Family Man Makes Big Difference With Small Gestures

COLUMBUS, Ohio —In a year that has brought many ups and downs, people seem to be looking for someone who stays the course—someone who won’t be winded by rocky stock markets and uncertain futures.

Tracy Owens may be that person.

The Dublin resident does many things for so many people—without blinking an eye.

In his khaki pants and button-down shirt, Owens could be your always-pleasant next-door neighbor.

You may not even know the difference he’s making in other people’s lives. But his Aunt Sandi told NBC 4 about the work he was doing and nominated him as an Everyday Hero.

“Tracy just does things without even thinking about any type of reward,“ Sandi said.

He delivers Meals on Wheels.

“You get to know the clients. Sometimes you’re the only person they’ll see all day,“ Owens said.

He gives out Boy Scout Troop awards—while coaching a soccer game.

The multi-tasker said he’s just doing the work that needs to be done.

“The biggest reason now is the kids—whatever they want to do. I want to facilitate them being able to do it. So sometimes that means becoming the coach, becoming the den leader,“ Owens said.

His kids, Henry, Evie and Eliot are under 10 years old.

He’s actively involved in more than eight community groups and one of the people he has influenced greatly is his brother, Robin.

“He’s unsuspecting. He’s just like your regular person. He just does an incredible amount of stuff for people and doesn’t ask for anything in return,“ Robin said.

Owens got him to run a marathon and they work at the same local company. You’ll also find a healthy dose of good humor between the two about their work.

“Everybody is like, ‘Tracy, he’s so great! He did this for me.‘ It’s a little annoying. I get tired of hearing it!“ Robin said.

But the lasting impression Tracy has left on Robin’s life is another staunch trait that goes the distance no matter the state of the economy of your life: goal setting.

Robin said a while ago, Tracy asked him where he wanted to be in five or ten years.

“I think a lot of people wind up saying, ‘Geez! Where did the last ten years go?‘ Tracy’s really helped me not be in that situation,“ Robin said.

Family drives Tracy to do more, including his wife, the woman behind-the-scenes who makes his hectic schedule possible to maintain.

There is no pomp and circumstance to the Everyday Hero. Just the simple daily devotion to do small things.

His family hopes we can all learn from that.

In those small things, you can find the greatness of Tracy Owens. Even though, he is a humble Everyday Hero.

“I’m one of the Columbus Everyday Heroes for 2009. And I feel like I’m not even the biggest hero in my house or my office. There are a whole lot of people who do a whole lot of things,“ Owens said.

The latest group Owens is involved with is Columbus Speech and Hearing.

His son was recently diagnosed on the Autism spectrum and NBC 4 is going to make a donation to the group in Tracy’s name.