Westerfield never gave tip on himself and he would not allow others to give tip on themselves -- or on others, either. He was a fighter, People who said he couldn't do something made him mad and made him work harder. He never forgot how people underestimated hint and disrespected him because he was from a family with little money. He worked his whole life to try to create opportunities so that other people would have a chance.
Sometimes he would make people mad. Like Socrates, he would walk around and ask irritating questions. Proverbs says: "Challenge a wise person, and you will he loved; challenge a fool and you will be hated." Westerfield assumed that students, co-workers and university administrators were wise, so he challenged everyone to face the truth.
Westerfield may have been ambitious, but he was never ambitious for himself alone. He was always bringing people along with him -- constantly trying to better himself, and improve everything and everyone around him. He helped family, friends, students and staff get better schooling, get jobs, and get out of trouble. He lived the saying: "When you're climbing LIP the ladder, make sure it hangs down enough to allow others to climb up with you."
His death comes at a particularly inopportune time for others who shared his commitment.
COPYRIGHT 1996 Cox, Matthews & Associates
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