THE DAILY MINING GAZETTE : May, 1999
Driven To Survive, Thrive
By Ginger Davis
Man Badly Hurt In Fire Inspires Hancock, Dollar Bay Students
Bill Ester wasn't expected to survive a frightening gas tanker explosion that left him with third-degree burns on over half his body. But his
fight for life was only one of many battles the Wisconsin man won on his way to recovery.
Guest speaker Bill Ester, 49, visited Hancock High School Tuesday to share his story - and impart the importance of setting goals.
Ester said the hospital staff did not expect him to survive his tanker's explosion. But he did, through pure determination.
After the 1994 accident he could barely hold a pencil. Simple tasks such as brushing his teeth and tucking his three children into bed at
night were physically impossible, but he managed to overcome this by strength of spirit.
"The most powerful weapon in the world is the human spirit on fire," Ester said.
He said his spirit soared when his parents visited him in the hospital. They brought a framed photo of Ester at age 18 on top of Mount
Rainer.
"I loved to climb mountains... as a young boy I was almost fanatical about reaching high places," he said.
When he took a trip to Mt. Rainer with his parents and siblings, he vowed to return some day and climb the mountain.
For his high school graduation, his parents took him back to the mountain -- which skilled climbers use for practice before going to attempt
to climb Mt. Everest. He made it all the way to the top.
Sitting in his hospital bed, staring at the photo of himself as a young adult atop the mountain, Ester made a vow to overcome his injuries
and climb the mountain again.
After two and half years of searing pain, physical therapy, skin grafts and surgery, Ester made it up the mountain a second time.
Ester shares his experience because he wanted to share the wisdom he acquired after the accident: "Without dreams and goals, we have
no reason to get off the couch," he said.
He told students they should begin setting goals for themselves as young people. He said it does not matter if the goals seem out of
reach, because he is living proof that humans can achieve the impossible if they set their minds and hearts to the task.
High school students from Hancock and Dollar Bay gave Ester a standing ovation, the first standing ovation students had given a
speaker, noted Hancock Principal John Sanregret.
Sanregret said Ester's message is an important one for students.
"Students need to set goals at a young age and they need to know that you can overcome obstacles and adversity," Sanregret said.
Becky Weber, a senior at Hancock, said Ester made her realize that many everyday problems are trivial.
"He gave us a reason not to have any reason to have a bad day," Weber said.
Junior Mike Yarroch said Ester's message hit home with the students, especially because it's report card time and many students are
thinking about academic goals.
"It was very moving," Yarroch said.
