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Main Street Newspapers
Roanoke County resident Dennis Bolling wrote to tell the Connection about his Uncle Calvin, just voted into the Hall of Fame at the Virginia School of the Deaf and Blind in Staunton. Using sign language, Bolling went over with Calvin Neighbors the high points of a long and fruitful life he mastered without hearing.
Calvin Neighbors was born in Roanoke County on Sept. 30, 1931.
His parents were Joe and Lottie H. Neighbors. Calvin is one of eight children. Two of the children, including Calvin, were born deaf. His youngest brother, Danny, is also deaf.
Calvin attended the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Staunton. The difference in this school compared to other schools is that when Calvin was able to dress himself and tie his shoes he was to attend school. Calvin attended the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind from 1938 until 1951.
During his time there Calvin played football, baseball and basketball. He played center for the basketball team, right end and center for the football team, and shortstop and second base in baseball.
Basketball was his favorite sport and football was the most difficult.
The reason football was most difficult was the deaf had to respond to movement as they could not hear and the hearing teams they played had a slight advantage over them. They played teams from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina and local teams in Charlottesville and Waynesboro.
Believe it or not, Calvin loved school and missed school when he was not there. He attended school from September until early June each year. He was only home for summer break and holidays.
He would rather be in school than home as he lived on 12 O'Clock Knob, a mountain in Roanoke County (where he still lives) and he had very few friends as it was hard for him to communicate with the hearing.
Very few (if any) knew any sign language at all.
After school Calvin met his present wife Katherine (Kathy, who is also deaf) at the old Lakeside Amusement Park in Salem. Calvin knew of Kathy while in school, but they were never friends or did anything socially.
Calvin and Kathy were married on Dec. 14, 1951. Calvin and Kathy had three children. Terry, the oldest lives in Roanoke County, Randy the middle son lives in Newport News, and the youngest son, Ricky, lives at home with Calvin and Kathy.
They now have six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Calvin is also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. He attends the Roanoke Second Ward located on Cotton Hill Road. Calvin is a very active member of the church and he is one of six deaf members.
The Roanoke Second Ward is assigned for the deaf LDS members in the Roanoke valley. In addition to the Sunday service Calvin is an active participant in the signing language class conducted every Wednesday evening from 7-8 p.m. The class is for members and non-members and it is free of charge.
Due to the interest in the signing language class there will be two classes starting in January 2007. The classes will remain on Wednesday. A beginners class will start at 6 p.m. and the intermediate class will start at 7 p.m. Both classes will last an hour. The new classes will start on Jan. 10.
After school Calvin went to work for Harris Manufacturing Co.,a manufacturer of hardwood flooring. He worked there from 1951 to 1956. Calvin then went to work for Kroger Bakery in Roanoke and worked there until his early retirement in 1979.
In September of this year Calvin received the surprise of his life -- he found out that he had been elected to the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind Sports Hall of Fame. A panel of alumni elected him into the hall. He excelled in the games he played and demonstrated true sportsmanship. Calvin, his wife Kathy their son Ricky and brother Danny attended the ceremony in Staunton on Oct. 13
Roanoke County resident Dennis Bolling wrote to tell the Connection about his Uncle Calvin, just voted into the Hall of Fame at the Virginia School of the Deaf and Blind in Staunton. Using sign language, Bolling went over with Calvin Neighbors the high points of a long and fruitful life he mastered without hearing.
Calvin Neighbors was born in Roanoke County on Sept. 30, 1931.
His parents were Joe and Lottie H. Neighbors. Calvin is one of eight children. Two of the children, including Calvin, were born deaf. His youngest brother, Danny, is also deaf.
Calvin attended the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Staunton. The difference in this school compared to other schools is that when Calvin was able to dress himself and tie his shoes he was to attend school. Calvin attended the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind from 1938 until 1951.
During his time there Calvin played football, baseball and basketball. He played center for the basketball team, right end and center for the football team, and shortstop and second base in baseball.
Basketball was his favorite sport and football was the most difficult.
The reason football was most difficult was the deaf had to respond to movement as they could not hear and the hearing teams they played had a slight advantage over them. They played teams from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina and local teams in Charlottesville and Waynesboro.
Believe it or not, Calvin loved school and missed school when he was not there. He attended school from September until early June each year. He was only home for summer break and holidays.
He would rather be in school than home as he lived on 12 O'Clock Knob, a mountain in Roanoke County (where he still lives) and he had very few friends as it was hard for him to communicate with the hearing.
Very few (if any) knew any sign language at all.
After school Calvin met his present wife Katherine (Kathy, who is also deaf) at the old Lakeside Amusement Park in Salem. Calvin knew of Kathy while in school, but they were never friends or did anything socially.
Calvin and Kathy were married on Dec. 14, 1951. Calvin and Kathy had three children. Terry, the oldest lives in Roanoke County, Randy the middle son lives in Newport News, and the youngest son, Ricky, lives at home with Calvin and Kathy.
They now have six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Calvin is also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. He attends the Roanoke Second Ward located on Cotton Hill Road. Calvin is a very active member of the church and he is one of six deaf members.
The Roanoke Second Ward is assigned for the deaf LDS members in the Roanoke valley. In addition to the Sunday service Calvin is an active participant in the signing language class conducted every Wednesday evening from 7-8 p.m. The class is for members and non-members and it is free of charge.
Due to the interest in the signing language class there will be two classes starting in January 2007. The classes will remain on Wednesday. A beginners class will start at 6 p.m. and the intermediate class will start at 7 p.m. Both classes will last an hour. The new classes will start on Jan. 10.
After school Calvin went to work for Harris Manufacturing Co.,a manufacturer of hardwood flooring. He worked there from 1951 to 1956. Calvin then went to work for Kroger Bakery in Roanoke and worked there until his early retirement in 1979.
In September of this year Calvin received the surprise of his life -- he found out that he had been elected to the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind Sports Hall of Fame. A panel of alumni elected him into the hall. He excelled in the games he played and demonstrated true sportsmanship. Calvin, his wife Kathy their son Ricky and brother Danny attended the ceremony in Staunton on Oct. 13