I didn’t know Don Schilling except by sight. I knew his wife, Dee, more by reputation as a fellow lawyer in the Sonoma County area, where she was known to be a fighter. I didn’t know of Don’s early life at all. I read in the local paper, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, a story by Chris Smith about Don’s trip to Selma in 1965.
In March of that year Don was watching Television and saw the savage beatings of the marchers trying to reach the bridge heading for the state Capitol. Dr King asked for help from people of conscience across the country. Two days later Don was there. After having dinner with some other out-of-town Pastors, they went in different directions and, while Don moved safely one of those who went in the other direction, Rev James Reeb, was beaten so savagely that he died a short time later.
In his later years Don remained active helped with a mentoring program for local at-risk youth, and spent many hours visiting local inmates in the jail. That is where I got to know him by sight in my visits as a Public Defender. I wish I’d known more about him, I would love to be able to write about what he said, but I never got to know him.
I think we pass people every every day that have done heroic things just because it was what they felt compelled to do.
RIP Minister Schilling, you made things better when you could have just sat at home. This is the kind of quiet, honest religious act I deeply respect.
(Chris Smith’s article www.pressdemocrat.com/...)