THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 13, 1996 TAG: 9608130287
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY JEFFREY S. HAMPTON, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 72 lines
Seven years ago Barrera McPherson received a phone call that changed his life. Lynn Jones, the Pasquotank County coordinator for Special Olympics, wanted him to drive a bus.
``Barrera, you mind driving us to Greensboro?'' asked Jones.
McPherson agreed to take the job, but he had one problem.
``I hope you know where you're going, because I haven't been that far yet.''
That was the first time Jones asked McPherson for help with the Special Olympics. It wasn't the last. Of the hundreds of requests for his time, McPherson has almost never said no.
As a result, the North Carolina Special Olympics has named him volunteer of the year from among 20,000 volunteers statewide.
``He's our main source of transportation,'' said Jones. ``He's a coach for any sport we throw him in. He goes to all the Special Olympics events and he's treasurer for the local committee.
``He's one of those types of people, it doesn't matter what he's asked to do. I've never heard him complain ever in all these years. Sometimes I use and abuse the man.''
McPherson, 27, takes the praise in stride and talks about what Special Olympics has done for him.
``I think I'm a more caring and understanding person than I was before. I'm more appreciative of knowing I can get up and do things on my own. Some people can't get up and do things on their own.''
McPherson's brother, Marquis, is autistic and is one of the major reasons he volunteers for Special Olympics. But McPherson has come to know well most of the 180 special athletes in Pasquotank County.
``They become like a second family to you,'' said McPherson. ``You like to see them succeed. They'll tell me, `Barrera, I'm going to bring home the gold.' And I say, `That's great. It don't make any difference to me even if you bring home a ribbon.' I want them to know someone cares about them no matter how they do.''
As it turns out, Pasquotank County, like the U.S. Olympic team, usually has the largest delegation and wins more gold medals, said McPherson. He and 70 other coaches and organizers spend up to 100 hours per event training, coaching and encouraging. In addition to several local meets, athletes travel to four other major events each year: the fall games in October, bowling in December, the summer games in June and a three-on-three basketball tournament in February.
``When I first started, I thought they (the athletes) couldn't do anything, but they can,'' said McPherson. ``Sometimes they can outdo anybody.''
McPherson doesn't mind admitting that brother Marquis often beats him at bowling.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver started the Special Olympics in 1968. North Carolina sent six athletes to the first meet. Two years later, North Carolina held its first state games in Burlington with 400 athletes attending. Now there are 24,500 athletes statewide.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the organization, said Keith L. Fishburne, associate executive director for N.C. Special Olympics.
``We're looking for volunteers who show outstanding dedication,'' said Fishburne. ``After reading all that Barrera does, he is certainly deserving of the award.''
McPherson's participation in the Special Olympics even determined his career choice. He is in his second year as a teacher's assistant for the trainable mentally handicapped at Northeastern High School.
McPherson graduated from Northeastern High School and has a bachelor's degree in business management from Elizabeth City State University. His experience with handicapped people comes from coaching in the Special Olympics.
``The Special Olympics gives kids a sense of belonging to the community,'' said McPherson. ``It helps them forget they are handicapped. I'll be involved with it the rest of my life, until I can't do it anymore. It's something you can't leave. It stays with you.'' by CNB