Helping families of fallen heroes

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By Sandra Baer 8:05 PM Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Federal firefighter and inspector Randy Watts, 46, felt helpless to do anything as the terrifying events of 9/11 occurred in New York City, Washington, D.C., and an abandoned mining operation field in rural Pennsylvania, but now the Bellbrook resident is doing his share to help first responder widows and fatherless children left behind.

“Like everyone else I watched what was happening on the television, but when you’re a firefighter you want to be there helping,” said Watts, who grew up in Bellevue, Iowa, and graduated from Bellevue High School in 1983, before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force, where he received awards and was promoted early. “Then I came up with the idea of having a fundraiser to donate money to the widows and children of first responders.”

In 2010, Watts approached his friend, Vanilla Ice, the 1990s pop icon whose real name is Robert Van Winkle, to ask if he would appear at McGuffys House of Rock in Riverside in support of the first responder families who had lost loved ones during the attacks.

“He’s a real straight shooter and a huge supporter of the military, police and firefighters,” said Watts, who will appear with Vanilla Ice in January on the second season of the DIY network show, “The Vanilla Ice Project.”

“Jeff (Cottrell) of Screen Works, Inc. in Dayton designed and donated the ‘Never Forget’ 9/11 T-shirts worn at the concert. I also got the Dayton Drum and Bagpipers to honor the fallen first responders at the event, and then asked the band Shadowlife to open for Vanilla Ice.

They all donated their time and didn’t hesitate one minute when I asked them to help out. It was interesting because Preston Spraul, the drummer with Shadowlife, knew Vanilla Ice. Preston had opened for Vanilla Ice on tour when Preston was playing with Tenfold.”

Watts also had an opportunity to meet President George W. Bush and present him with a Never Forget T-shirt when the former commander-in-chief came to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Nov. 11, 2010, as speaker at a Veteran’s Day Tribute.

“I had a photo taken with him, but I was also able to tell him that I got married in his hometown of Midland, Texas,” said Watts, who is divorced and has two sons.

Prior to meeting President Bush, Watts also had an opportunity to meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in September 2010, when she came to give a speech at Stebbins High School in Riverside, and wanted firefighters represented behind the podium.

In 2011, Watts was present on the WPAFB stage to introduce the Dayton Drum and Bugle Corp and Shadowlife during the Tattoo held to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Contact this columnist at (937) 432-9054 or jjbaer@aol.com.

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