Bristol's Shamas Dougherty; the pure in heart among us

A few summers back, I was sitting in the Bojangles restaurant on the Volunteer Parkway when none other than Shamas Dougherty walked in. Yes, the “one and only” Shamas, a true Bristol icon, who can often be seen riding his bike around on the Tennessee side of town.

Shamus immediately recognized me from what he knew of me decades ago. “You that golfer guy!” he said excitedly, smiling and pointing and shaking a finger directly at me. “That who you are!”

“That’s me, Shamas!” I gleefully replied. “Come sit with me.”

As he walked toward me, Shamas stopped suddenly and said, “You Amy’s cousin. She die. Make me sad. Very sad. Amy always nice to me. Always. Yes, she was.” (Shamas speaks with a beautifully simple and fervently passionate style of speech. Some may say in fractured grammar. I say it is a style that makes communication plain as pie.)

Then Shamas turned to banter a bit with one of the Bojangles’ workers, a very nice lady who bantered right along with him as an equal.

Shamas thrills at any chance for good-natured banter. Especially if the banter has anything to do with the THS Vikings. But fair warning; if you are rooting for any other team, you will come out on the losing end if you attempt to banter with Shamas about his beloved Vikings. No truer fan has THS ever known.

The great man sat down at the table with me and crossed his legs. “Are you tired?” I asked him.

Shamas got all excited and began flapping and waving his arms around a bit, two things he does more often than most people. He is truly an emotional soul. “No! I ain’t tired. I ride all day. Never get tired.” I certainly had no reason to doubt him. Shamas has likely got the cardiovascular fitness of many a 22-year-old. Everyone in Bristol would love to have a dime for every mile he’s put on a bike in this town over the years.

(As of this writing, Shamas sightings around Bristol are gradually becoming less commonplace these days. Even our heroes and heroines eventually must grow old. At my best recollection, I would say Shamas is now 76.)

Shamas has exemplified the best of Bristol’s people in such unique ways for well over half a century now. Everyone who knows him seems to have a favorite Shamas story or experience. And virtually all these stories and experiences are what one might call uplifting. One might very well describe them all as being “pure in heart”.

Shamas has what many would call a “servant’s heart.” He is constantly volunteering his time and endless energy to help people. Even while we were talking, I watched him walk over to pick up trash that someone had left behind on a table. Over the years Shamas has been known to pull many a neighborhood trash can down to the street. And for decades on end he has gone down before the crack of dawn to sweep floors at the YMCA - just because he wants to be helpful. Indeed, Shamas has always done anything and everything he can to be helpful and useful to his fellow citizens all around our town.

It was as a child that I first met Shamas; at an old Bristol Tigers game on the Virginia side of town. A couple of “bully” teenagers had apparently backed Shamas into a corner. One “teased” Shamus that he was going to burn his face with a cigarette butt. At 10 years old, I didn’t know what to do, so I froze, thinking about yelling for help from an adult.

Turns out I didn’t have to do anything. Shamas took one step toward the bullies and reached down to draw a line in the dirt with his finger. Then he stepped back and said, “Step across that line. I dare you!” Of course, the bullies did.

Shamas began flapping and waving his arms. Then he said, “We not fight now! Now you on my side! See?” He pointed toward the line he had drawn in the dirt. What could the bullies do then but laugh and leave?

Shamas is “smart” in all the ways I wish we could all be smart. I know of no one who can outsmart or outwork him at his given tasks and role in this life.

Like so many people with “special needs” (whether they be a child or an adult), Shamas is refreshingly authentic and direct in both his manner and speech. Therefore, he is practically incapable of plotting ill will.

In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus spoke of becoming “pure in heart” as being among humanity’s most noble of goals.

Bristol’s own Shamas Dougherty surely exemplifies what is “pure in heart” among us all.