Living
Local businesses help out veteran with ramp
Saturday, 09 June 2012 by David Tuma
Jeff Shoe, Kenny Dean and Kelvin James show off the ramp that James and Dean, of Jordan Enterprises, built to help Shoe, who is a Vietnam veteran, get into his house easier.If you know the Smith family that owns Smith Brothers Drive-In on 6th Ave in Belton, then you know some good folks. For years they have been active in the community and running several successful businesses.
Cecil Smith who helps run their Shell store on 6th is one of those men that never meets a stranger. If you have some time, Cecil can tell you everything about Belton. He is well known and liked by most.
Cecil found out about a Vietnam veteran that was in a wheel chair and was having trouble getting in his house. Jedd Shoe served three tours in Vietnam and has trouble getting around and there was no easy way get in the house.
His wife would roll him up to the front door and he would use the post on the corner of the porch to try to pull him self up with his wife trying to assist him.
Cecil talked to Greg Jordan, better known in Belton as Levi Jordan's dad. The older Jordan owns a construction company and Jordan agreed to do the work and provide the materials to help Shoe get a ramp.
"I was surprised by it, that they did all the work on their own, they are carpenters," Shoe said. "We have lived here six years and it was difficult getting up those stairs. I had to hold on and pull myself up."
His wife noted he has fallen multiple times in recent years.
"I stopped by for coffee at Smith Brothers and Cecil told me about the veteran that was having trouble getting up the steps," said Greg Jordan, owner of Jordan Enterprises. "We came out and looked at it and the job didn't take too long."
"I've got a daughter that is a Marine and another daughter that is married to an MP so we have military in the family," said Kelvin James, who did the work with Kenny Dean. "It was a special day."
Shoe served in the military for 25-plus years as an engineer.
