The Seven Lakes West Landowners Association Board of Directors each month selects residents for the Unsung Hero Award who quietly make Seven Lakes West and the community outside the gates a better place.
Lt. Col. Bill and Sandi Carl received this recognition in March. Here’s a little bit about them, as told to Insider Editor Maggie Beamguard:
Years in Seven Lakes West: 19
Previously lived in: We moved 21 times in 28 years in the military. The farthest location from here was Thailand. And we both grew up in Hawaii.
Occupation: Bill retired from the Army after 28 years. Sandi retired after working in Human Resources and as a CPA. Currently, we work for Military Missions in Action, Vietnam Veterans of America. Sandi heads the Armed Forces Outreach for Moore County Republican Women.
A word that best describes you: Active! We’re both active!
Best part of living in Seven Lakes: The people.
How did you meet: We met at an airport in Honolulu. Bill and I were seeing the same person off, but we did not know each other. I was 13 then, and I think Bill was about to graduate from high school. We always say: “we grew up together.”
Hobbies and interests: Bill loves to build things, which goes beautifully because he does wheelchair ramps for Military Missions in Action. He was once called on Christmas Eve by a church friend of ours who couldn’t bring his wife home from the hospital until he had a ramp. On Christmas Eve, my son-in-law and my husband went over to this gentleman’s house and they put up a wheelchair ramp. I love cooking. I enjoyed taking cooking classes from my back door neighbor who went to the Culinary Institute in New York until COVID hit.
Getting Out: We did like to travel until three years ago. But you know, we like to walk. Bill is a walker. He’ll walk three to five miles most days and then about once every other week he will walk around the lake which is eight miles. People know him. They see him in his fatigue hat, and they know they know: “There’s the army guy that walks.”
Community involvement: Sandi is on a number of committees, including communications and amenities. She just resigned from the events committee after many years. She started up a daytime bunco group for the ladies. We are both active in Neighbor to Neighbor, putting out flags for patriotic holidays and helping with the Christmas decorations. When we first moved here, we used to plant all the annuals along Lakeway before they got a professional team.
What motivates you to give back? I guess we feel very fortunate. Bill served in Vietnam, and he came back. And even though he’s had some residual issues from Agent Orange, we just feel so lucky, and blessed by our children too. So we just want to pay it forward.
Personal motto: “Do what’s right.”
What accomplishment makes you proud? Our children — We’re very proud of them and what they’ve done with their lives. We have two girls. One followed in her dad’s footsteps and served in the army for five years. She now works in cyber security. Our other daughter works in the school system.
Theme song: “Happy Days,” because we love what we’re doing.
