The Bike Man loved what he did in Greeneville and felt that he was touching people's lives with his presence and his reaching out to the town. Not everyone liked him and I'm sure not everyone had reason to; I'm his daughter, I know his faults. I didn't agree with every thing he did, but I know it made him happy to be recognized with a smile and a wave from so many of you on the By-Pass.
I know most of you think he must have always been here but he came to Greeneville in 1997, riding from Ohio to Indiana to Tennessee on his 1944 yellow Schwinn one-speed bicycle, as I'm sure he's told many of you. For most of his years here he'd been homeless or living with friends he'd just made (and then upset; so they kicked him out, but thus goes the way of my dad). For the past couple of years he finally secured more permanent housing in the apartments in Greeneville Terrace, where he also had a few friends (and hopefully fewer enemies). Contrary to what some have said, The Bike Man was not a rich man living the life of a hobo. He was what he seemed to be; more in ways, less in others.
The Bike Man passed away in his apartment by himself either Tuesday evening or early Wednesday morning, December 27th or 28th of this year, 2005. I know he will be missed. Most of all by me and those of us who knew him before he got it into his head to be The Bike Man, Greeneville's resident celebrity. Please remember him and us in your thoughts and prayers if it so moves you.
The Bike Man never says Goodbye, only So Long. And I'll see you 'out there'. God bless you. A
If you wish to contact myself or the family, please send emails to si_elaria@yahoo.com. While we were able to cover the expenses, monetary gifts will be thankfully accepted for offsetting of the cost. They may be sent to Sarah Abrell, 8151 Pleasant Valley Rd., Camden, OH 45311. Flowers for the services this Friday may be sent to the Robert L. Crooks Funeral Home, which is a part of the Preble Memory Gardens in West Alexandria, Ohio. Many thanks.
A Serial
Episode 1 -- 86 Days of Terror
Quotable Quotes
Bulletin Board
Shoutouts
Bits~N~Pieces
Photos
Poetry
Check back often as the webmaster is in the process of setting up The Bike Man online catalog complete with The Bike Man memorabilia and fan materials. Thanks for your continued support of The Bike Man and...see you OUT THERE !!!
Just a rose, a girl by the cold, hard granite stone
And a freshly dug mound of dirt with a single red rose alone
she stood tryin' to ease the pain and hurt
All the feelin's she had, she didn't even know
So why expect her to undernstand why one so young, would just want to go.
Had others put so much on him, he just couldn't bear the demand,
And then when one he loved, just up and walked away
Is that why he left, why he didn't even want to stay
The questions are always many, and answers sometime seem so few.
Leavin' the ones still here wondering
What could they have done and now what can they do
There's a void, and empty space when someone's gone
The ones whose left must try to fill, and somehow carry on.
But on this same day, once in every year
Though he is no longer, his presents now is gone
With only one red rose, and maybe then a tear
Just because of her, his memory will always live on.
bike_man_of_greeneville_tn@hotmail.com
