by Chris Clegg

It is often asked, “What makes a man great?”

Every person has their version of greatness, defined in the dictionary partly as “more than ordinary” and “being larger or more important than others of the same kind”.

Mankind has created and heaped awards upon those they determine as great. In High Prairie, we have the Citizens Monument and in Big Lakes County they have their Wall of Fame.

However, for every award and every honour, someone has to make the decision of exactly what “great” is.

I always loved the quote from Lou Holtz who said the best thing a man could do for his children was to love their mother. A great man must love his wife, children and family. He must provide for them, teach them, and support them.

Some of us recognize greatness in many forms. Is Bruce Jenner great because of what he’s done?

Is Justin Trudeau or Barack Obama great because they lead a nation?

Is a scientist great because he discovered a cure for a disease?

Are star athletes and rock stars great?

Hardly! All may be good or have courage at what they do, but it hardly makes them great.

Robert Reiland writes the first thing it takes to be great is not being concerned about becoming great. The word is humble. It is interesting to note that very few historical figures who are acknowledged to have achieved greatness were thinking about doing so.

I heard in a eulogy once that greatness is defined by how people will remember you after you’re gone. Was he compassionate? Was he considerate? Did he put others above himself? Did he give and support without attention his community?

Greatness comes taking paths off the straight and narrow once something unexpected becomes apparent. In business, this might mean taking chances without fear of failure, or be willing to change with the times, no matter how technology changes at breakneck speed.

Is a great man well-educated? Hardly! You can have as many degrees as a thermometer, but unless you take that knowledge and apply it for the good of others and your community, what good is it?

A great man supports his community, but is allowed to disagree when he sees wrong. He still remains positive about his town and country. Sure, he may think taxes are high in High Prairie but it’s still a great place to live.

We can agree that greatness is defined as having integrity, being faithful, mature, polite, considerate of others, and respectful – even if you don’t agree. Each of these traits is a choice, not an action.

Joe Goebel writes “true greatness is achieved [when] you have come to terms with all of your own weaknesses, your inherent fallibility and the cost of your selfishness and insecurity. Until you can balance whatever achievements you may have ascended to, with the humility and courage to see the truth for what it is and keep climbing, there is no greatness.”

Perhaps greatness is a reflection of past accomplishments, endurance and influence. Will only the future determines a man’s greatness?

We lost Denis Peyre far too early July 18. High Prairie’s “Man of Knowledge” shared so much, gave so much, cared so much.

For all the reasons cited above, Denis Peyre was indeed great.