Harry Gawith, Hardworking Sighted Federationist

by Ramona Walhof

From the Editor: Ramona Walhof is well-known to readers because of her numerous articles here and the books and other literature she has written on the subject of blindness and the National Federation of the Blind. Here she pays tribute to a longtime Federationist who served at all levels of the Federation and was as invested as any blind person in our work. Here is what she says:

Harry Gawith grew up on a ranch in eastern Oregon. After graduating from college, serving more than three years in the US army, and teaching school, he moved to Idaho to take a job as shop instructor at the Idaho Commission for the Blind in 1973. Immediately, he joined the National Federation of the Blind. Only a month after moving to Idaho, Harry rode a chartered bus across the country to New York City for the NFB convention and participated in the New York demonstration against NAC [then called the National Accreditation Council Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped]. He was elected treasurer of the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho in 1977 and was re-elected every two years until 2019.

In the commission shop where he taught, Harry was required to wear a blindfold when operating all the equipment. He was a good teacher, patient and creative. Harry drove vans to take students on many field trips: camping, woodcutting, exploring training centers in other states, and more.

In 1976, Jan Omvig and Harry Gawith were married. They worked together on many NFB projects. I first met Harry in 1982 when I was hired to direct the Idaho Commission for the Blind. There were many problems at the agency, especially a lack of funds. Part of the floor in the shop was made of wood and in very poor condition. There was concern that state officials might attempt to close the shop, so Harry proposed that he work with students to replace the wooden part of the shop floor with cement. I asked for a step-by-step plan, and Harry brought it quickly. First, all the equipment had to be moved. The entire wooden floor had to be removed and the supports underneath examined and reinforced. A frame for the new concrete floor was built; then a new concrete floor was poured and allowed to dry. We demanded that blind students must be involved in all these activities, and they were very eager to help. I was only the cheerleader. One of the students asked if she could call the local newspaper, and I encouraged her to do so. The process was completed in good time, equipment moved back into place, and everybody, (including Harry and I) learned from the experience. The young lady who called the press told me later that learning to use the jackhammer and being allowed to talk to the reporters was a turning point for her in her training. She was very angry about being blind and said so often, but this experience showed her that she could be productive and successful as a blind person, and she was.

Harry and the students did other projects to improve the commission building. The sidewalk they poured on two sides of the building is still in good condition after more than thirty-five years of Idaho winters. The shop floor was so exciting because it was the first-time students had been part of a major project to improve the building.

The Southwest Idaho Chapter of the NFBI operated a booth to sell cinnamon rolls at the Western Idaho Fair which ran for ten days each August. Harry chaired that cinnamon roll booth from the time it started until the time it was terminated, about thirty years. First it was operated from a tent on the grass; then we operated from a better booth which had to be constructed every year and torn down after the fair; then it was put on a trailer so it could be hauled in and hooked up quickly. Harry planned and led all these improvements. During the fair, he ordered frozen cinnamon rolls each day and oversaw the maintenance of the equipment and booth. Through the years thousands of dollars were raised for the Federation. Federation members, friends, and students gained valuable experience and confidence by baking, frosting, and selling these cinnamon rolls. At least one young blind man gained the confidence to go to work from his fair experience. Jan usually handled the scheduling of workers. Many stories can be told about building, painting, selling, and dealing with customers in conjunction with this cinnamon roll booth.

While I was president of the NFBI, Harry as treasurer was reliable and cooperative. He kept accurate books through many changes in reporting to state and federal officials. Harry and Norm Gardner (president of the NFBI before me) learned about computers. He learned to operate a Braille embosser which was kept in the Gawith’s basement. Our first embosser was fed paper through the bottom. We needed a table with a slot in the middle for the paper, so Harry built a metal cart on wheels for this purpose.

When the Southwest Idaho chapter of the NFBI began to hold an annual bike-a-thon, Harry helped with the shopping, loading and unloading tables and chairs, bikes, cases of soda and water, and all the gear we used. We wondered how we would get along without him. But when the time came, Harry was able to turn these jobs over to others, and our current bike-a-thon chair, Al Schneider was able to find replacements—not just one, but several.

Jan and Harry worked on many projects as a team. Most notable is our legislative banquet or luncheon. Invitations are designed and printed, then it is necessary to keep track of responses from legislators and collect ticket money from members. Together, the Gawiths did this for many years, through 2019 even though Harry's health was failing.

At national conventions, Harry wanted to be busy. I don't remember when he started working with Diane McGeorge distributing door prizes, but he did it for at least three decades. He also worked in the NFB store in the exhibit room as a cashier for many years.

Harry died December 26, 2019—too young at age 75—after a long illness. Knowing that 2019 might be Harry's last convention, NFBI president Dana Ard led the collection of personal notes and financial gifts, which she presented as a surprise to Harry at the banquet. He was very touched. It was the first and only time we heard him speak of his feelings. He made it clear that the NFB was an important part of his life and that the friends he made in the NFB were many and important. Few Federationists have contributed more over a longer period of time. We miss the booming voice that was Harry's and the wonderful worker he was. But most of all we miss our friend.