Rob Stevens
Wooden Canoes are in the Blood
Tom presented "Paddles, Sails & Wheels" at last year's Assembly, his travel odyssey of thousands of miles by canoe, sailboat and hand-cycle. He was an advocate of adapting gear to make such trips accessible for disabled folks, being active with Wilderness Inquiry; http://www.wildernessinquiry.org/index.php
He also donated a very expressive painting to the auction.
I didn't know him long, but was touched by his tenacious spirit.
Obituary;
Tom Widney, formerly of Bartlesville, died May 17 of stomach cancer at the age of 60 at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was the son of Mrs. R.T. Widney (Bette) of Oklahoma City and the late R.T. Widney.
Tom completed his lower grades in the Bartlesville schools and graduated from College High.
At the completion of his freshman year at the University of Oklahoma, he attended Boy Scout canoe camp at Ely, Minnesota. An accident landed him in a wheelchair with limited use of arms, fingers and hands.
As a limited quadriplegic, he traveled the world via canoe, sail boat and hand cycle from the Arctic to the tropics, from the wilderness outback to Europe's glory. He served on a committee in Albuquerque to ensure easy public access for all handicapped persons and was a motivational speaker.
In addition to his mother, Tom is survived by his sister Jill of Oklahoma City and brother Cole of Dallas.
He also donated a very expressive painting to the auction.
I didn't know him long, but was touched by his tenacious spirit.
Obituary;
Tom Widney, formerly of Bartlesville, died May 17 of stomach cancer at the age of 60 at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was the son of Mrs. R.T. Widney (Bette) of Oklahoma City and the late R.T. Widney.
Tom completed his lower grades in the Bartlesville schools and graduated from College High.
At the completion of his freshman year at the University of Oklahoma, he attended Boy Scout canoe camp at Ely, Minnesota. An accident landed him in a wheelchair with limited use of arms, fingers and hands.
As a limited quadriplegic, he traveled the world via canoe, sail boat and hand cycle from the Arctic to the tropics, from the wilderness outback to Europe's glory. He served on a committee in Albuquerque to ensure easy public access for all handicapped persons and was a motivational speaker.
In addition to his mother, Tom is survived by his sister Jill of Oklahoma City and brother Cole of Dallas.
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