Bill Hensley

May 8, 2007

Bill Hensley suffered a chemical injury to his eyes while he was a student at Georgia Tech, and the accident marked the beginning of a lifelong interest in vision.

He has been active for 22 years in the Lions Club of Scott Depot, and has earned a reputation as "The Man."

The local organization provides a pair of glasses each week, on an average, and hearing aids to those who can demonstrate a financial need. Two or three times a year, the club provides for eye surgery.

The state foundation has a mobile clinic for vision screening and it visits Teays Valley in the early fall of each year. Vision testing is offered to every sixth grader, and for anyone else who may be referred to the clinic.

The Lions support a work program at Romney School for the Blind and sponsor outings for camping, skiing and other activities. (A sighted person guides the students on the slopes.)

Lions International has provided over $150 million for cataract surgery. Since 1991, over seven million surgeries have been performed by the clinics. "Our goal is to eliminate preventable blindness," Hensley told the group.

Hensley never recovered fully from the accident at Georgia Tech. A cnrneal transplant failed after two years, and other problems developed with his vision.

But Hensley refused to give up.

He agreed to undergo a final corneal transplant with stem cells provided by a sister to grow epithelial tissue.

The operation succeeded, and today Bill Hensley is sighted in the 20-70 range.

"The Man" continues his work through the Lions with coourage and dedication of someone who knows firsthand the struggle of living with lost vision.