He epitomizes the word “volunteer”
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
One can't help but see the volunteer spirit in Bob Rishel and the jovial, welcoming smile he carries around with him.
"I've been trying to teach him to say no," his wife, Konny, said.
Since moving to Bella Vista in 1995, it has been one organization after another in which Rishel has given his time to help others.
"Volunteers carry this place tremendously," he said. "If we didn't have them, a lot wouldn't get done. I always say 10 percent of the people do 90 percent of the work in most places."
Rishel was recently named as president of the Military Officers Association of America's local chapter. Around 10 members take turns each Wednesday sifting through magazines and books collected at the MOAA drop-off box located at the Bella Vista Recycling Center. The members then take pertinent materials to patients at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Fayetteville.
"The books and magazines are appreciated by the veterans there, but also their wives and children who may be with them at the hospital," he said.
Rishel is a member of the Bella Vista Honor Guard, one of only three in the state sanctioned by the U. S. Department of Defense to conduct military funerals.
"I wasn't too aware of it at first, but I consider it an honor (to serve at military funerals )," Rishel said.
In addition to presenting colors at veterans'funerals, Rishel also participates in citizenship ceremonies and teaches middleschoolers proper flag etiquette with the honor guard.
"The thing that sticks out for me," said Charlie Brietzke, a fellow honor guard member," is that Bob doesn't mind the word'lead'in'lead, follow or get out of the way. ' Whenever there is a need to fill positions, routine or emergency, his hand immediately goes up."
Giving time to veterans'groups comes second nature to Rishel, who served in the U. S. Navy from 1952 to 1974.
Bella Vista Crime Watch is another organization Rishel is involved with, once as a regular member and now serving as a substitute. He also helps the Bella Vista Police Department by occasionally directing traffic during emergencies and by offering to give rides to people in his four-wheel-drive Nissan during inclement weather.
Rishel remembers with a chuckle one such ride he gave to a Bella Vista couple who had one too many to drink on a New Year's Eve. He picked them up from Bentonville, and they were very nice and thankful, but Rishel recalls they all engaged in an "interesting conversation."
Another ride became much more costly when he took a nurse to work at the former St. Mary's Hospital in Rogers during an ice storm.
"I thought I was going slow enough, but I hit a patch of ice. My car ended up with $ 15, 000 worth of damage," Rishel said.
The Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter has benefited greatly from Rishel's volunteer efforts, so much so he was recognized in 2006 with the President's Volunteer Service Award for logging 4, 000 or more hours. The award was presented by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, and Rishel even received a letter from President George W. Bush praising his efforts.
Rishel is also active at the Presbyterian Church of Bella Vista, where he was chosen as one of the church's elders. He helps coordinate gift drives during Christmas for the Salvation Army and still heads the church's Parish Life Committee and its social activities.
Outside of church, Rishel served a term on Benton County's Quorum Court from October 2003 until December 2004, and he served a three-year term on the Bella Vista Ambulance Service Board.
Despite his time in the Navy and the thousands of hours devoted to helping others, his proudest achievement is still the 54 years of marriage with his wife.
"I often refer to her as my anchor."
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