Everyday Greatness Wally Richardson

How the Greatest Generation is inspiring the latest generation.

- Kimberly Elkins

who he is Wally Richardson is a 95-year-old World War II Navy veteran who spends his morning's inspiring middle schoolers in El Dorado Hills, California. A retired pilot, Wally has made it his job for more than 20 years to school the students in something that’s not covered in class: love and kindness. Sitting with his schnauzer on the bench named for him in front of Marina Village Middle School, Wally waves at parents going by and greet students joyfully with advice such as “Never look down on anyone unless you’re helping them up.” His “Wally isms” are so popular that the kids engage in a call-and-response with him: “If Plan A doesn’t work,” Wally calls out, and the kids shout back on cue, “There are 25 other letters in the alphabet!”

what he does Good advice isn’t the only thing Wally dispenses. He gives out hearty fist bumps that he calls