Anyone
who spends much time around J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College knows that
President Gary Rhodes has a thing for bow ties and that he sports them on a
regular basis. When it recently came to
light that Reynolds graphic designer Leslie Bax’s 14 year-old son Axel shares a
similar passion for bow ties, Dr. Rhodes knew he had to meet Axel and invited Leslie
to bring him to campus this week.
Axel,
a rising high school freshman at Atlee High School in Hanover County who hopes
to become an architect or engineer, discovered his love for bow ties on a
shopping trip with his father. When Axel
admired the display of bow ties at a men’s shop and the salesman offered to
give him a quick lesson in the art of tying a bow tie, Axel gladly took him up
on his offer.
During
their visit Dr. Rhodes gave Axel and his Mom a tour of his office and the two
bow tie aficionados discussed the benefits and merits of bow ties at
length. At the conclusion of the meeting
Dr. Rhodes told Axel that he is bequeathing his entire bow tie collection of 80
ties to Axel as his own son doesn’t appreciate the charm of bow ties to the
extent that Dr. Rhodes does. Axel, whose
collection of 3 bow ties is just getting off the ground, was pleased to accept
the gift.
Dr.
Rhodes noted to Axel, “I hope you are at least as old as I am now before you
actually get the ties!”
