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Soapbox Philosophy: Important to Bill
by Gregory R. Norfleet · Op-Ed · May 26, 2016
Normally this space is reserved for our weekly editorial, but I feel it appropriate for this editor to say a few words on the passing of a fine man, Bill Kron.
We at the newspaper were greatly shocked and saddened that a very active and good-hearted man like Bill was suddenly gone. We offer our thoughts and prayers to Debra and the family in this difficult time.
Many readers may not know Bill because he was not in the headlines like school board and city council members, but he was a passionate husband and parent and strong supporter of everything in which his children were involved.
It is this that prompts me to write this column.
Bill was also a friend of this newspaper in that he freely shared photographs and videos and news of the activities he attended, most notably from show choir and volleyball.
I’ve had many conversations with Bill on sidelines and in auditoriums and gymnasiums. He and I had differing political views, for sure, but rarely did he talk politics. He loved his family, and as most of the time we ran into each other at school activities, we talked a lot about those activities.
Bill did not brag about his kids. He spoke happily and proudly of their accomplishments, but did not brag. More often, he spoke about them in relation to the team or group in which they were involved. He spoke well of the coaches and directors and how they helped the teams and groups improve, and no doubt those coaches and directors appreciated the time he donated to those activities.
Back in 2008, not long after I arrived in West Branch, Bill was one of the parents who took time away from his business to travel with his son, Jathan, and other middle school pupils to Des Moines where Gov. Chet Culver signed two environmental bills into law. It turns out that Jathan’s particular eCybermission team was not even tied to the legislation. Jathan just wanted to go along to support his friends and classmates, and Bill wanted to go along to support Jathan because of that.
Bill considered that important enough to take time off work. Wow. The story says something about Jathan, and something more about the man who reared him. Once I wrapped my head around that, it set the tone for everything I saw Bill do later.
Five years later, Bill’s daughter, DaLana, joined the high school softball team as an eighth-grader. Bill wrote a letter to the editor a few weeks later, praising the Bears for beating No. 2 Durant. He didn’t name his daughter outright, but called it “totally amazing what one senior, three juniors, five freshmen and two eighth graders accomplished.”
It became clear to me that my first impression of Bill was a bit off. He wasn’t just supporting Jathan on that trip to Des Moines, he was supporting the group because Jathan was in it. So it was for DaLana and the softball team.
What became important to his children became important to him.
That’s Bill’s message to me.
That’s Bill’s legacy.
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