Dr. Richard L. Welsh
Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field Induction Ceremony
Some men dream of worthy accomplishments, while other stay awake and do them. Such is the case with Dr. Richard L. Welsh, Rick, as we know him, a larger than life figure in the field of vision education and rehabilitation.
Rick has always been the right person at the right time when it came to bringing together diverse opinions and a divided field. He brought us together, the fields of education and rehabilitation, at a time when we needed unity. Always open to others ideas and opinions, he never compromised on issues related to professionalism and services of high quality.
Leadership is the management of hope and because of Rick we now enjoy coming together into one professional membership organization. Of course, I am referring to the Association of Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI). Steve Barrett said it’s not easy to follow a legend at a 100 year old agency, but Rick made certain I was well prepared.
Marie Amerson continued by saying: Dr. Welsh is among the professionals in our field who understood that a chorus singing the same tune can make a stronger positive impact than soloists with similar but different songs, trying to be heard over a crowd. I remember Dr. Welsh, or Rick, as a warm, caring individual who towered over others in a room. He stood tall – and not just in a physical sense – but he also quietly listened to others, making his presence one that was comfortable even for a short, shy newcomer like me. Rick allowed me the opportunity to feel that it was just as important to hear my words and opinions as it was to hear what program administrators and other important figures had to say.
The dictionary defines a leader as "a person who has commanding authority or influence." It also identifies the term "conductor" as a synonym for leader. Standing tall, bringing new voices into the choir, helping those voices gain confidence to sing the message loud and clear. That sounds like a Hall of Famer to me.
From what we get makes a living, from what we give makes a life.
Frances Mary D’Andrea wrote that Rick has that rare ability to take the long view, and with remarkable foresight forge a vision of what could be-and then work hard to make it a reality. Through all of his roles he has not only used his formidable talents to lead and to serve, but also to motivate others. What a remarkable communicator he is. The APH Hall of Fame will allow Rick to take his rightful place among the other leaders and legends of our field and represent for all of us the many thousands of people who have been inspired by Rick’s example, and who have been positively impacted because of his actions.
Will Rogers said; "Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there!"
Rick has never had this problem, constantly being on the move from teacher, professor, author to standard bearer and administer. Rick has always been a doer. For him it never was the bolder in the road that blocked his way but the pebble in his shoe. But due to his spiritual and personal commitment to his wife Mary Nelle and to all of us, he continues to open many new doors allowing him to contribute to the blindness field enriching all our lives now and in the future. Excellence for Rick is not an act but a habit.
It takes courage to push yourself to places you have never imagined or never been before…to test limits…to break barriers.
Rick has infused Winston Churchill’s remark to his heart, soul and spirit. He continues to be a model for us all when he lives each day as Churchill demanded saying, never, never, never quit.
Hall of Fame: Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is a project of the entire field of blindness. It is curated by the American Printing House for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.
