When Johnny Taylor moved to Fulton from Austin, he had no idea how friendly small town people can be. When he was unable to leave his travel trailer for more than seven days in September, due to the almost 20 inches of rain because he is mobile only by scooter-chair, he found out.
Taylor was recently presented with a new ramp, installed at his home by the local Rotary Club with assistance from The South Side Rotary Club of Corpus Christi.
Local Rotarians included Joseph Patek, Rose Ann Holzman, Kari Kelley, Sid Murphy, Darren Sigwald, Mike Frost, and Scott Dutton. They were joined by a dozen or so men from the CC Club. Kelley's son Timothy who is a Cub Scout, and two of his fellow scouts, Donald Isom and William Isom, also helped.
Taylor explained he contracted polio at the age of 10 months old. The year was 1956 and he was living with his family at James Connelly Air Force Base in Waco where his father was an Air Force pilot. He said at that time the Salk's vaccine was out, but they were still using the live vaccine. They also were only administering it to children after they were 12 months old.
Both of Taylor's legs were affected. He had many corrective surgeries by Air Force doctors throughout his childhood and had the last surgery when he was 16.
He walked on crutches his whole life. Finally, about 10 years ago, with the effects of post-polio and with deterioration of both his shoulders, he wwas forced to use a chair to be mobile, and is confined to a scooter.
He and his wife Pamela moved here just a few months before the rain deluge in September. They live in a travel trailer on a lot in Fulton.
The lot became so flooded, Taylor had no way of getting to his vehicle from the house. A small porch outside the home is too high and he can not get into the vehicle from there.
He explained Lee Couch, a friend from Rockport, told J.D. Simpson about the situation. Simpson is assistant governor of the Rotary Club.
The Taylors were impressed Simpson came out to see the issue for himself.
"He walked right in here in his business suit," P. Taylor remarked.
The "yard" was like a wildlife refuge, said Taylor. The water came right up to the trailer and was so deep they had egrets, turtles, and other wildlife hanging around.
Taylor said Simpson was instrumental in getting approval for the construction of a ramp which will allow him to get to his vehicle in the event of another flood.
On Friday, Nov. 12, local Rotary Club members Patek, traveled to Corpus Christi. There they worked with the CC Rotary members to make prefabricated parts of the ramp.
On Saturday morning, Nov. 13, several Rotarians arrived to install the ramp. They began at about 8 a.m. and by 10:30, it was installed and ready for use.
Taylor noted, "The ramp will make a world of difference in my life and the assistance they are providing me is truly appreciated."
He also said, "In these challenging times it is refreshing to see our fellow citizens in our community still care about helping others in need.
The Taylors said they have never lived in a small town, and the environment in the Rockport-Fulton community is "a breath of fresh air."
J. Taylor said they are pleasantly surprised at how friendly everyone is, and praised the outpouring of help. He said the Rotarians are "amazing people."
No sooner was the ramp completed, then Taylor got onto his scooter and took a "test drive" down the ramp.
He didn't have to say a word as the smile on his face conveyed his appreciation.
By: NORMA MARTINEZ, Managing Editor, Rockport Pilot
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