Monday, April 19, 2010

Doc Is Not A Doctor or A Card Shark


A few people have asked me about Doc....his name that is. They wondered if he is a doctor and if he is what kind. The answer is that he is not a doctor of any kind, or a card player (as in never eat at a place called Mom's and never play cards with a guy named Doc.)  Doc has been called by more names than most people I know and you can usually tell where in his life someone knew him by what they call him. The name "Doc" was given to him by a very special group of people, Special Olympics athletes, and when they gave it to him it stuck.


Doc has a daughter with Downs Syndrome and he spent many years raising funds for Special Olympics. He always made sure to involve the Special Olympics athletes in his fund raising efforts. During his years of Special Olympics fund raising he lived in Boulder, Colorado where he was called D.K., his first two initials, by a lot of people in the business community, a prime target of his fundraising efforts. Many of the athletes had trouble saying the initials clearly and for them it evolved into Doc. They said his name was Doc, so Doc it was and still is.

Doc's daughter, Kristen

He is stilled called "Nick" by people who knew him in high school and college, "D.K". by some friends from later years, "Kent" by another group of friends, "Mr"  and his last name by the many people who worked for him over the years, and I call him "Kenny", but if someone asks him his name he answers "Doc" because that is the name the Special Olympians gave him.

15 comments:

  1. Doc sounds like a great dad and a good husband. I like it that he has taken on the nickname given by the special olympians.

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  2. What a guy! I don't know who is the luckier one, you or him! Thanks for sharing him with us!

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  3. Great post and sweet picture
    my hubby has the initials D.R.K.
    and has been called by many names
    our kids crack up when we go back to MO. and people call him Dick
    he is known around here fondly as 'Papa' (o:

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  4. Doc is a gem of a man, no matter what name is called to get his attention. Kristen looks like a lovely young woman. I have a nephew with Down Syndrome and I tell you he puts me to shame with the scripture he knows and not only can he tell you it, but he can explain what they mean and he understands their meaning

    betty

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  5. Thank you for the fill-in on Doc. I have never known a Doc but I did notice yours when I first visited your pages. Doc is a nice name to be called.

    Most people call me Jim, my uncles called me Jimmy as did one older cousin who is still alive, and Mrs. Jim calls me sweetheart.
    ..
    BTW, I am Dr. Jim on one of my blogs, Ask Dr. Jim (blog), linked above on my name.
    ..

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  6. I was always wondering about his name. Glad you explained that. Sounds like he´s a well liked guy!
    Is Kristen his daughter by first marriage?

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  7. Well, tell Doc I love him for his work with the Special Olympics. His daughter, the athletes and Doc are all quite blessed.

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  8. "A rose by any other name" baby! Doc will always be Doc and it sounds like the world could use more Doc's in this world. Kristen is a beautiful girl. Thanks for sharin' the namin' of Doc with us, I too was curious.

    God bless ya and have a terrific Tuesday!!!

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  9. Great story. I'm wondering, how often does he get 'what's up Doc?' (you know, like from the cartoon)

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  10. Oh how wonderful! You know, I was kind of wondering the same thing. Thought for sure he must be a doctor, just didn't know which kind.

    Now I do.

    A doctor of tenderness, sensitivity, generosity, and love.

    Thanks for sharing that with us, Jeanie.

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  11. That is precious! :) He must be a very special man! You are blessed ... and so is he because we also know that you are one very special lady!

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  12. Doc sounds like an amazing man. How lucky the world has people like him!

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  13. He sounds like a gem. My name is Barbara, but I have been called Bobbie for most of my life and Bobbie Sue for many of my early years. From kindergarten to 2nd I was Bobbie Sue. After that I was Barbara until 7th grade. Then I became Bobbie and that's the name I go by now. His name game is much more interesting than mine. I guess I can add that my mother named me Barbara after her best childhood friend and her freshman year roommate. Both were Barbara's called Bobbie

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  14. A "Doc" by any other name will always be as sweet, correctamundo?

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