Man creates beautiful staffs from fallen tree branches, gives them away
MOORE, Okla. (KFOR) - Piano player Tom Nix is a master at the keys. Until recent weeks, Tom's music beautifully echoed through the auditorium at Moore United Methodist Church.
Tom recently retired, but a few months ago, while walking to and from the piano bench, one longtime church member noticed something.
"I had hip surgery last summer and he saw me hobbling around, and I think he decided I needed some help, which, to my great surprise, he showed up with the most incredible walking stick. He calls it a 'staff,' like a staff in the Bible," Tom said.
"It's such a true piece of art, it's amazing," Tom continued, describing the staff. "Special musical symbols on there. All done by hand. Then he put a dove feather on there, there's a cross."
And at the end of the staff is an inscription: "Staff made by God, finished by Mr. Hugh Gouldy," Tom read aloud.
Mr. Hugh Gouldy is a former Moore High School drafting teacher for 30 years. Now retired, he sees a different kind of blueprint with the pile of sticks he keeps outside his home.
His 20-hour-per-staff process includes seven steps, starting with worms. "Eat around, do all the design work," Hugh said of the worms. "So, you never know what you're going to find after you take the bark off."
Hugh has given away about 150 staffs so far, including to Tom.
"When he handed it to me that day, my first thought was, 'Oh my goodness, I need to call Channel 4, because if there ever was a Pay It 4Ward, it's this guy, right?'"
After Tom called News 4, he also called church members, who each showed up to Hugh's house with a staff of their own, to watch the big surprise.
"I truly believe that, his many years of service to our Moore students, but not just that, he continues to give back to the community," said Ana Guerrero with First Fidelity Bank. "So, on behalf of First Fidelity Bank and News 4, we'd like to give you $400 to pay it forward," she said, handing the money to Tom to present to Hugh.
A very surprised Hugh Gouldy answered the door to see our news crew, fellow church members, and Tom - with cash in hand.
"Mr. Hugh," Tom started, "I want to count out four $100 bills here as a blessing to you. Maybe you can buy more supplies and continue to bless more people."
Hugh replied with, "I appreciate it, thank you very much," as onlookers cheered.
Every staff is different, but each one is etched with the same Bible verse.
"Psalm 23:4," Hugh said. "It talked about the rod and staff that comfort me."
And this servant of the Good Shepherd makes more than staffs.
"I broke my little finger on it trying to cut it down so we could work on it," Tom said of the large table cross he made from a tree he chopped down at church that was blocking traffic.
The congregation sees that cross at church each Sunday, as well as several stained glass artworks that Hugh designed and created with other members.
"It's over 900 pieces of glass," Tom said of a stained glass nativity setting.
And, on the altar, three crosses were also "Made by God, finished by Hugh Gouldy," as a tribute for Easter.
"An amazing man," Tom said of Hugh.
If you know someone deserving of a Pay It 4Ward award, you can nominate them here.
Pay It 4Ward is sponsored by First Fidelity Bank.