Imagine, if you will, being in your 20’s with a wife and two children, working as an appliance repairman. You are happy and content.
On a night like any other, you turn on Johnny Carson and lay down in bed to relax. The following day you open your eyes to darkness. You have lost your sight literally overnight.
What would you do? How would you make a living? How would you walk down the street? How could you get to where you needed to go?
This is the true story of one of our longest-serving employees, Bob Hicks. Bob went back to college and earned a degree, but he still had a difficult time finding gainful employment. So he sat in a chair with nothing to do for 14 years — until someone told him to call The Seeing Hand.
Bob joined the team at the Seeing Hand in 2005. He worked as our Access Technology and Braille Instructor until he retired in 2019. He was the face of our organization, and visitors often came by to visit with one of his guide dogs, Amos or Susie. He said The Seeing Hand saved him!
Bob passed away in December and has left our Seeing Hand Family with a huge void. If you stop by our agency, you can see a mural of him that was painted several years ago on our wall just before his office. It will be a forever reminder of our wonderful friend and past coworker.
Anyone who knew Bob was blessed with his humor and positive outlook. He used to say, “although blindness is an inconvenience, it is not an end to a quality life.” Bob found his purpose and lived a fulfilling life without sight.
