces and nephews, you will never meet a more devoted family-man in your life.  Just this past Thanksgiving, Brad changed plans at the last minute to travel with his cousin and Julie so they could visit his cousin’s dying father.  “He didn’t have to do that,” Julie said.  “He gave up his Thanksgiving to help us.  That’s the kind of person he is.  He didn’t see it as a burden…he saw it as an honor.”

Brad’s unselfish attitude has led other staff members to go out of their way for him.  A good example occurred with Jameson’s ‘Go-Go Girl,’ Yvonne Matlock.  A few weeks after she started working at camp, Yvonne learned that the Bradmobile (tractor) he was using to cut the grass was broken and slow.  One day she said to him, “Brad, I’m going to get you a Dixie!”  To fully appreciate this type of comment, you have to understand that Yvonne is from the South.  Just try to picture her as Daisy Duke yelling to one of her cousins.  (On second thought…) Meanwhile, Brad in no way believed that Yvonne could make it happen.  He thought of something sarcastic to say but instead bit his lip and rolled his eyes.  As fate would have it, 6 months later, a new Dixie Chopper arrived at Jameson Camp.

“I was convinced that would never work,” Brad said.  “Yvonne has proved me wrong over and over again in that light.  She takes things on and makes them work.”  Since receiving the Dixie, Brad’s grass-cutting time has been cut in half.  Literally.  Advertisers took notice and featured Brad in this ad.

Brad hasn’t let the fame get to his head, however, thus holding onto the last of his mighty superpowers: his humbleness.  Even when presented with an opportunity to take credit for a job well done, Brad refuses the spotlight.  “The humility…that’s the clearest example of who he is,” Julie said.  “I’m sure there have been many times when he’s wanted to put his cape down.  But I never heard him complain about any activity being a burden.”  If Brad was ever presented with a Modesty Award, he would decline it and say he doesn’t deserve it.  For Julie and Brad, it always came back to the mission.

“Brad talked about how he couldn’t do certain things because he wasn’t a plumber or an electrician, but that wasn’t the most important thing to us,” Julie said.  “What was most important was that we had someone that cared about the kids and the mission.  He understands the importance of what the camp does.  He really enjoys the work we do.  He has been a gift to Jameson.  And as a friend, I couldn’t ask for anyone better.”

Tomorrow is Brad’s birthday and everyone at Jameson Camp wants him to know how truly grateful we are to have him around.  He has worked harder than we will ever know to keep the site looking as beautiful as it does on a daily basis.  Brad, thank you for your commitment to Jameson Camp and have a wonderful birthday!

Kevin Johnson

kevin@jamesoncamp.org