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Continued from page 9happen the next day, trying tofigure out how to explain tothese classes about math. I finallybolted and said, ‘I can’tdo this the rest of my life.’”This was when Callawaymade it to Lyons, coming as apart-time elementary and juniorhigh P.E. teacher. He wasalso the part-time recreationdirector.“I coached in the summeralso, so I couldn’t go back formy masters degree,” he remembers.“So my salary hasalways been on the puny sidefor just having a four year degree.Still, when I look back, Iwouldn’t swap anything thatI’ve done. It was exactly whatI wanted to do, building thispark, coaching and teachingP.E., which I love.”Callaway wore many hats.In addition to his two part-timepositions, he also refereed highschool basketball games andwas youth director at First BaptistChurch. He wasn’t alwayshome for his own young family.“My wife Virginia sometimesasks me, ‘Where wereyou when I needed you?’ and Itell her, ‘I was out raisingsomebody else’s kids.’ I stillfeel like I found enough timeto help raise two daughters,and now we have fivegrandkids. I’m doing my bestto make up for lost time. I looknow at my family, and I am soblessed with the way they havesupported me.”In 2008, Callaway washonored by the Georgia StateSenate for his years of serviceto the community. He was presentedwith a copy of the resolutionstating his accomplishments,and got to speak to thelegislative body. He called theexperience “a real honor,” andsaid he would always treasurethe memory.His work in Lyons has notbeen without its bumps in theroad, however. In 1987, he gota mysterious call from MemorialHospital in Savannah, “reminding”him of some medicaltests that were scheduledfor the next day. Though hecould not figure out how theywere set up, he was convincedby family members to go. Twoweeks later, he underwent fivebypassheart surgery.“I feel like God entered thatsituation and tookcare of me,” he toldus. “At 52 years old,I gave up teachingschool and refereeingbecause I didn’tthink my healthwould allow me todo everything Iwanted to do. So Icame out here(Partin Park inLyons as full-timedirector) and startedto feel so much betterwhen I got goodblood flow. Westarted building andadding onto thepark, and we’vekept doing that forthe last twentyyears. Now we’vejust about got it full.”“A lot of people from biggertowns come to this parkand ask ‘How did you do it?’ Itell them, ‘I did it with a littlebit of vision and tremendoushelp from the area residents.’They have come through withdonations and help, and theytrusted me. That goes a longway. I gained credibilitythrough my coaching and triedto back it up with a Christianlifestyle, and it’s caused peopleto support me. I’ve tried to givethem a hard day’s work andbuild everything we could possiblyhave here in Lyons. Butabove all the facilities we’vebuilt here, I maintain that I’min the people business first, andthese other things are added tothat. I try to love the Lord anddeal with people the way that Iwould want to be dealt with.My daddy and mama taughtthose habits, with that discipline;I’ve tried to respect themby doing what they taught me.Anything we do to serve ourfellow man honors God. It’sbeen so rewarding to have alifestyle that’s been blessed themotivates children to give theirall and do their best.”This philosophy has led todecisions to not keep score inyounger leagues and to awardtrophies to all participants forimprovement and effort.“I’ve always said that improvementis one of the biggestthings in sports, and not onlyin sports. If you can improvein the way you keep your roomclean, the way you eat yourvegetables, and improve inCALLAWAY (SECOND FROM LEFT) PLAYED BASKETBALL WITHTHIS MIDDLE GEORGIA COLLEGE TEAM SHORTLY AFTERGRADUATING FROM COLLINS HIGH SCHOOL.way that mine has, and that’s your math class, you won’t letone reason I’m not so anxious defeat cause you to quit. Sometimesto give it up.”a defeat just points youAs recreation director, in a different direction; it hasCallaway noticed that some for me. I’m so glad that Godparents and coaches did not pointed me in the direction ofappear to be as supportive of Lyons, Georgia, when I wastheir children’s efforts as his defeated in that math class atparents were. With this in Groves.”mind, he worked with a local When Callaway had hisradio station sixteen years ago bypass surgery, he began toto begin a series of radio spots. look for ways to help others“I needed to talk to some with similar problems. He inauguratedparents, try to calm them down,a “Stroll for Goal”help this to be a fun time. We walking program at the park,want them to come out here to rewarding seniors for reachingrelax and for enjoyment. Parents,fitness goals. He also broughtteachers, and coaches in doctors to talk with them andshould provide leadership that regularly fed them breakfast,Mature Living Winter Edition 11
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