Chillicothe took a couple hard hits recently in losing two people whom we have come to depend on when it comes to Illinois Valley Central High School sports.
Ron “Poison” Phillips mastered the books of IVC statistics, and Steve “Ash” Aeschleman gave the play-by-play of the game.
Poison died Jan. 25, and Ash died Sunday.
Both performed their IVC sports functions for decades.
We have a feeling that if we could ask them why they did what they did, they would not think much about it.
No horn tooting or ego boosting about it, each, in his own way, found something he did well and stuck with it.
We can all learn something from Poison and Ash.
They found their niché. They did at least one thing (and we are sure they did others, as well) for the betterment of the Chillicothe community as a whole.
What about you?
You may not know anything about sports, or that may be all you know. You may not be good with children, but relate well to senior citizens.
Public speaking may frighten you, or you may be the best orator since President Abraham Lincoln.
Some are good followers, but not the one to lead the pack. Others are the dreamers and think up ideas, and yet others are the hands who get the work done.
Poison and Ash leave big shoes to fill in assisting with IVC athletics.
But Chillicothe sports teams are not the only groups who can benefit from the lessons taught by Poison and Ash.
To honor their memories in our community, let’s each find what we do best and do it with all our might.
Chillicothe, Ill. —
