Sept. 2, 2004

A UMNS photo by Dale Long Amber Long received a scholarship from the men�s choir, named after I.B. Foote.

At 97, Foote seldom misses choir practice or services at Hamilton Park United Methodist Church. After all, the men’s choir, the I.B. Foote Crusaders, is named in his honor.

"It lifts my spirit," Foote says. "Sometimes, I’m even lying in bed and I feel the spirit to sing."

Foote hopes the choir’s performances have the same impact on others.

"I’m just hoping that it lifts them up, just like it does me," he says.

But the 45 members of the Foote Crusaders do more than make a joyful noise. They also raise thousands of dollars for scholarships to help students attend college.

"It is very important. If you don’t have the proper learning, you can’t cope with the things of life," he says. "We are living in a computerized world."

A UMNS photo by Dale Long I.B. Foote, 97, sings with the Crusaders.

"It means that they know that I’m going to make something of myself, and they trust me to do a good job," Long says.

The scholarship fund gets a boost from the National Motor Club of America, where Foote works part-time. The business agreed to match donations raised by choir members. Foote says choir members raised $7,000 this year.

Some students who receive the scholarships might not otherwise be able to further their education, he says.

Foote’s memory spans 18 presidents and a nationwide depression. He grew up north of Houston near the small town of Willis, Texas. He still remembers, as a child, attending church services under arbor trees after the congregation’s building was demolished by a storm.

That’s when he began singing.

"It makes me happy to know that I can sing and be happy," he says. "That’s what it does for me. It helps you to bear your burdens and keep in closer walk with the Lord."

Younger choir members often have a difficult time keeping up with Foote.

A UMNS photo by Dale Long Singing �lifts my spirit,� I.B. Foote says.

"I am maybe a quarter of his age and I get tired. So he’s truly an inspiration to us all."

Foote says he tries to set an example for others.

"I do encourage people to become more active," he says. "I want to see especially our young people become more involved in Christianity."

Another testament to his fortitude is the part-time job he has held more than 40 years at the National Motor Club of America. He had worked as a full-time maintenance worker for 38 years, but took on the additional job when his wife became ill with diabetes.

"I got this second job in order to meet my obligations," he says.

Five days a week, Foote cleans coffee pots and straightens up break and conference rooms at the auto club. But he’s there more as an inspiration to employees, says Charlotte Rogers, administrative assistant.

Foote tried to retire several years ago when he grew weary of driving in heavy traffic. But Rogers convinced him to stay-and agreed to send a cab to pick him up and return him home.

Foote says he is glad he did not retire. With no living relatives, he considers coworkers at the motor club and fellow church members his best friends. He has outlived three wives as well as his siblings.

"My life has been built around friends," he says. "Friends in the church and friends on my job, the ones that have inspired me to keep going. And it hasn’t been easy, no. I’ve had my trials and my tribulations."

His favorite song is one of the most familiar hymns, "Amazing Grace."

"I like hymns, I like anthems and sacred songs," he says.

When he’s not singing, Foote can often be found passing out candy to children at his church.

"They’ll come up and take me by my pants leg and look up in my face and call me by my name. That makes me feel so good," he says. "My church means everything to me."

Foote says he does not feel like he is 97. His friends tell him he does not look it, either.

"My doctor told me, he says, you’ll live to be 100 years old," Foote says. "I said, well, you’re saying that, but I’ll leave that in God’s hands."

*Gordon is a freelance producer residing in Marshall, Texas.

News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

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