“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to
him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.”-Luke 33-34
Richard A. Wellons was born in Tampa, Florida on November 28, 1944. He arrived as the youngest of his Christian parents three sons. His father James was a food broker and his mother Lolita went on to become a nurse once he finished high school. He then attended the University of South Florida, studying engineering and accounting for three years. However, working more than full time eventually got in the way of completing his task. But, he never allowed that to prevent his ultimate achievements as a businessman and as a man.
After spending his formative years in the Baptist
Church, young Wellons had a seven year career in the Florida Air National Guard, retiring in 1970 as the
director of civil affairs. Also, during his early days, he embraced the responsibilities of training director of his church and by the age of 21, he was ordained a deacon and became the church’s Sunday School director. Before long, he was elected president of the Tampa Bay Baptist Men. Wellons also served as the chairman of the State Board of Missions. Through all of this, he came to operate his own insurance agency, securing the opportunity for his children to realize their dreams. However, he always knew there was much more to do.
Approaching 40 and looking for new challenges, Dick Wellons and his wife Mary Lyda moved to Sevier County in 1983. He poured the footers for their new Gatlinburg home on the 1st day of the Knoxville World’s Fair the year before. Over the next 2 decades, the couple solidified a reputation of functional benevolence throughout their community. Then, God called upon the Samaritan again. This time, to serve as the Director of Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministries in October 2001.
Understanding more than 80% of the people he was chosen to assist are Sevier County residents, his charge is “…to serve thousands of needy or desperate families and to prevent homelessness in our area which is nestled in and around the Smoky Mountains.” The ministry’s annual “One Night of Mercy” program counts on the local lodging industry to help him offer hope to the working hopeless.
Faithfully, Wellons is asking each of the area’s lodging enterprises to donate $1 for each room rented on September 1. The money will be used entirely by the Smoky Mountain Rescue Ministry to help house the many people of our community in need of temporary shelter or assist in maintaining the housing some are fighting to maintain. Unfortunately, too many of the needy are lodging employees.
Homelessness is a devastating experience and the fastest growing group in Sevier County’s homeless population are families with children. Although he is doing God’s work, Dick Wellons has a job that he and his 20 devoted volunteers can not do alone. Considering the stakes, “One Night of Mercy” is not much to ask.
Henry Piarrot is a lodging manager in Sevier County,TN. Please send all story recommendations to hpiarrot@yahoo.com