Second chance
They say God works in his mysterious ways. Sixteen-year-old James Hogan
had no idea God was about to intervene in his life. He’d dropped out of
school a few weeks earlier to have a job delivering pizzas. Described by his
teachers and employers as a courteous, hard worker, James just couldn’t
seem to handle the psychologycal pressures of adolescence. His life was
going nowhere fast despite the silent prayers of his mother.
Always conscientious, James delivered pizzas hot from the oven until the
day, on the way taking pizzas to the customer, he saw the back of a Cadillac
sinking. The car was going down fast with an elderly man inside. Without
hesitation, James leaped into the water. Trapped inside was the Reverend
Max Kelly. He was unconscious. James, standing on the back of the car, saw
that a rear window had somehow opened. So, he tried his best to pull the
elderly man out and brought him to shore.
After the rescue, the police offered James a ride home. But he declined,
stating that he had his truck to drive and pizza to deliver. Ever conscientious,
he did ask them to radio the restaurant to notify his customers that their
pizzas would be a little late and a little cold.
In December of 1995, James Hogan was awarded the Carnegie Medal for
heroism which included $2,500, and a scholarship. James says the incident
has changed his life. Just two weeks before the accident, he had held the gun,
which his father left, to his head wanting to die. He wouldn’t have been there
to save the Reverend’s life had the gun not jammed.
His mother’s prayers answered, James is back in school, not only taking
extra classes to catch up with his classmates but also practicing for the
baseball team. A huge public outpouring of love and support has given him a
renewed meaning and purpose and a well-earned second chance.
- Joanie Nietsche
