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Page 2A THE BEACON July 20<strong>19</strong><br />

By<br />

Tamara<br />

Taylor<br />

Lives Intertwined<br />

Quality of life is a driving<br />

force for all of us. The pursuit<br />

of a good quality of life is<br />

instilled in us beginning in the<br />

formative years and throughout<br />

our lives. We go to school,<br />

pursue careers, and invest in<br />

our community- all to achieve<br />

the quality of life we desire.<br />

Once again, I ponder the question,<br />

“Why do we live here?<br />

What drives us to call this<br />

‘home’?” The simple answer<br />

that keeps coming back to me<br />

is, “Because of the quality of<br />

life we have in our community.”<br />

Let’s face it. Our little<br />

part of the world includes a<br />

broad range of living styles including<br />

suburban areas, trendy<br />

urban spaces that are being<br />

developed, and laid-back rural<br />

areas. Take your pick.<br />

In short, we have it all.<br />

But one common thread that<br />

binds us all is the people, the<br />

character, integrity, and caring<br />

of our fellow neighbors.<br />

Neighbors who give their time<br />

and efforts to maintain and<br />

help improve our quality of<br />

life.<br />

Have you ever met someone,<br />

and you immediately know<br />

that he or she is a really good<br />

person? Then the years go by,<br />

and your paths cross again and<br />

again. Eventually, you can’t<br />

even recall under what circumstances<br />

you initially met.<br />

I know that I have met a truly<br />

great individual in the community<br />

when he or she keeps<br />

“popping up.” A person’s<br />

photo will cross my desk on<br />

numerous occasions when<br />

information about fundraisers,<br />

volunteer events, or community<br />

work days is shared.<br />

And then his or her name is<br />

mentioned in conversations<br />

about totally different groups<br />

or community efforts. Or I<br />

will find myself asking, “Who<br />

did you say is on your board?<br />

I know him!” Other times I<br />

will attend a meeting only to<br />

As the steward of Guilford Covered Bridge Park, Terry<br />

Stephens works tirelessly to maintain the grounds.<br />

find that long-lost acquaintance<br />

is doing a presentation<br />

about a project designed to<br />

enhance the quality of life for<br />

our community.<br />

All of these criteria fit<br />

my relationship with Terry<br />

Stephens. I have no idea<br />

what brought us together, but<br />

fate has certainly brought us<br />

back together time and time<br />

again over the years (okay,<br />

decades!).<br />

Terry is a native of southeast<br />

Indiana having grown up in<br />

Bright. Friends still can recall<br />

swimming in a nearby pond<br />

together or watching his father<br />

turn pieces of wood into works<br />

of art. He eventually married<br />

Vickie Boyles Stephens, a<br />

lifelong resident of Guilford.<br />

The couple made Guilford<br />

their home and still reside in<br />

the picturesque valley.<br />

Terry is a sage man. He<br />

takes great pride in doing<br />

whatever he sets his mind to,<br />

and he does it incredibly well.<br />

While one might gaze in awe<br />

at his beautiful property that he<br />

keeps in park-like condition,<br />

know that his attention to detail<br />

carries over to his responsibilities<br />

as the park steward<br />

of Guilford Covered Bridge<br />

Park. Located on the edge of<br />

Tanners Creek, the Guilford<br />

Covered Bridge Park requires<br />

the most significant amount of<br />

maintenance since it continually<br />

suffers the ravages of floods.<br />

The Guilford Park is returned<br />

to its impeccable state of<br />

beauty after each rainy season<br />

thanks to the diligent efforts of<br />

Terry Stephens and his ability<br />

to rally volunteers. Terry takes<br />

his stewardship of the Guilford<br />

Covered Bridge Park very seriously<br />

as a way to enhance our<br />

community’s quality of life. I<br />

have a feeling that Vickie has a<br />

bit to do with the park looking<br />

so good as well.<br />

Terry Stephens has been<br />

on the Dearborn County Park<br />

Board for over ten years.<br />

While most of his physical<br />

efforts are dedicated to all that<br />

occurs at Guilford Park, he remains<br />

a trusted member of the<br />

Board for the entire county.<br />

