very well said Mark there is nothing left to say.
From: Richard McKinley
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2016 10:17 AM
To: msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [msb-alumni] Re: Celebrity and Schools for the Blind
I say let him enjoy the fame. Like all of us, he's just serving time in this
life. Like all of us he's not getting out of here alive. Let the man be.
On May 21, 2016, at 12:11 AM, Mark Martin <mbmartin1984@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I got to thinking about how many schools for the blind can boast of an
alumnus as well known as Stevie? I can think of a couple of others, Ronnie
Milsap from the Governor Morehead School in North Carolina, and Ray Charles
from Florida. How supportive have they been? Personally I don't know. Those
of you who apparently track these things could perhaps fill us in! Maybe this
would give you the satisfaction in knowing they have been more supportive of
their schools, or maybe they have done no better. We here in Michigan have
nothing left to support. I actually don't know the status of Florida and North
Carolina. We have two Christmas concerts with Stevie singing solos. How many
schools for the blind can lay claim to that, and how about Stevie writing one
of his best known songs right there on our campus! "My Cherie Amour" reached
the number 4 position on the national Billboard charts in 1969. What is behind
this anyway? Envy? Jealousy? Why hasn't Stevie obtained a car for _me! After
all, I shared the same campus with him! Better yet, I was in the same classroom
with him a few times! Personally, I know he owes me absolutely nothing. Would
you be willing to trade your freedom to come and go in public without being
harassed for your autograph, pound of flesh and whatever else? Oh yeah! the
money would be great but I don't know about the rest for me. A number of years
ago I was sent to and ear specialist in Lapeer, and somehow the subject of MSB
and the fact that Stevie Wonder had graduated from there was discussed. This
really interested the doctor so upon my next visit I brought my 1969 yearbook
so he could see Stevie there. The guy went nearly nuts for a couple of minutes
and really appreciated me showing me that book and showed it off to some of his
staff. What is it that makes some of us blind folks so critical! Is it the
high rate of unemployment or what? We have someone in our alumni that few
other schools for the blind can claim.
Mark Martin, 73.
