FRANKLIN—Willie E. Gary saw only the positive in the audience at the recent Franklin Community Leadership Breakfast.

“I see a lot of success in this room,” said Gary, a nationally known attorney. He was the guest speaker at the annual event, which was sponsored by the Franklin Tri-County Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., the Paul D. Camp Community College Student Government Association and the Franklin Department of Parks & Recreation. The theme was “The best is yet to come.”

“But we still have a long, long way to go. The past is always with us,” he said, and referred to the collective ancestry of those present, which was predominately black. “It was their blood that made this possible.

“You don’t have the right to let them down. I’m talking to you, young people,” Gary continued, his volume increasing. “They were marching for you, young people. You owe it to them to be somebody and a make a difference.

“The best is yet to come…and it’s going to rest on your shoulders.”

Gary’s visit is the result of persistent courting by Frank Davis, the recently retired head of the Franklin Department of Parks and Recreation. Davis prefaced his introduction of the speaker, telling about first meeting he had with Gary in 2002.

“He talked just like he knew me,” said Davis, who remembered another meeting at the Shaw versus Chowan football game in 2003. Gary was seen on the sidelines with the players, rather than in a comfortable box of seats with other people.

“Wow! You never see that,” said Davis. “He’s down to earth. He was right there with us and he listens to you…persistence pays off.”

Gary thanked the city and event organizers for hosting the visit, which included his wife, Mary.

He praised her support; they’ve known each other since both were in second-grade together.

“She knew me before all that,” said Gary, referring to the successes he and Mary have enjoyed in their life together.

“Whatever I am or hope to be, it’s because I had a good woman!”

He also gave credit to his Lord.

“When you have God on your side, you can do anything,” Gary said; his remarks punctuated by frequent applause. “Don’t ever get so big you can’t say, ‘Thank you, Jesus.’”

He again addressed his remarks to the students.

“I challenge you. I don’t want to hear excuses. You’ve got to succeed against odds,” Gary told them. He added, “But be careful how you treat people. Don’t ever look down on anybody unless you’re picking them up. For what goes around, comes around.”

Davis was recognized after the speech for his contributions to the city as the parks director and community leader.

“I thank God I ended up in Franklin, and the people I’ve worked with,” he said. “Franklin is a good place. It’s been a good run.”