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From YouTube: Aiken Award Recipient Bill Reynolds
Description
This honoree isn’t a native of Aiken, but you wouldn’t know it from the way he has thrown himself into the life of this community since moving here in 1999. He’s been a driving force for the Aiken Center for the Arts through the Horseplay project, he was instrumental in our Sesquicentennial celebration, and for the last several years, he has helped transform and improve the historic facilities at Hopelands Gardens, Rye Patch and the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame through his role with the Friends of Hopelands. Bill Reynolds has made real and important contributions to this community
C
B
A
Known
bill
for
many
years,
my
involvement
in
this
project
came
about
because
I
live
across
the
street
from
the
entrance
to
Rye
patch
and
when
I
heard
that
the
stables
had
been
renovated.
I
thought
that
was
great,
but
then
I
heard
that
there
was
some
interest
in
doing
something
with
the
stables
that
could
be
useful
to
the
city
and
I
was
concerned
that
it
might
I
was
just
concerned
with
the
direction
it
was
taking
and
I
wanted
to
be
involved.
C
He
really
pushed
for
some
change
within
the
how
the
guardians
are
being
taken
care
of
whether
it
be
the
buildings
or
the
grounds
and
he's
formed
committees.
That's
worked
alongside
our
staff
to
make
sure
that
the
long-range
plan
that
the
friends
have
formed
for
the
properties
are
being
carried
out
and
that's
just
been
enjoyable
to
see
something
that
had
started
back
in
I.
Think
2009
with
maybe
about
three
years
left
to
go.
He
was
able
to
make
progress
on
that
bill.
B
Took
the
lead
in
the
planning
process,
which
was
a
very
complex
task
and,
of
course,
did
in
an
outstanding
job
as
we
worked
to
to
get
that
pen
finished
in
two
years.
It
took
us
two
years
and
went
into
a
third
year
and
in
the
third
year
bill
became
president
of
the
friends
and
completed
the
project.
I
suddenly.
A
Came
up
with
this
idea,
I
said:
wouldn't
it
be
great
if
you
know
those
artificial,
the
ceramic
horses
that
are
around
town?
Wouldn't
it
be
great
if
that
same
idea
could
be
used
to
to
do
something
for
historic
horses
in
the
city,
so
starting
with
the
first
horse
that
we
chose
was
from
1914
the
first
filly
to
win
the
Kentucky
Derby
and
the
10th
horse
was
the
bronze
medal
winner
at
the
Rio
Olympics
in
2016.
So
it
was
a
very
fun
project
to
be
involved
with.
A
It
was
fun
to
make
contact
with
her
with
the
various
families
who
sponsored
the
horses,
but
it
took
someone
like
Bill
to
say
to
make
me
want
to
get
involved.
He
makes
you
feel
that
you
are
really
important
and
I
think
in
any
volunteer
at
any
organization.
If
you
can
be
made
to
feel
that
you
are
really
an
important
piece
of
the
puzzle
that
he
really
need
you
that
he
needs
to
be
able
to
count
on
you
and
that
you
have
something
to
offer.