In this chapter, two friends who had not seen each other in years joined a wildlife rescue team to determine security of bald eagle fledglings in a vast natural recreation area. After the work was complete they went camping as a reward. What happened that evening in the rugged wilderness taught as much about nature, as it did about strength, precision and determination, in a man named Peter Churchfield. Who made a fortune while all those around him were losing theirs.  Continuing the conversation from last time…

I walked over to the cooler and pulled out three beers, twisted the tops, and put one in each of their outstretched hands.

“By age twelve, I had learned that buying my own clothes gave me freedom,” Peter told Bernie. “I used my allowance to buy shoes and a Milwaukee Brewers cap, and I was happy to save up to buy them!”

Bernie took a long sip of his cold beer. “A supportive family makes a difference, I guess. I understand how learning good communication and thinking skills saved your fortune, but please, continue explaining your secrets to success.”

“Perhaps it started when I took on the responsibility for my dad’s car,” Peter said. “He let me use the car on the weekends. After I brought it home, I washed it and I cleaned the garage to make sure I’d be allowed to borrow it again.”

“Fine. I guess you had to start somewhere,” Bernie said, his tone indicating that he felt cheated by the answer.

“Oh, there’s more to him than that,” I said. “Tell him about those college days, Peter.”

“Well, I was lucky enough to get an athletic scholarship, but it ended when I broke my neck. I was pole vaulting.” He gave Bernie a matter-of-fact look and flashed that Peter smile of resignation. “At that time, it was just the way it was. I could no longer compete, so my scholarship was taken away. No lawyers, no lawsuits. I just lost my scholarship funding.”

“That would be an outrage by today’s college standards,” Bernie exclaimed.

“You’re right. Today, students wouldn’t lose their scholarships. I did, but it didn’t bother me. I didn’t go to an attorney. I just found a way to stay in school and went on.”

Because I was proud of his story, I chimed in on behalf of my friend. “Peter developed the moral code that challenges were meant to be overcome without blame or excuses. Why would he stop his life over a broken neck and lost money?” I said with cynical fervor. “After spending seven weeks in the hospital, he gathered himself, neck brace and all, and transferred to a different college. He paid for it on his own, but it proved to be more than he could manage. Strapped with bills and wanting desperately to stay in school, he did the unthinkable: he began practicing to compete for another athletic scholarship. In what today would probably raise legal red flags and cause a public-relations firestorm, he earned a second athletic scholarship.”

Continued here next time.

Read the complete story in the book, The Quiet Rich: Ordinary People Reawakening an American Dream.

Kevin J. Palmer, Author