Park Board president Doug<br />

Burger described Terry as<br />

“Having an incredible business<br />

sense and a good steward<br />

of park funds. He always does<br />

the right thing.”<br />

Terry’s attention to detail is<br />

a character trait that has taken<br />

him far in life. He is a woodworker<br />

by trade, following<br />

the footsteps of his father. I<br />

should clarify- in my opinion,<br />

Terry is not just a woodworker;<br />

he is a craftsman. Much<br />

of his work graces homes,<br />

corporations, and community<br />

buildings throughout the<br />

tristate. In <strong>19</strong>93 he started<br />

Stephens Woodworking. Over<br />

a quarter of a century later,<br />

Terry Stephens- a lifelong<br />

volunteer fireman and<br />

community role model.<br />

his excellent craftsmanship<br />

and attention to detail have<br />

made him an expert in all that<br />

woodworking entails. In fact,<br />

this expertise has resulted in<br />

calls from our county officials<br />

for help with courthouse<br />

projects that keep Terry quite<br />

busy.<br />

Walk into Dearborn Savings<br />

or Woody’s, and you will<br />

see more examples of Terry’s<br />

craftsmanship. Every detail<br />

was taken into account to create<br />

architectural masterpieces.<br />

Of course, Hillforest, our<br />

very own National Historic<br />

Landmark, has significantly<br />

benefitted from Terry Stephens’<br />

talents.<br />

Mr. Stephens’ volunteerism<br />

is not limited to his efforts<br />

as a board member of the<br />

Dearborn County Parks. He<br />

has been a volunteer firefighter<br />

for over thirty-seven<br />

years. Wow. As a community,<br />

we rarely stop to consider<br />

what such dedication entails<br />

including the training that a<br />

firefighter must continually<br />

complete. One of Terry’s fellow<br />

firefighters so succinctly<br />

described to me the life of<br />

a firefighter. They go into<br />

burning buildings or arrive on<br />

the scene of automobile accidents,<br />

the memories forever<br />

etched in their minds. They<br />

make every effort to save the<br />

lives of your fellow neighbors.<br />

Oh, and don’t forget that<br />

the firefighter is called out at<br />

3 A.M. or during important<br />

events only to be expected to<br />

drop everything and go. Mr.<br />

Stephens’ dedication as a volunteer<br />

fireman for almost four<br />

decades is pretty impressive.<br />

Needless to say, the Miller-<br />

York Fire Department looks<br />

pretty darn good. Why?<br />

Because of the volunteer efforts<br />

and dedication of Terry<br />

Stephens. He certainly keeps<br />

what many considered the<br />

gateway to Guilford, looking<br />

spiffy.<br />

Thank you, Terry, for making<br />

our community better both<br />

through your volunteer efforts<br />

and by leading by example,.<br />

I personally feel as many in<br />

our community do- honored<br />

to call you my friend and<br />

neighbor.<br />

Publisher/Editor<br />

Tamara M. Taylor<br />

Publishers Emeritus<br />

Elizabeth Morris, Celeste Calvitto<br />

Sales Manager - New Accounts<br />

Susan Snyder<br />

Editorial Assistants<br />

Connie Webb, Cherie Maddin<br />

Columnists & Contributors<br />

Debbie Acasio, Melanie Alexander,<br />

Doris Butt, Susan Carson,<br />

Gloria Carter, Susan Cottingham,<br />

Rebecca Davies, PG Gentrup,<br />

John Hawley, Mary-Alice Helms,<br />

Merrill and Linda Hutchinson,<br />

Korry Johnson, Laura Keller,<br />

Julie Murphy, Chris Nobbe,<br />

Fred Schmits, Marie Segale,<br />

Sue Siefert, Maureen Stenger,<br />

Debby Stutz, Karis Troyer,<br />

Katie Ullrich<br />

Nicole Williams, Debbie Zimmer<br />

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THE BEACON - Bringing our Community and Businesses Together.<br />

THE<br />

BEACON<br />

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The Beacon is an independent<br />

monthly publication with<br />

distribution in Dearborn, Ripley,<br />

Franklin and Ohio Counties in<br />

Indiana and Harrison, Ohio.<br />

Published since <strong>19</strong>94.<br />

Beacon News, Inc.<br />

PO Box 4022<br />

Lawrenceburg, Indiana 47025.<br />

Member:<br />

Dearborn County<br />

Chamber of Commerce,<br />

Ripley County<br />

Chamber of Commerce,<br />

Bright Area Business Association,<br />

Batesville Chamber<br />

of Commerce

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