Page 9 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2022 - Online Magazine

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Senior
Senior
Weldon Laird
A Family Man
s the youngest child of
a family who lives in a
Asuburban area, it is safe
to say that I do not get out much.
I go to church on Sundays, go to
school on weekdays, and rest on
Saturdays. Our schedules seem to
follow a repetition which can get
tiring. My grandfather, Weldon
Laird, seems to be immune from
this curse. He always seems to be
at the pinnacle of happiness. As
an outsider looking in, I can only
wonder where his unshakable will
comes from.
Is it God?
Family?
Friends?
Turns out,
it is all the
above! He
has every
reason to be
joyful, and
his joy is
intoxicating.
One conversation is all it takes, and
your day suddenly has brightened.
His resolve, behavior, mindset, and
so many other positive attributes
By: Ryan Fullerton
are the reason for writing this
article about him. I could not ask
for a better role model.
His childhood was nowhere near
as comfortable as mine. Whether
losing a sibling at an early age or
walking a mile to attend a one-
room school or working on cotton
farms as a child, he did not have
the easiest early life. He worked
throughout his school years and
continued working while in college.
He would participate in classes,
then go to work
once he had
finished. The
biggest thing
he emphasized,
when he was
recalling his
story to me,
was that God
was prevalent
throughout his
life. He would
find time to
complete a Bible study when he
could because he knew what the
most important thing was. He
acquired an engineering degree at
Texas A&M and later reengineered
five parts of the cotton gin, making
it more efficient. He proceeded to
obtain a patent for each of the parts
that he constructed. When I asked
him about the greatest achievement
in his life, I had assumed that he
would tell me about his patents,
but I was too naive in my thinking.
My grandfather’s attention never
focused on the prestige that his
achievements could bring him,
but instead, the nucleus of his
life was his family. He did not
even have to think about his
answer. It was always his greatest
accomplishment.
Weldon possesses a servant’s
heart. He always puts others
before himself and cares for them
immensely. Every Sunday before
service, he stands outside the door
which leads into the auditorium
and hands out bulletins to all the
passersby while exchanging a
quick greeting with them. During
communion, he always assists with
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