Jim and Dorothy Grigsby (circa 1975)
April 25, 2011An Entry from Diane:
"Living with Expectations" was the title of Rev. Russ Smith's sermon at Wesley United Methodist Church where we have been members for years. Gordy and I attended the 11 a.m. traditional service that day to hear the wonderful Easter music and an extra special selection by the choir singing Handel's "Messiah"--it was magnificent. As Gordy and I drove home, I commented about how our cancer journey as patient and caregiver had been anything but living with daily expectations. When healthy people wake up, they generally have a daily routine--eat breakfast, maybe exercise, go to work, read, talk and visit others, run errands, have lunch, watch tv, fix and eat dinner, and repeat these activities the next day with minor variations.
Healthy individuals are at "ease" with this predictable routine. For eight months, our lives were basically devoid of predictable expectations. We never knew what was around the corner from one day to the next. How would he respond to each successive dose of radiation and chemotherapy, how could we get nutrients into his body, how could I keep him comfortable, when would either of us feel some sense of control in our lives again.Today that sense of normalcy is returning. Make no mistake, this journey is not over. While visiting friends last week in San Francisco, Gord had one mild choking incident and on two occasions suggested he go back to the hotel to rest for a while. He would never have done that before all this happened.
When the body has a disease, the ease goes out the window. It did for both of us. For two people who prefer an organized existence, we certainly were not at ease but coped as best we could with the new normal. He had middle of the night feedings through the feeding tube, no normal meals, copious meds at different intervals, unusual sleeping patterns, lessened levels of concentration, and the cloud of uncertainty living with cancer. We are grateful that in bits and pieces our lives are again approaching some sense of normalcy.
An Unexpected Honor
Every year through the Office of Student Activities Western Illinois University, various student leadership awards are given to well-deserving individuals. Gordy received a letter informing him that the James M. Grigsby Student Leadership Award was being renamed the Gordon A. Taylor Student Leadership Award. This is truly an honor that will live on for decades. Gordy not only was given an opportunity to speak at the awards ceremony on April 25th but also gave out plaques to 5 students who were nominated by faculty, administrators, and/or peers. Both of us knew Vice President Grigsby as students in the late 60s and then as faculty/administrators. Like Jim, Gordy has a profound loyalty and love for WIU.
Here is what is written in the program:
The Gordon A. Taylor Student Leadership Award recognizes outstanding leadership and accomplishments within recognized student organizations and clubs. This award, formerly known as the James M. Grigsby Student Leadership Award, is awarded to five graduating seniors who have made a substantial contributions to their respective organization by not only holding a leadership position but by stepping above the minimum requirements of their position. Gordy Taylor served Western Illinois University for over 35 years, serving as the director of Western's award-winning program for 28 of those years. During his tenure, WIU received numerous awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The awards included recognition for student involvement programs, specific alumni awards and the grand gold award for overall alumni programs in 1994. In addition, Gordy also initiated the WIN (Western Illinois Now) alumni fundraising program. Although Gordy retired in 2006, he still continues to serve WIU as well as the Macomb community. Gordy still conducts interviews with people from the surrounding area on WIUTV3, Western's student-run television station, and also does motivational speaking. Additionally, he continues to put in countless hours into making Western Illinois University a better institution and Macomb a better place to live through various community service and charity events.
We are thrilled with this unexpected honor and as Gord says, "Diane, I am really humbled by this. Jim Grigsby was a man I always respected and admired. He was a straight shooter and man of great integrity. Jim was also a friend of the student." It was a memorable night!
An Unexpected Honor
Every year through the Office of Student Activities Western Illinois University, various student leadership awards are given to well-deserving individuals. Gordy received a letter informing him that the James M. Grigsby Student Leadership Award was being renamed the Gordon A. Taylor Student Leadership Award. This is truly an honor that will live on for decades. Gordy not only was given an opportunity to speak at the awards ceremony on April 25th but also gave out plaques to 5 students who were nominated by faculty, administrators, and/or peers. Both of us knew Vice President Grigsby as students in the late 60s and then as faculty/administrators. Like Jim, Gordy has a profound loyalty and love for WIU.
Here is what is written in the program:
The Gordon A. Taylor Student Leadership Award recognizes outstanding leadership and accomplishments within recognized student organizations and clubs. This award, formerly known as the James M. Grigsby Student Leadership Award, is awarded to five graduating seniors who have made a substantial contributions to their respective organization by not only holding a leadership position but by stepping above the minimum requirements of their position. Gordy Taylor served Western Illinois University for over 35 years, serving as the director of Western's award-winning program for 28 of those years. During his tenure, WIU received numerous awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The awards included recognition for student involvement programs, specific alumni awards and the grand gold award for overall alumni programs in 1994. In addition, Gordy also initiated the WIN (Western Illinois Now) alumni fundraising program. Although Gordy retired in 2006, he still continues to serve WIU as well as the Macomb community. Gordy still conducts interviews with people from the surrounding area on WIUTV3, Western's student-run television station, and also does motivational speaking. Additionally, he continues to put in countless hours into making Western Illinois University a better institution and Macomb a better place to live through various community service and charity events.
We are thrilled with this unexpected honor and as Gord says, "Diane, I am really humbled by this. Jim Grigsby was a man I always respected and admired. He was a straight shooter and man of great integrity. Jim was also a friend of the student." It was a memorable night!
