2012: Eric Searcy
Eric Searcy is a paraplegic due to being hit by drunk driver in college, who now is an inspirational/motivational speaker, owner of LA Lobsters, and amazing friend to many people.
Drew Rodrigue Foundation donated his Action Track Chair
Experience of a lifetime - Recordbuck Ranch and Swollfest donated the trip for Eric and his father to West Texas for a Rio Grande Turkey
In Eric’s own words:
There is simply no way to include everything that Swollfest stands for and how special a place its founder and volunteers hold in my heart in this short testimonial. It's difficult to fully convey through words the depth of gratitude I have. If you had a few hours to sit and listen to everything I would like to say I could explain most of it. Please search deep into your heart and try to imagine yourself in my shoes as you read this.
My journey began in the fall of 1998 during my first semester of college at UL Lafayette where I had the privilege of pitching for the Ragin’ Cajun baseball team. My dream of being a collegiate athlete was short lived when a drunk driver ran a red light and struck my vehicle. The impact left me clinging to life with three broken vertebrae in my neck and nearly severing my spinal cord. Unfortunately, the spinal cord injury paralyzed everything in my body below my neck, which labeled me a quadriplegic. Life as I had always known was gone in an instant. Although my body was broken, my spirit and zeal for life was not.
After years of intense rehabilitation and extreme determination, I regained most of the function in my arms. This has given me the ability to enjoy what I once thought impossible, hunting and fishing. My passion for the outdoors has grown stronger as time passes through the generosity of individuals who aren't afraid to take a guy in a wheelchair on their boat or to their deer lease.
In 2013, my best friend, Rawlston Phillips III, informed me he had “volunteered” me to emcee the Swollfest awards ceremony. While I questioned his sanity, he assured me I would enjoy the event. I reluctantly agreed after he promised to bring his boat so we could chase some trout. It suffices to say, the joke was on me! Dr. Nick Rauber, along with Rawlston and the Drew Rodrigue Foundation, had conspired this "emcee gig" just to get me to the Saturday night ceremony in Grand Isle. After wowing the crowd with my superb public speaking ability (haha!), I was the one who was in for a huge surprise. Nick took the microphone from me and informed the crowd of their devious little plot to get me there.
He explained the real reason for me being there was to present me as the 2013 Swollfest Inspirational Award and Outdoor Wish recipient. I was given a turkey hunt at the beautiful Recordbuck ranch in Texas as well as an Action Track wheelchair donated by the Drew Rodrigue Foundation. To say I was blown away would be the understatement of the century. I had always dreamed of hunting turkeys in Texas as well as owning my very own track chair, but finances simply did not allow me the opportunity.
Through various friends and acquaintances, I knew of Swollfest fishing rodeo prior to 2013, but always figured it was just another one of the many fishing tournaments in south Louisiana. Just another "who's got the biggest pole on the biggest boat with the biggest fish strut whatcha got" kind-of event. Boy, was I severely mistaken! It didn't take long for me to realize that Swollfest breaks all of those stereotypes and has a much greater purpose and vision.
What is Swollfest then? It's a group of volunteers who give up thousands of hours of their own time to organize an event that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for many charities and personal causes. As well as people, just like me, who have endured hardships to hopefully put even a tiny morsel of joy back into their life. It is a group of dedicated volunteers who give of themselves for a much greater purpose - to help others.
The track chair has given me the ability to hunt in places I never dreamed possible. Flooded rice fields, sloughs, thickets, and ridges are no problem anymore. I have harvested quite a few turkeys, ducks and
deer thanks to the chair. More importantly, it helped in healing me emotionally to be able to "go and do" outdoors without obstacles.
I'm so proud to now consider myself part of the Swollfest family and happy to have the opportunity to give back. I only wish I had more to give. What they gave me was so much more than a turkey hunt and a Track chair. It more importantly renewed my faith in the goodness of the human spirit; which was previously broken that fateful night in 1998.