Marvin Bottomley had looked forward to this moment for 35 years — and it was worth every minute of the wait.
Bottomley, 55, received his diploma during Emporia High School commencement ceremonies on Sunday at William L. White Auditorium.
“I’m the oldest one graduating,” he said. “I got my diploma and everything and I stuck with it. It’s been a long time working for it.”
Bottomley walked across the stage with his guide dog, Fred.
“I’m legally blind. I’ve been blind since birth,” he said. Bottomley has a very slight amount of sight and can see things exceptionally close to him and with the right magnification.
Fred wasn’t bothered at all by the 280 or so graduates and the crowd that circled the auditorium.
“He handles things all right,” Bottomley said.
Earning his diploma has been on Bottomley’s mind for a long time.
“I knew I couldn’t get a good job without my high school diploma. You’ve got to have your high school diploma before you get a good job nowdays. On the application they ask you if you’ve graduated and if you don’t, you don’t get a good job. I found out,” Bottomley said.
He said that members of his true graduating class at Arkansas City High School received their diplomas in 1971. He tried later for a GED and found that it was too difficult. He moved to Wichita in 1992 and found jobs in that area. He was a dishwasher and worked at Envision, a manufacturing company that makes T-shirt bags, trash bags and other equipment for Air Force bases and federal buildings, he said.
Last year, he and his wife, Karen, moved from Wichita to Emporia, where his brother and sister-in-law, John and Donna Bottomley, lived. Donna Bottomley got Marvin started in the Emporia school district at the Flint Hills Learning Center.
“I was a slow learner and I couldn’t write very well or spell very well,” he explained. “But this was a little easier for me. ... It was all on computer.”
Bottomley has enjoyed his senior year in Emporia, and has taken advantage of activities offered to his classmates. He and Karen attended the senior prom several weeks ago, for example, and enjoyed themselves by dancing.
“I liked it. I had fun,” he said.
Another celebration was in store for Bottomley after commencement exercises.
“They’re going to have a party for me at ‘We Care,’” he said before graduating.
Nancy Rumold, manager of “We Care” agency, said late last week that a reception had been planned with the traditional cake, punch, nuts and mints.
“His wife is one of my consumers and Marvin, we just kind of inherited him,” she said with a chuckle.
Bottomley is a member of the Emporia Special Olympics team, and his teammates, along with friends and family, were invited to the reception.
“Fred is graduating, also, so his name is also on the cake,” Rumold said.
For now, he is undecided about the path he will take post-graduation. With his high school diploma in hand, Bottomley is confident that he is prepared to take the next step.
“I might get me a job or go to Flint Hills Technical College, take some classes,” he said.
In the meantime, Bottomley will be more than content to bask in his accomplishment.
“It felt good. It felt real good,” he said. “I did it.”
barbara61 (anonymous) says...
Good going Marvin , That is great. PS love the LAB, he is beautiful.
May 22, 2007 at 12:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
photobuggy2 (anonymous) says...
Congratulations!
May 22, 2007 at 11:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandyestabrook (anonymous) says...
What a great story! Congratulations Marvin!!!!!
You should be really proud of your accomplishment. I look forward to seeing you in church with Fred on Sunday.
Sandy
May 24, 2007 at 3:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )