It was with joy I read that Dewey McDonald has been activated to Indianapolis Colts’ roster. While I don’t know him well, I have been witness to Dewey’s football at Jefferson High when he played on the same team as my son.

It was always a great night when Dewey was on the field as he was an excellent player who brought much success to the team. He apparently did that as well at Fairmont and California University of Pennsylvania where he played on their teams.

But it is not only Dewey’s football skills that make him a success. In fact, it is so much more than that. While at Jefferson and in his college years, Dewey put academics first. His grades have been excellent and his work ethic unquestionable. I know there were at least two summers when I visited Fairmont where my daughter was attending and there was Dewey, taking summer classes to stay one step ahead in the academic world.

His hard work and dedication to fulfilling his dream of playing in the NFL come as a beacon to many of the youth here in Jefferson County. He has shown that when one sets his mind to something, he can achieve it. He has never said it has been an easy road to get to where he is; in fact, it has been an arduous one. But with determination and perseverance, one can reach goals and dreams.

We wish the best of luck to Dewey as he moves forward into the next step of his journey. Living out a dream, he will continue to bring pride and life’s lessons back home. Regardless of whether one is a Colts fan or not, tune in to watch as our local young man moves ahead into a bright future. Watch for him to run on to that field-I’m sure those of us who watched him run onto other fields in his younger playing days will hear the echos of his mother’s voice as she cheers on “Dewey!”