Remembering Randy

Written by Carol Miller, American Red Cross Information Delegate

Sofia, Bulgaria, August 9, 2001 -- Every day, public spaces are named after famous figures in history, politics and even film: John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway; Martin Luther King, Jr., Library; John Wayne International Airport.

James "Randy" Ackley stands below the sign establishing the Randy Auto Repair Workshop in Bulgaria.

I attended Sacajawea (a Native American princess) Junior High and Lewis and Clark (explorers of the Northwest) High School in Spokane, Wash. This was followed by studies in advertising and journalism at the Edward R. Murrow (father of modern journalism) School of Communications at Washington State University. Throughout my life, I've encountered buildings or spaces named after famous people. Even the state where I grew up, Washington, was named in honor of our country's first president, George Washington.

Just a few months ago, the Bulgarian Red Cross opened and dedicated the "Randy Auto Repair Workshop." The building is not named for a prominent government official, explorer, hero or prince to the Bulgarian people. Rather, it is named for American Red Cross delegate Randy Ackley.

The "Randy" Auto Repair Workshop, as the inscription on the bronze plaque reads, is located inside a Red Cross warehouse complex in Dolne Lozen, outside the capitol city of Sofia, Bulgaria.

"I tried to convince our colleagues to change the name... but they wouldn't hear of it!" said James "Randy" Ackley after the dedication ceremony, "I'm really pleased and honored."

The workshop was one of many projects Ackley has carried out on behalf of the American Red Cross. After helping feed approximately 60,000 elderly pensioners in 1999, and lending expertise to develop a disaster preparedness plan, he initiated a project to help build the capacity of the Bulgarian Red Cross. The project included assistance with some of the improvements needed at the Bulgarian Red Cross headquarters building, repair and furnishing of offices. Additionally, computers, software, audio-visual equipment and a phone system were purchased and installed at the headquarters building.

Inside the Randy Auto Repair Workshop in Bulgaria

Once those necessities were taken care of, Ackley helped purchase tools and machinery needed to outfit the garage where the Bulgarian Red Cross would maintain their fleet of vehicles and trucks. Not only will the repair shop save money on auto maintenance costs, but the society also plans on turning it into a revenue generating program by later servicing vehicles of nongovernment organizations operating in Bulgaria, and cars used by the diplomatic community.

Ackley says of the repair shop dedication, "It was a fun day, and it was very nice of our friends and colleagues in the Bulgarian Red Cross to make the effort."

With the shop now equipped, Bulgarian Red Cross staff have the ability to rotate tires of utility vehicles that carry Bulgarian Red Cross mountain rescue teams on perilous missions in the dead of winter. The shop also makes routine oil changes that keep Red Cross vehicles rolling and ready to transport supplies where they are needed most. Recently, the Bulgarian Red Cross trucks transported supplies purchased by the Bulgarian Red Cross and American Red Cross for victims of recent conflict in Macedonia and floods in Bosnia.

Relief workers often form special friendships with their local counterparts. These friendships are part of what makes the job rewarding despite often harsh conditions, being away from friends and family at home, and long hours with seemingly endless tasks and challenges. Red Cross staff know that long after they are gone, the work of the Red Cross Movement will carry on. The humanitarian spirit is timeless - outlasting poverty, disasters, despots and more to survive generations. In 100 years, Red Cross workers will still be helping people in need. As dedicated as we are, one thing we are aware of is that with or without us, the Red Cross carries on.

That, and one more thing - as stated by Dr. Gladilov, Secretary General of the Bulgarian Red Cross, "In fifty years we'll all be gone, moved on, so to speak, but the workshop 'Randy' will still be here!"