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Scott Wallace

1. When was this photo taken?

1983

2. Where was this photo taken?

Bethany, West Virginia

3. Who took this photo?

I did.

4. What are we looking at here?

This image is of Randall Gorby at his home in West Virginia. I stopped off to see him on my way from Missouri, where I'd just graduated from journalism school, to El Salvador to start a career as a freelance reporter. The Gorby home had been a refuge for me since I was introduced to Randall and his family on my first journey into Appalachia ten years before. Randall was a charismatic, larger-than-life character. War veteran, steelworker, union organizer, commune host, father, husband, friend to the downtrodden and to any stranger who appeared at his door.

5. How does this old photo make you feel?

Getting to know Randall, his wife Irmgard, and their children was a transformative experience for me. I feel sadness and a sense of loss. Randall is gone. So too is that magical time, that magical place. But It also makes me feel grateful that I found my way there through a series of decisions and coincidences.

6. Is this what you expected to see?

Not at all, I was completely surprised to find these images from West Virginia, especially this one of my old friend and mentor Randall Gorby.

7. What kind of memories does this photo bring back?

I feel a sense of wonder and amazement remembering my early experiences traveling on my own for the first time into an unfamiliar place. And how I was welcomed like an old and trusted friend into the homes of folks who did not know me.

8. How do you think others will respond to this photo?

I hope others will experience a hint of the depth of Randall Gorby's humanity in this image. The kitten behind him lends a slightly ironic twist to the photo. Randall is clearly oblivious to its presence. But it seems to underscore his generosity of spirit that, like the cat, he is not consciously aware of.

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Scott Wallace
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Contained in galleries
Lost Rolls: The Archive
1. When was this photo taken?<br /> <br /> 1983<br /> <br /> 2. Where was this photo taken?<br /> <br /> Bethany, West Virginia<br /> <br /> 3. Who took this photo?<br /> <br /> I did.<br /> <br /> 4. What are we looking at here?<br /> <br /> This image is of Randall Gorby at his home in West Virginia. I stopped off to see him on my way from Missouri, where I'd just graduated from journalism school, to El Salvador to start a career as a freelance reporter. The Gorby home had been a refuge for me since I was introduced to Randall and his family on my first journey into Appalachia ten years before. Randall was a charismatic, larger-than-life character. War veteran, steelworker, union organizer, commune host, father, husband, friend to the downtrodden and to any stranger who appeared at his door.<br /> <br /> 5. How does this old photo make you feel?<br /> <br /> Getting to know Randall, his wife Irmgard, and their children was a transformative experience for me. I feel sadness and a sense of loss. Randall is gone. So too is that magical time, that magical place. But It also makes me feel grateful that I found my way there through a series of decisions and coincidences.<br /> <br /> 6. Is this what you expected to see?<br /> <br /> Not at all, I was completely surprised to find these images from West Virginia, especially this one of my old friend and mentor Randall Gorby.<br /> <br /> 7. What kind of memories does this photo bring back?<br /> <br /> I feel a sense of wonder and amazement remembering my early experiences traveling on my own for the first time into an unfamiliar place. And how I was welcomed like an old and trusted friend into the homes of folks who did not know me.<br /> <br /> 8. How do you think others will respond to this photo?<br /> <br /> I hope others will experience a hint of the depth of Randall Gorby's humanity in this image. The kitten behind him lends a slightly ironic twist to the photo. Randall is clearly oblivious to its presence. But it seems to underscore his generosity of spirit that, like the cat, he is not consciously aware of.