CSM Open House Features Former NFL Great
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
By Cathy Patton
Northfork native and former Pittsburg Steeler lineman Tom Beasley shared his
sentiments on the secrets to success and greatness during the Council of the Southern
Mountains open house Tuesday afternoon
“Football, at times, is too much about self. True greatness comes from serving
others,” Beasley said
In touching on the three things that life has taught him, Beasley noted, “My
greatest and deepest pleasures in my life have come from serving others,’
Beasley said he and his two brothers learned lesson number one from his parents
who taught him to roll up his sleeves and go to work.
“Dad had three jobs and Mom worked like Trojan,” he said.
Twenty seasons of team sports, Beasley said, taught him lesson number two,
which the importance of putting aside self-interest and pulling together for the good of
the team.
When he was with the team, Beasley said the Steelers had several highly talented
players who were more motivated by self-interest than team interest. Their talent wasn’t
enough. The team, he said, never did its best until they were gone.
“We got rid of them and went on to won the next two seasons,” he said.
Touching on lesson number three, Beasley Quoted motivational speaker Zig
Ziglar.
“When you give enough people what they want, you get what you want,” he said.
Putting personal ideas aside and hooking u[p to the same yoke, Beasley said,
creates a synergistic effect and unbelievably positive consequences. “The sky is the
limit,” he said. “We need to see the greatness in serving other.”
Beasley, who kept the audience listening intently during his inspirational
message, said thet public speaking is not his forte.
“(Public) speaking is not a gift I have,” he said. “I prayed for God to fill me with
a willing spirit. When I go out and give of myself, God has a way of blessing me.”
Beasley, who now resides in Virginia, commended the Council of the Southern
Mountains for toughing it out through adversity and for continuing to serve the
community.
CSM Executive Director Randal Johnson commented that it was an honor to have
someone of Beasley’s caliber to speak at the open house.
Johnson said the CSM had overcome the non-profit agency’s recent adversity
through the determination, patience and hard work of its board and staff.
Quoting Edwin Markham, Johnson reminded the well-wishers: “There is a destiny
that makes us all brothers/As none go this way alone/ For all that we place into the lives
of others/Come back into our own.”
Other participants in the open house ceremony included Director of the
Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity Ed Harper, Dr, Tom Nuckols, Pastor
Howard Calloway, Pastor Jim ?Schrader CSM Board President Claudia Via, and
Keystone Mayor Buck Wade.
Moyor Wade welcome the CSM to Keyston
“We’re glad you’re here. Welcome to the building,” he said.
The CSM is located in Keystone City Hall, formerly the Bank of Keystone.
