Speech to Honor Chip Culler's Induction into the Hall of Honor

On Tuesday, Chip Culler was inducted into the YMCA of High Point's Hall of Honor. His son, Trey Culler, gave this moving speech to honor his father. 

Howard Rainer, a Native American and professor at BYU, said “Children learn from what they see. We need to set an example of truth and action”. This quote rings true for my experience and the way I’ve looked up to my father my whole life.  To say that I am proud, just isn’t enough.

Take a moment and go back with me to a time over 20 years ago…

As a young kid, about 10 or 11 years old, I gather around the riding ring at Camp Cheerio with my little brother, my tribe – the Winnebago, and the rest of Cheerio Nation. Dusk has just fallen upon us and several fathers do their best to settle and quiet down the numerous tribes of sons and daughters that encircle the dusty ring. This was to be the final ceremony commemorating another great year of Indian Guides and Indian Princesses; our Pow-wow.  

As the excitement seemed to build, an eerie hush fell over us all. In the distance, a faint sound begins to grow. Like the drums of ancient warriors, the rhythmic sound of bells and horse hooves rise. Now the hush that has fallen over us all becomes almost a nervous silence.

It’s now just dark enough to where the moonlight allows for silhouettes of figures to be visible. A ghostly being slowly rises from the distant hillside. As this character gets closer we look to our friends next to us for comfort, knowing that they must be seeing this – feeling this too.

Finally as if a veil of shadows is parted, we see before us, an Indian Chief a top of his massive horse. Entering the riding ring, this Chief was adorned from head to toe in beautiful feathers, beads, leather, and bells - full Native American regalia from the bone breastplate to the colorful war bonnet on his head; all of which was illuminated by a glowing torch he held to his side. No one says a word.

The Chief swings his leg over the horse and steps onto the dusty ground as his bells continue to ring out. He walks towards the children and looks at each one as he walks down the line. Torch in hand, the Chief begins to speak. He tells us that, “Human beings are connected – tied to all things in nature, and with that we should send blessings to the four directions- North, South, East, and West”. All the while, pointing toward each direction with his flaming staff. The Chief paces up and down the line of children as they listen intently to each word.

After completing the blessing toward the last direction, he turns to us all and exclaims, “Great Spirit, we ask for a sign that you hear our prayer”. Then as if magic, his torch touches the ground, a fire ignites below him and races 100 feet away toward a waiting brush pile in the center of the ring. The brush explodes into a bonfire and everyone cheers. The Great Spirit hears our prayer!

This Chief wasn’t the ghostly warrior of an ancient wise man however. This Chief was my father. To say that I was proud, just isn’t enough.

I spent my childhood growing up at the YMCA with my dad, as he did with his father. He was my coach for Midget League Basketball. We spent Saturdays at my brother’s soccer games on the fields at the Y.  

He empowered me as a young kid to follow through with one of my own ideas and create what we called, the Heritage Forrest, at Camp Cheerio.

We presented my idea to the Cheerio board and upon approval we drove a U-Haul of sapling trees up to Camp Cheerio in hopes of giving back to the land that we love so dearly. Each Indian guide and princess tribe planted a tree on the hillside with the notion that we would bring our kids someday to see our trees. Although some of the trees did not make it, the values and environmental ethics that my dad taught me still remain today and most importantly, my dad believed in my idea. My dad leads by example. To say that I am proud, just isn’t enough.

My father, Chip Culler, has been on the Camp Cheerio board for as long as I can remember. He was Chairman of the Cheerio Board in 2003-2004. He was awarded the Camp Cheerio Volunteer of the Year award. He was instrumental in Y’s Men’s work at Adventure Camp. He lead work weekends and, with help, designed and built the first camper cabin at the Adventure property. At Traditional Camp, he built the Riffle Range, the old cross at the Vespers area, and the lifeguard stand at the lake.

As I mentioned previously, my dad was Winnebago tribe Chief and also the Indian Guide and Princess Nation Chief. He was honored as a recipient of the Pinky Safrit Award for Y’s Men. He’s been a member of numerous committees at Cheerio including Adventure Camp, Buildings & Grounds, and Finance. To say that I am proud, just isn’t enough.

Now we add one more to his list of YMCA achievements. Like his father before him, Robert Alan Culler Sr., in 2008, and his father before him, Roy B. Culler Sr. in 1989, we now induct my dad, “Chip” Robert Alan Culler Jr., to the YMCA Hall of Honor.

I’m honored to be your friend, your life-long apprentice, and your son.  

Dad…to say that I am proud just isn’t enough.