Article fitting memorial for a real hero

8/8/2008

It was wonderful to see the great story on the incredible life of Sam Carson. It was the most thorough and uplifting memorial story I've read in years. It truly reflected his incredible life. For more than 40 years, Sam Carson has been a personal hero of mine.

When my brother John and I opened our firm in 1959, the Aetna agency (Carson & Associates) was number one in town and no one else was even close. Though we were minor competitors, the three of us became close friends and he always gave us incredible advice.

I believe most community and business leaders in the area would agree that Sam Carson has been the most respected and admired senior business leader in Toledo. Everyone sought his judgment and counsel on complex issues.

Though he was certainly economically successful, I believe his happiness was derived from the more important areas of life. He married the love of his life and they walked successfully together for more than 60 years. They raised and educated five wonderful children. They are solid community citizens and leaders in their own world. It doesn't get any better than that.

For Sam, business leadership and community services were synonyms.

Every community project and every individual who Sam interacted with was a little better for the meeting.

He was a friend and mentor to many of us. He will be missed, but because of his huge impact, his spirit will live in the greater Toledo area.

Toledo is indeed fortunate that Sam Carson decided this would be his home.

Bob Savage

Savage and Associates

Kenwood Boulevard

Carson taught more than insurance sales

On May 1, 1954, I presented myself to the leaders of the Aetna Life Insurance Company agency in downtown Toledo. One of them was Sam Carson. I had been sent to Toledo from Hartford after several months of schooling in the Aetna Life's home office.

I was immediately impressed by all three leaders.

I had the good fortune to work with Sam for 15 years. From him I learned the life-and-group insurance business. Also, I learned how to develop relationships within the business and professional community, which has been vital to my whole working career.

Sam knew the term noblesse oblige and honored that as a personal responsibility all of his life. He truly was a gentleman. All through my working career I knew I could call on Sam for a sincere suggestion to solve an issue that was troubling me.

Goodbye Sam, and thanks.

John W. Davies, Jr.

Wyndwood Drive

Clean docks to draw boaters downtown

I have read and heard a lot of comments from the mayor regarding efforts to lure more boaters downtown. With the lack of special events on the downtown waterfront this summer, there has not been much reason to dock our boat there.

This past weekend the Smoke on the Water Rib Off was held downtown. We figured it would be a great to take the boat downtown and enjoy the festivities.

While pulling up to dock our boat we noticed the disgusting docks that were completely covered with bird droppings and feathers. Almost looked like the docks had been painted white.

So rather than two boatloads of people stopping to patronize this fine event, we turned around and headed back toward home.

I've got one simple inexpensive idea to getting more boaters downtown. Have someone fire hose the docks before any special events downtown.

Not charging dock fees to prospective patrons of these events would also probably lure more boaters to the area.

Pat Phillips

Maumee

Scott High building should be preserved

I have a real hard time understanding what difference it makes whether you tear down and build a new building or repair the old one. Money given is money given.

Scott High School is one of the most beautiful buildings inside and out. It has produced some very intelligent and talented people.

Like any school (yes, any school), it has its share of problems but, for the most part, it has produced wonderful people through the years.

Let's save this beautiful school and a lot of memories.

Go Dawgs.

Diana Herman

Scott Class of 1966

Whitehouse

Save Scott, yes, but don't forget Libbey

Many people seem to be interested in the future of their high school alma maters here in Toledo. Earlier, many Libbey High School alumni attempted to save that beautiful building, which housed many great memories for a multitude of students.

Recently, a writer thought Scott High was worthy of saving from the wrecking ball and cited its namesake as a reason for so doing.

My issue is the man for which Edward Drummond Libbey High School was named has left a lasting imprint on and legacy to this city that warrants further consideration for preservation of a stately, magnificent building.

Pat Mallory Vandersall

Libbey Class of 1953

Pemberville

Fair salary may be way to draw teachers

Regarding The Blade editorials "Teaching the teachers" and "Marshall plan for literacy," I agree that elementary teachers need a deeper understanding of mathematics. Lipping Ma (1999) wrote a marvelous book about this topic demonstrating that United States elementary teachers do not have a profound understanding of fundamental mathematics.

Without this, teaching and student learning will, in fact, suffer. Believe me though, schools really are working to remedy the situation.

With respect to a "Marshall plan" to attack adult literacy, I am not sure any amount of money will solve the problem if people simply do not care to work and learn in school.

I do not agree with the old adage "Those who can, do; Those who can't, teach." I won't say how I think it really should read not to offend anyone but the original is very disrespectful to those who dedicate their lives to educating children.

Until teaching is a profession that pays enough to attract those who want a comfortable lifestyle, we will not have all that we might hope for in the classroom.

But wait, I read about a professor who was making so much money that he was willing to pay $1.5 million of his own money to get out of a contract. Not only that, but his new university was going to pay $2.5 million of their own.

With those kinds of salaries, we should be able to get the best into teaching.

Oops, I'm sorry, that wasn't a professor, he was a coach. Well, it tells us where the priorities of this country lie.

Now, before all you athletic supporters write in to tell me about how character-building sports are, I feel that students should learn all that at home before they even go to school.

Raymond A. Heitger

Darlington Road

Seniors should not bear property tax

The property tax, especially for old, dying seniors and widows existing on Social Security, is the most tyrannical tax ever imposed on a nation!

We should never lose our life-supporting homes to any tax in our twilight years.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt's one mistake was not to declare a national exemption on property tax paid out of his National Social Security Act.

Vincent Paul Yancey

Curtice

A micromanaging mayor with a king complex who contracts with a convicted criminal, allegedly still practicing, to book and manage entertainment at the city's Erie Street Market, with the city's only profit coming from the sale of alcohol. Now that's a wonderful image of Toledo, the "most liveable city."

Joyce Douglas

Ward Street