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TOOELE -- A Tooele man learned to do something late in life that many of us take for granted -- he learned to read.
Imagine not being able to fill out a job application or to read simple instructions. That was the reality for Paul Evans.
He learned before he could help others, he had to help himself.
"It's really been a rough road," he says. "But hey, that's the way life is sometimes."
He devours books now, but for almost 70 years, illiteracy plagued Evans. He was discharged from the Navy, relied on friends to fill out job applications and even felt suicidal for a time.
"I never thought I'd get to be able to learn to read. That was the most embarrassing and hurtful thing in my life," Evans says. "But I made it, and if you want it bad enough you can do it."
I never thought I'd get to be able to learn to read. That was the most embarrassing and hurtful thing in my life. But I made it, and if you want it bad enough you can do it.
–Paul Evans
A few years ago, he was called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Church's Tooele Employment Center. He asked himself, how could he help others become self sufficient when he could barely function?
"I thought oh boy, I can't even write my name," Evans says.
He resolved to learn to read. His wife provided the learning center phone number and the moral support over what would be a painstaking journey.
His hours of study and dreams came to fruition last month, when he graduated valedictorian from high school alongside his grandson.
"Oh that was the happiest day of my life, and to see my grandson graduate with me," Evans says. "I just decided I'm going to learn to read if it kills me, and it nearly did. But I made it."
For information on learning to read as an adult, [CLICK HERE].
E-mail: dwimmer@ksl.com
