Wild Bill Kelso for Opifex
I would like to nominate Wild Bill Kelso for Opifex.
In full disclosure, I want to admit that before the nth Crisis, in October, I did not know WBK well. He was a recluse, spending most of his time on the RPG. In fact, he is one of the people who I was intending to put up to Patrician-demotion vote in the CdeC, but none of that came to fruition. Since then, in a tense relationship created out of necessity and then strengthened by a common love of the Curia, we have grown somewhat close.
WBK was the second member of TWC, joining just after Paul, on 4/24/2003. That makes him the most senior active member (inching out Sibs by minutes, probably).
He served as an administrator, though the length of his term and what he did, I am not sure. He is mentioned in all of the early Symposium chronicles, and though he was never a Triumvr, he was instrumental to the site.
He has been a moderator of all ranks and levels. He was awarded the rank of Senatorii. And, I can say with confidence from the idea of demoting Curially-inactive Senatorii that I proposed in the CdeC, he is amongst the most respected by not only the veteran members of his house, but all TWC members.
WBK is the co-founder and leader of the Imperial House of the Wolf. The house is about 50 members strong, and one of the most populous houses. Some notable members include:
* Asterix: Hex
* Trajan: Tribounos
* Webbird: Opifex
* Kagemusha: CdeC
* NecroBrit: Senatorii
* Aristocrat: Triounos
* PyrrhusIV: CdeC
* Oldgamer: ex-CdeC
* Sulla: Divus
He has ran his RPG in the Coliseum for a long time, and it has been the most successful TWC RPG (please refrain from the obvious joke).
Most recently, however, has been WBK's most important achievement. During the October Crisis, he acted as a mediator, first getting the Curia restored, and much staff reinstated. He then helped orchestrate the new Hex structure and reversal of the Curial hamstringing compliments of Archer. During this time, he acted admirably, accepting and listening to criticism, seeking out the dissidents, not to ban them, but to find out WHY they are dissenting, and explain, or correct, any errors. I say this as someone who went toe to toe with WBK, fought tooth and nail with him about various issues. As an individual even more-so than an administrator, he has my utmost respect.
Since then, he had been an active staff member, able global moderator especially in the Common Community, and has participated in the Curia with a non-authoritative tone. Having been a part of TWC from the beginning, he truly understands the community. He has seen thousands of people come and go, seen every single crisis on these forums, and known every administrator, and he has persevered through it all.
As some may be aware, however, WBK recently committed 'suicide' as a result of Besim's changes. He resigned from Staff, closed his RPG, and opened it at the ORG. He has changed his password, his validation e-mail address, and cleared his cookies. He has walked away from 3 and a half years of his life and thousands of hours. Nothing else in his experience has made him do such a thing, until now. The grandfather of TWC, Wild Bill Kelso, is dead.
And, as such, this must be awarded somewhat posthumously. I have not spoken to WBK, and do not know if he would even accept such an honour. But I would hope that such a member would not simply be forgotten.
And this, my friends, colleagues, will be my last post on TWC for a long while. I have been graciously granted these last words by Besim, who has temporarily suspended my permaban so I could give you all these words. Alas, I will be unable to defend this proposal, to correct where I may have erred, or add what I may missed. I go now, from a permaban for "No reason Given" to a self-imposed exile. I hope that when I return, TWC has at least one more Opifex, and it has not forgotten all he had worked for.
Originally Posted by Spiff
