IN THE NEWS...
Fort Worth Star-Telegram:  A wonderful story by David Casstevens and photographs by             www.star-telegram.com                    Tom Pennington.  They both really captured what Thursday                                                                   Boys and Mr. Redwine are all about.
  
WFAA Channel 8 Fort Worth/Dallas & reporter Paige McCoy Smith of the "The ^Not So Perfect Parent"   did an AWESOME report on the Thursday Boys and Mr. Redwine.   Go to Paig'e web page to view the video.
"After School Special" Part 1
"After School Special" Part 2
"Tip of the Cap"
Not-So-Perfect Parent: Thursday Boys
Paige McCoy Smith reports on Thursday Boys
March 26, 2008







Every Thursday, they come.  For the past 18 years, they have not been disappointed.  Every Thursday, boys and girls, like little ducklings, fall into line and follow their leader for an afternoon of Thursday Boys.

Thursday Boys began over a decade ago by Jim Redwine, a Fort Worth business owner who decided he wanted to spend more time with his kids.  Thursdays seemed like the best day, and he began a tradition of uninterrupted play with his kids in the park across from their elementary school.  Looking back, Redwine says, “Your time is fleeting with your children.  There is a point when they don't need you as much they need different things from you.  They need time to grow and be with their peers and not have you around all the time.  Well, that time is not in elementary.  Elementary they savor every moment with you and want you there all the time.”

Eventually other kids asked to join in.  Today, more than 500 boys and girls call themselves Thursday Boys. Together they learn the value of Friends, Fellowship and Good Sportsmanship.

Although his kids have grown, Mr. Redwine (as he is known to his loyal Thursday Boys), continues what has become a personal ministry that promotes leadership and good sportsmanship.  He’s a tough talkin', bear-huggin’ type that makes no apologies for enforcing his rules with an iron fist and a soft heart.  Redwine insists that kids stay in line and is not surprised when they comply.  “I've had literally a hundreds of parents come and ask me how I get their child to be that well behaved and that good at Thursday Boys,” says Redwine.  “And it's not a phenomenon, it's kids wanting to do the right thing and being put in responsible positions and realizing that there are consequences if you step outside of the rules.”

In addition to his full-time job, Redwine spends over 40 hours per week committed to the cause of Thursday Boys.  When asked what motivated him, Mr. Redwine points to the kids.  “Working with kids is a privilege and none of us deserve it,” says Redwine.  “It's nothing that you've earned.  It's something that is gifted.  That's just my personal opinion.  They are the best that life has to offer to me.”

You see, it’s not all about play.  Each Thursday Boy is expected to participate in some form of community service.  Through those experiences, the kids earn the next level of cap – first blue, then red and then black.  With each level comes more privileges combined with more responsibility. 

S.T. is a recent Black Cap recipient.  She takes this new responsibility seriously.   Her recent promotion means she is now a part of something special.  “It means that I now have a T-boy family,” says S.T.  “Somebody that I can go to have fun with and mentor more and a lot more things.”  S.T., a beautiful African American little girl who has wisdom beyond her years, says that being in Thursday Boys reminds her of important lessons she learned in History class. She explains that “Thursday Boys is like the Declaration of Independence.  That all men are equal.”

Mr. Redwine embodies the essence of a disciple and the heart of a servant. He has simply stepped up and participated, and, unexpectantly drew a loyal following.   He took the time to take inventory of his life and decided to focus on the significant.  He writes,

I will serve their children when allowed and until my shadow disappears from the ground where Children’s voices remind us that our efforts carry on without us but we are never forgotten.  There’s a reason for our legacy’s value and height has little to do with who casts the “Longest Shadow”.

Blue, red, black, or otherwise,  I say, “Hats off to you Mr. Redwine."


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Paige McCoy Smith is the Not-So-Perfect Parent,
appearing Mondays and Wednesdays on "Good Morning Texas."