THAR ADUREY!
John Fouts of Okemos was a Red Cross volunteer working in Houston immediately after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. "Many times during my deployment," Fouts wrote in a recent e-mail to me, "I encountered celebrities - famous clergy, singers, actors, sports figures and politicians - usually with negative results."They would come in for very brief periods of time for 'photo ops,' seeking some sort of publicity." Often, Fouts said, the nuisance created by the celebrities actually hindered legitimate efforts. One volunteer, however, while turning heads, also stood out in Fouts' mind. "This volunteer," he wrote, "worked with the staff for hours without a break and seemed to be everywhere, doing anything that was asked of him. In fact, I worked with the volunteer, shoulder to shoulder, for hours, loading trucks and trading jokes. He was just a regular volunteer. He didn't have any "people" with him. He spent more time volunteering than most volunteers. There were no fans there. He was just a really nice guy helping out. The people he was helping had no idea who he was. The people who recognized him were the people that could afford to go the movies, like the National Guard." Fouts noticed that the young man was causing quite a stir among some of the other volunteers. They were pointing and buzzing and secretly taking pictures.
Finally one of them, a young woman, broke the news to Fouts: He was working with a movie star. She mentioned the star's name, but it didn't mean a thing to Fouts. He was in "Gladiator," she said, but that didn't mean anything to Fouts, either. Three months later, Fouts watched on TV as the go-getter volunteer accepted a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Johnny Cash in "Walk the Line." He was, of course, Joaquin Phoenix and, suddenly, Fouts had a favorite movie star.
Finally one of them, a young woman, broke the news to Fouts: He was working with a movie star. She mentioned the star's name, but it didn't mean a thing to Fouts. He was in "Gladiator," she said, but that didn't mean anything to Fouts, either. Three months later, Fouts watched on TV as the go-getter volunteer accepted a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Johnny Cash in "Walk the Line." He was, of course, Joaquin Phoenix and, suddenly, Fouts had a favorite movie star.