The Power of Mentorship: Tom Bradshaw’s Story.

Mr. Finley always made me feel like…he was like my uncle or my grandfather. I wouldn’t say my father; he didn’t give me that kind of advice, he gave me that kind of encouragement. He wouldn’t tell me what to do, he’d tell me how to do it. He didn’t say “you need to do this”, he’d say “how are you going to do this”, “what’s your thoughts about that”. He’d ask you the kind of question that you’d be like: “Why didn’t I ask that?”. The way he did that process…he was special, there’s no question about that.

He was also doing those things. That’s why his name is on the football stadium. With all the things he did, he wasn’t looking to put his name on, but he put his stamp on.

Mr. Finley was always interested in what you were doing. He was always encouraging everybody that we can do more.

What I’m really trying to say from my perspective as a young guy growing up, working for Cliff Cameron in the Mortgage Company, Ed Richards who’d come here from New York to build houses and shopping centers, they all looked to see what Mr. Finley ought to be doing in the community. Mr. Richards was one of those guys, and he said: “Whatever Mr. Finley’s doing we ought to be doing.”

That inspiration that Mr. Finley gave to me was always that time and encouragement. He was that kind of guy. Everyone wanted to know “what does Mr. Finley think about it”?

I think Mr. Finley was a part of just inspiring us community service-wise in that regard.