Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/283511
18 UCW MARCH 26 - APRIL 1, 2014 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM APRIL 12 • NC BUFFALO SOLDIERS OF FAYETTEVILLE 4TH ANNUAL PONY EXPRESS CHARITY RIDE at Cape Fear Harley-Davidson. Registration 9 a.m. Kickstands up at 10 a.m. Food, refreshments, door prizes. Call 494-4514 for information. All bikers are welcome APRIL 12 • 2ND ANNUAL ECKERD 2ND CHANCE RUN at Cape Fear Harley-Davidson. Registration 12 p.m., ride 12:30 p.m. Wine tasting/appetizers provided. Ride benefits Eckerd programs in N.C. Eckerd is a non-profit organization providing second chances to at-risk youth & families. Call 633-4864 for information. APRIL 19 • 9TH ANNUAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS TORCH RUN CHARITY RIDE at the Retired Military Association Bldg Parking Lot. Registration and breakfast at 8 a.m. Kickstands up at 9:30 a.m. $15 per rider or passenger. Raffle — must be present to win. Call 824-4220 or 824-4208 for information. PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse group of patriots from every state that come together to honor fallen soldiers at funeral services across the country. Visit www. patriotguard.org for more information about the group. Beginning Saturday, May 3rd, Every Other Saturday Night is Bike Night - DJ, Drink Specials and Prizes! 4624 BRAGG BLVD. Visit our website for food and drink specials! MacSpeedShop.com 4 8 2 N . M C P H E R S O N C H U RC H R D . SMOKIN' DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS OVER 200 CRAFT BEERS BIKE NIGHTS • LIVE MUSIC • CATERING Farewell to a Friend by BILL BOWMAN Motorcyclist are a unique band of brothers and sisters. To those who do not ride, it is very difficult to describe or articulate the brotherhood. I guess that is where that old saying comes from, "If I have to explain it…you probably wouldn't understand." That is why it was difficult to say a final farewell to our friend and fellow enthusiast William "Bill" Mathews Jr. He was a motorcycle enthusiast extraordinaire and a loyal friend of the Fort Bragg and Fayetteville community. He was my motorcycling mentor. Bill and his wife, Mary, took me on my first long-distance motorcycle ride to Daytona Beach, Fla., nearly a decade ago (974 miles). From that one experience, I was hooked. Now, my yearly sojourns continue, and have expanded in lengths measured by the thousands. Average? 5,000 miles. Yes, he was a good mentor. He and Mary built a successful business in M&M Leather and Custom Cycles located on Bragg Boulevard. They added Speed Demons Bar & Grill and Victory Motorcycles a few years ago and recently added the Polaris line of ATVs. Bill was aggressive and progressive. Over the years, Bill and Mary have given back much to this community. Not just in donations but in time, talent and support through many fundraising initiatives. Bill and Mary Mathews were annual sponsors of the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival's Hogs & Rags Rally. They also founded Christmas in July the annual motorcycle ride to Duke Children's Hospital where thousands of dollars in toys and donations are contributed and distributed each year. His military friends will remember Bill as an intrepid Special Forces soldier. He enlisted in the Army in 1963, serving in the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division. He spent much of his career as a Green Beret, serving five tours in Vietnam and the Dominican Republic with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). During his time in the Army, Mathews served as a drill sergeant and a free fall jumpmaster. Bill loved the wind in the face and the adrenalin pumping through his body. Following retirement from uniformed service, Mathews worked as a civil servant in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg until his retirement in 2003. The motorcycling community will remember him as a hardworking, loyal, honest man of principle. A fighter. All, will remember him as a friend and, all will miss him. I will miss him. Master Sergeant William E. "Bill" Mathews Jr. U.S. Army, Retired BILL BOWMAN, Publisher, Up & Coming Weekly. COMMENTS? Bill@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200.