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Kindness Helps Out A Terrier

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Scott Purks/The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 15, 2007

TAMPA Sitting in front of his computer, in the recesses of the Army camp at Fort Irwin, Calif., Gilbert White read a TBO.com news story involving his hometown of Tampa.

It was about a Hillsborough High student, Handel Eugene, who had taken it upon himself every week to create films of Hillsborough High football games. White read how Eugene learned the basics of camera work and editing from his journalism class, and then - during 20 hours of labor during weekends - created 10-minute football videos filled with rising and falling images and music. Turns out Eugene's work was so cool that cheers went up throughout the school when the videos were shown on the "Terrier Television" morning shows.

Terrier football coach Earl Garcia was so impressed, he showed the videos to his team before games to inspire them.

Midway through the season, Hillsborough High linebacker Marc Thomas said, "Now every week we can't wait to see Handel's video from Friday night's game. I mean he gets all the angles [with three little cameras, two used by Eugene's assistants] and all the feeling. It gets our team really, really fired up to see it."

In California, after reading about Eugene, White couldn't stop thinking. And the more he thought, the more inspired he became, finally to the point of discussing Eugene with Hillsborough High principal William Orr.

Then, after talking with Eugene on the phone for 45 minutes, White decided to do something he had always wanted to do.

"I decided to help out a wonderful young man," said White, an Army major who went straight into the service after graduating from Tampa's King High in 1984. "I've always wanted to give something back, and after looking into it, I thought this is one of the best ways I can do that."

In the following few weeks, White set up a trust fund to distribute $500 a semester - "To help with tuition, books or whatever," White said - throughout Eugene's college career. As an added incentive, White is giving $50 to Eugene for every A he makes.

After a meeting with White last weekend in Tampa, Eugene, quiet and humble, said, "I really don't know what to say because I don't think I could ever say enough to show how amazed and grateful I am.

"I do know that six months ago I never imagined anything like this would ever happen to me. Now I'm more inspired than ever to work hard for the future."

The next step is college, which probably will be at the University of Central Florida because of its film school.

"All I know is that wherever he decides to go the $500 a semester will be there for him from me," said White, who came back to Tampa to visit with family, friends and Eugene. "My hope is that others might read this and get inspired to help some other young person out there.

"Believe me, it feels great to help out a young person like Handel and see how much he appreciates it. It's a great, great feeling."

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