I want to say it was early in the
1980’s. It was a typical work day for me. I was working in my territory as a
pharmaceutical representative and had planned on visiting the physicians,
pharmacists and hospitals in the western-most part of my territory, Chipley,
Bonifay and Marianna. It was to be a day trip. I would drive into those areas
visit the customers and be home by 7:00 PM. There was an hour differential in
time zones.
It was a very nice spring day. As
I was driving west I saw standing on the side of I-10 an attractive blonde. She
was well dressed and looked to be in her late 20’s or early 30’s. She was hitch
hiking. I thought how dangerous that was and I almost picked her up just to
help her be safe. I was forbidden to transport anyone other than my family in
the DuPont owned company car that I was driving. I, therefore, passed her by.
The morning paper I picked up in
my driveway the next day revealed the fate of that young lady. Someone had
picked her up. They took her to a remote area of Tallahassee
bound and gagged in the trunk of their car. She was savagely raped and then
beaten in the head by a concrete block and left for dead. To my knowledge the
perpetrator was never arrested.
The young lady was discovered and
taken to our local hospital and admitted. The story developed that she was a
nurse from Sweden .
She was innocently hostelling across Florida .
This was a common practice back in her country. So here she was alone and
hanging on to her life and in eminent danger of dying.
I, personally, felt regret in not
having picked her up and given her a lecture on how dangerous of a practice she
was involved in. However, it was too late. I also felt regret that she was so
savagely attacked in my home town. I was embarrassed and saddened that she had
that experience here in our back yard.
What ultimately happened was
nothing short of a miracle. Tallahassee ,
literally, adopted this young lady. A medical fund was begun to cover her
medical expenses. Enough money was raised that her parents were contacted,
flown here and sheltered and fed by the good people of Tallahassee .
She rallied from her injuries and was ultimately able to return home with her
parents.
The news became nationwide. The
national press picked up on the story and Tallahassee
was painted as the All American city with a very large, compassionate heart.
Our sheriff, Eddie Boone, was invited onto Good Morning America to tell the
story of what it was like to be the sheriff in such a place. He had all sorts
of glowing things to say about the people comprising the populace of Tallahassee .
A dastardly, criminal act was
overcome simply by people being kind to a stranger who was abducted and almost
killed in their town. That is part of why I have lived here for 41+ years. I do
not think there is any place quite like Tallahassee .
Working for a world wide corporation I was offered numerous moves to other
places. I chose to stay here, because I would have been wifeless had I elected
otherwise. My children live here right around us today. All three of them with
their spouses with their seven children love this town.
We have our share of challenges
with political conundrums, homelessness, too high taxes, moderate traffic
problems and the weather. I, however, will live out the rest of my life here
and be buried in a little burial plot on a little hill in Quincy
one day. I am proud to be able to rest quietly with that decision.
