From: Mark Radford
Columbus
In January 2004, I moved to Columbus from North Carolina to be close to my children. Moving to the Midwest was definitely a shock to my system considering it snowed for two weeks straight as soon as I moved into my dwelling. I was expecting it to be cold but holy cow, was it cold! That icy wind chilled me to the marrow of my bones. I was up here all alone except for the weekends I got to visit my children.
I would like to thank Columbus and especially Dorel Juvenile for hiring me for what would become the most successful tenure of my career. Because of Dorel, I was able to take part in my children’s lives and try to be the daddy they deserved. I certainly made the most of my time here in Columbus, where I have gotten to know people in the community and made some of the best friends I have ever had.
I got married, I ran a small vending business, learned to ride a motorcycle, played softball, played golf, experienced the 100-year flood, attended IU football and basketball games, played and fished in the Flat Rock River, enjoyed Pacers and Colts games, enjoyed Rock the Park several times, attended three Indy 500s and three Brickyard 400s, camped in Brown County countless times, traveled to China, Mexico and Vietnam (thanks to Dorel), volunteered with the United Way and the Love Chapel, rode the train from Indy to Chicago, drove to Detroit for the Final Four. I did not let the grass grow under my feet here in Indiana and made the most of my life here in Columbus.
With all this being said, something happened during my time here. I fell in love with Central Indiana and especially Columbus. Now my children are grown and out of the house so it is with heartfelt emotion that I must leave you. The time has come for me make my way back home to the Old North State.
In my heart I always knew this day would come but I did not know it would have this effect on me. I will always look back with fondness of my time here. Residents of Columbus and Bartholomew County should be very proud of where they live and the place they call home. They certainly do it right. Farewell, Columbus, Indiana.
