Honesty pays for Anderson
More often than not, honesty doesn?t get rewarded except for the occasional thank you. For those who practice honesty daily, it has its own reward called integrity.
The following is one act of honesty performed by Shane Anderson. The incident so struck McMinnville Police Chief Charlie Sewell that he brought Anderson before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for recognition.
?Abraham Lincoln was said to walk back several miles to a store when he noticed he had been given one penny too much in change,? said Sewell. ?That was a sense of being honest and not taking what doesn?t belong to you.?
On April 25, Anderson came to the municipal court clerk?s office to pay a $100 obligation. Because of some confusion in the area, an employee gave Anderson a receipt without first collecting his cash. He then had the opportunity to leave with full documentation of having satisfied his obligation to the city.
However, Anderson walked back those Abraham Lincoln miles by quickly turning around and advising the employee that he hadn?t actually rendered his payment. At what cost was this moment of honesty? Had he protected another person from having to ?make up? a $100 shortage?
Anderson must have read a quote from the founder of the Josephson Institute who said, ?Integrity requires us to do the right thing even when it costs more than we want to pay.?
Said Sewell, ?I believe Mr. Anderson exhibited a very high level of integrity when he gave up the opportunity to walk away $100 richer. Mr. Anderson certainly has something to feel proud about. And I feel that Mr. Anderson should be recognized for his honesty.?
Sewell then quoted Mark Twain by saying, ?Truth is the most valuable thing we have.?
?I regret I don?t have anything of value with which to reward Mr. Anderson,? continued Sewell. ?But I would like to give him something that is given with an abundance of gratitude and admiration.?
Sewell then presented Anderson with a certificate of recognition signed by himself and Mayor Royce Davenport.
Moved by the honesty of Anderson, Davenport offered to pay him the time he missed from work to appear before the board.
While stating that anyone that honest is a good man, Alderman Billy Wood offered to pay $50 of the original fine and volunteered Alderman Donald Hillis to pay the remaining $50, which he did without hesitation.
According to Anderson, honesty and compassion is something he learned while growing up.
?I won?t want it to happen to someone else,? said Anderson explaining why he just didn?t walk away with the $100 and leave someone else responsible. ?I?ve been taught not to take things that don?t belong to me and be an honest person. My mother taught me that.?
His mother, Tamela Tolbert, who accompanied Anderson to the meeting, explained this is how her son has always been.
?It takes me back to the a time when I went to get some gas and they paid me too much money,? said Tolbert. ?I didn?t know it until I got to the car. I said ?Shane what do I do, leave or take it back?? and he said ?Momma take it back? and I did.?
His sister Casey Tolbert was brought to tears and added, ?He?s a good brother.?
The family has been through a lot of tears of sadness lately with the passing of Tolbert?s husband on Mother?s Day, but this recognition brought tears of joy.