Thursday, November 30, 0002
My condolences to all who loved Rodney. I pray you all find peace and comfort in the days to come. What can I say about this wonderful, caring, selfless man who has been taken way before his time? My stories are like so many others whose lives he touched. Rodney Davison was my close work colleague nearly my entire 11 years at Follett. But he was also my friend, and from the day we met he never stopped having my back. In all that time we worked together, I think I saw him really angry maybe twice. In the college bookstore business, that has to be a record! He always put himself ahead of everyone who worked under him or with him and went out of his way to make sure you got the credit you deserved and you had whatever support he could give. And he never wanted to be in the limelight. I was present when he was awarded the prestigious Store Manager of the Year Award and he was standing in the back of the room, not really wanting to go up on that stage. He was proud that night, but in those spotlight situations it was his humbleness that really shown through and he would always say it wasn't him, it was the team. But it was him. His kindness, his protective and nurturing nature, his willingness to be there for any and everybody, anytime day or night. I've witnessed him perform hundreds of acts of kindness without a second thought to what it might cost him. I don't really want to live in a world without Rodney, but since I have no other choice, the best tribute I can give are not these words, but to try to live more like he did. Be kinder, more helpful, give everyone their due, and love more.
