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OTC community partner supports motorcycle ride

Posted On: Tuesday, Nov. 30 2010 01:37 PM Special to the Hood Herald
What started as a motorcycle safety briefing and ride for U.S. Army Operational Test Command riders last week turned into a community partnership event that included support not only from command officials, but also from Florence city officials.
Col. Kenny Crawford, deputy commander/chief of staff, wanted to instill a few safety lessons into the minds of command motorcyclists when he scheduled a Motorcycle Mentorship Program briefing and ride before employees scattered to the four winds for Thanksgiving.
"Motorcycle safety was the reason for the ride," said Crawford, who was assigned to the command mid-summer. "I had heard there were a good number of motorcyclists at (the command) and that it had been awhile since they'd participated in a command ride."
Turning to Reginald Jones, the command's safety officer, to coordinate the ride, Crawford soon found himself surrounded by people who wanted to help. He asked Bruce Raymond and Charlie Rodriguez, two civilian employees who are major participants in the annual Tri-County Toy Run, to spearhead this event.
"Both men used to coordinate monthly rides at (the command), but that had dwindled down to quarterly and then annually," Jones said. "They also helped coordinate the III Corps commanding general's Thunder Ride last year, so they have lots of experience."
The rides started in 2002 as a lunchtime event for riding and camaraderie, Raymond said.
We had a hard time keeping to a strict schedule due to our test workload, though," he said.
When Raymond wasn't able to schedule Fort Hood motorcycle safety instructors for an official briefing, he remembered he had a friend who was a retired military police officer now employed as a lieutenant with the Florence Police Department.
"I called Bill (Lt. Bill Wilson) and he quickly said he would help us out," Raymond said. "Even though it wouldn't count toward motorcycle safety training requirements, I knew that having a law enforcement officer emphasizing motorcycle safety would go a long way toward helping our soldiers, civilians and contractors drive a little more safely."
Wilson was also keenly aware of the community partnership that existed between the command and Florence, so he was quickly able to enlist the aid of Florence Mayor Mary Condon, Police Chief Julie Elliott-Abshire and City Secretary Amy Crane.
"While none of us ride, we were more than happy to join the group for lunch when they reached the mid-point of their ride here in town," Condon said. "We are very proud of our partnership with (the command) and hope they will visit us whenever they can."
MacWillie and a large crowd of command employees provided a noisy send-off for their "easy riders" as the group embarked on a 75-mile round-trip that included picture-perfect weather.
The weather was great and participants had a "nice, leisurely ride," Gary Parker said.
"This was nice preparation for the annual toy run which is coming up for us on Dec. 5," he said. "There are lots of (command) folks who ride and donate money to this charity."
Wilson, who wore civilian attire and rode his motorcycle along with the 22 command riders, was pleased. "I told Colonel Crawford to count me in any time (the command) wants to do another safety ride and briefing," he said.
Toy run Sunday
Those interested in donating toys or money for the 18th Annual Tri-County Toy Run can go to www.tricountytoyrun.org to get more information. The ride departs at noon Sunday from Copperas Cove.