"The Value of a Single Human Being"

The year was 1979. At the Erie County (NY) Special Olympics track-and-field competition, Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Joe DeLamielleure, a future member of pro football's Hall of Fame, was serving as a volunteer. Teen-ager Fred Siegel of Amherst was competing in his first-ever race, the mile run.

"This kid, Fred," remembers Joe, "he wouldn't run. He was kind of jogging, really kind of struggling."

Being a Special Olympics volunteer whose task it was to support the athletes, Joe did what seemed like the logical thing to do.

"All of a sudden this large fellow jumps out of the stands and starts running with Fred," said Fred's father, Fred Siegel Jr.

"I kept saying, `Come on, Fred, you can finish'," Joe said. And finish Fred did. Joe was glad he was able to provide the encouragement Fred needed in order to finish the race, and though Joe knew he'd always remember the incident, he figured the impact he had on Fred wouldn't linger.

However, little did Joe realize that he had planted a seed that day. Because once Fred learned the person who had supported him was Joe DeLamielleure of the Bills, "that sold Fred on running," said his father. "It was Joe that came out of that stand and really motivated him."

"He just decided that he was going to run," said Fred's mom, Kitty.

Fred became an avid runner, eventually winning the gold medal at the Special Olympics World Games. His determination to be the best runner he could be was due entirely to Joe's act of kindness.

The connection made between Joe and Fred and the impact it had on Fred's life is one of the topics that will be discussed October 17 at a daylong event titled "The Value of a Single Human Being." The Robert H. Jackson Center in Jamestown will host the event, which is being presented by The Resource Center and TRC Foundation.

The idea for the event came from Gregory Peterson, a lawyer who has served on the Boards of Directors of The Resource Center and TRC Foundation, and Paul Cesana, Executive Director of The Resource Center and President of TRC Foundation. Greg was the driving force behind the creation of the Jackson Center in tribute to the late Robert H. Jackson, a Chautauqua County native who served as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice and was the chief prosecutor of the surviving Nazi leaders in Nuremberg, Germany.

Greg and Paul had been searching for an event that would enable TRC and the Jackson Center to be partners on a project, and what they came up with was the October 17 event. The presentations will reflect on the consequences that can occur when people are not valued, as well as the good things that can happen when individuals take the initiative to support and value others.

The day will include a screening of the 1961 Academy Award-winning movie Judgment at Nuremberg in the morning. Following lunch, participants will watch a trailer from the movie featuring an interview with Abby Mann, who wrote the screenplay for the film. Attendees also will view a short documentary about the former Willowbrook State School on Staten Island and the horrific living conditions experienced by Willowbrook's residents, all of whom had disabilities. Henry Wesley, who spent 45 years living in institutions, will be on hand to share his experiences from his 23 years at Willowbrook and how his life has improved since he came to The Resource Center in 1987.

The day's activities will end with appearances by Joe and Fred, who will talk about their meeting in 1979 and how a chance encounter three years ago reacquainted the two and led to the development of a true friendship. Fred will talk about how Joe inspired him to become a runner, while Joe will discuss how it feels to know that he was Fred's inspiration.

'If he didn't jump out of the stands like he did, I probably wouldn't have accomplished what I did in my career," said Fred.

"I'm so thankful that I did make a difference in someone's life," said Joe.

The cost of the daylong event is $20. For a schedule of events, click here. To make a reservation, click here.

For more information, contact Victoria Trass Bardo, Special Projects and Events Coordinator, at (716) 661-1477 or trcvickyb@windstream.net.