FRANKLIN — Bob Walton has seen more spokes, chains, tubes, tires, gears and pedals in the past few years than most people see in a lifetime. And when others are outside enjoying the summer, he can often be found in his garage, elbow-deep in bicycle parts.

Bob Walton works on a bicycle in the garage of his home in Franklin. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        That's because he's already thinking about next Christmas. His holiday gift-giving requires more than a few weeks of frantic shopping. It's a year-round job. The Franklin resident refurbishes old bicycles and gives them to needy children.

        It started about six years ago when Franklin Police Chief Bob Rockwood approached Mr. Walton, who did bicycle repair in his spare time, and asked if he would consider taking the department's unclaimed bikes and repairing them for the needy.

        “Then people starting bringing in bikes. Now I get so many, it's unbelievable,” says Mr. Walton, a maintenance employee for Warren Metropolitan Housing Authority.

        “I take the bikes and tear them down to the frame and go through the whole nine yards, bearings and everything to make sure they are in good shape before they go out. It takes a long time to tear them down and rebuild them — especially 10-speeds and mountain bikes. But I won't let them go out until I know they're safe and in good shape.”

        He works on the bicycles in his spare time all year. Then from October until almost Christmas, when he takes them to the Franklin Food Pantry for distribution, he's buried in bikes.

        “This is a nice way to distribute property that doesn't belong to us,” says Chief Rockwood, adding that before this plan had court approval, the department had auctioned the bikes that could not be identified and returned to their owners.

        “Bob is a true hero in my eyes. He works very hard to make sure the bikes are in good shape,” the chief says. “I know he has out-of-pocket expenses that he never mentions and never complains about. This is a good combined effort between the courts, the department, the property officers, the community and Bob. He's the leader — the one that makes it work. Some kids in town who probably wouldn't have the opportunity to get a bike can have one through this program.”

        Cash donations to help cover expenses, plus being able to buy parts at cost from Huffy, allows the project to continue.

        Mr. Walton's altruism doesn't end with bicycles. He often lends a hand when a friend or neighbor needs help with maintenance chores. And he recently spent hours working on a project to help the Franklin High School Winter Guard, building scenes for their competitions. His daughter, Christina, 14, is a member.
        Do you know a Hometown Hero — someone in your community dedicated to making it a better place to live and helping others? E-mail Janet Wetzel at jjwetzel@siscom.net or fax to 755-4150.
       

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