He stood straight, arms crossed, in a navy blazer, looking in a way both vigilant and discerning. I guessed he was probably former military or law enforcement. A bit stout at that time, he did not look like someone you wanted to mess with. I assumed he was there as event security.
Boy, was I wrong. I never have would guessed he was a multi-millionaire, or even someone with a primarily business background, but he paid keen attention to everything around him, standing several feet behind my good friend and WSB Radio colleague Clark Howard.
We were at a Walmart that Saturday afternoon, deep in the holiday season. Clark, the always happy, affable, and able ringmaster, was being assisted by the rest of us to support his Clark’s Christmas Kids program (clarkschristmaskids. com). This year will be its 36th to ensure four holiday gifts (of their choosing and preference) make their way across the Peach State to each foster home for these children.
Clark began this tradition as part of his nationally syndicated consumer advice and travel show on WSB Radio. As Clark’s fame and national reach grew, so did this special fundraiser, among WSB’s two annual flagship community give-back events, alongside the AFLAC Cancer Center Careathon each summer benefiting pediatric cancer treatment and research at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
But back to our security guard … one year, more than a decade ago, the fundraiser fell financially short of being able to supply gifts for every Georgia foster child. Clark was personally devastated, and he still speaks of this potential shortfall with some degree of alarm each year. But after that shortfall year, he received a phone call.
The caller identified himself as a businessman who grew up in foster care. He shared the story of when he was a young teen and a generous Christmas Eve gift from a stranger helped turn his life around by teaching him the strength and benefits of showing kindness toward others.
The caller said his name was Rick Jackson, and he told Clark he was “in the healthcare business.” He also said he wanted no publicity or recognition but wanted Clark to know he would never again have to worry about not being able to fill every Georgia foster child’s Christmas stocking (a pair of socks is part of each gift package).
Jackson remains CEO and chairman of Jackson Healthcare, founded more than 25 years ago and now an estimated $25-billion corporation and holding company. Nearly 20 other companies operate under that corporate banner, specializing in numerous subsets of healthcare staffing, coding, billing, and cost management, among other industry innovations too numerous to list here.
Spending half a day this spring at the impressive Jackson Healthcare campus in Alpharetta, along with a then-new candidate for Georgia’s governorship and my WSB-TV Action News colleague Jorge Estevez, I was struck by how down to earth and approachable Jackson is. I also noted he listened to others, took counsel, and seemed to be revered – not feared – by every employee we encountered. His ebullient executive assistant has been with Jackson more than 20 years.
Full circle, and though Jackson would have no reason to recall our brief earlier meeting several years prior at Walmart, I did. He wasn’t wearing the blue blazer that day, and he had considerably trimmed down, but, as Jackson discussed his philanthropy and family gifting strategy, I saw the same smile I witnessed that day at Walmart while he helped families fill their foster child holiday wish list of choice.
With all due respect to Atlanta’s former mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, Jackson’s opponent this fall for governor, if you compare their track records, accomplishments, contributions back to community and society, as well as proven abilities of fiscal stewardship, economic development, and managing change ... the comparison is not even close.
Regardless of how the coming congressional mid-term elections go, I think I can make a pretty accurate forecast: I feel a bumpy patch is coming soon for our nation. Georgia typically weathers recessions and downturns better than most states, but that does not happen by accident.
It requires firm and steady hands on the wheel ... and for that reason, I think the safer bet may well be Rick “Action” Jackson for governor.