When I transitioned out of writing sports on an exclusive basis very early in my career, former Bridgeport resident Alexis (Selby) McDaniel was the person who gave me the chance. In fact, she wasted no time in letting me cover all the news stories that were needed at the time for our little operation.

 

Among the first areas she had me handle was the Harrison County Commission. And when dealing with the County Commission back in the early 1990s that meant dealing with a young lady named Regina Seamon.

 

The good news was that I knew Regina, who was serving in an administrative role for the Commission – sort of the point person (along with the equally kind Jim Harris) if you will. It’s always easier if you know someone and they know you when you get started out and her being a North View girl didn't hurt. Add to that the the fact Regina was working with, and friends with, my future mother-in-law – former Harrison County Assessor Cheryl Romano – and it was certainly a good thing.

 

Here’s what I can tell you from that first contact. She was helpful. Actually, she was beyond helpful. Anything I needed, she got to me. Anything I didn’t understand, she explained. Any person I needed to talk to, she facilitated the contact. I came to find out she treated evereyone like that – not just those she knew.

 

Although I didn’t get to deal as much with her in my current position, whenever I did it was still the same. Needless to say, when I learned of her passing on Dec. 27 at the age of 58, I was saddened to know someone who was such a good person and gave so much was gone far too soon.

 

I can assure you I was not alone in that feeling. Current County Commission President Ron Watson, who has served on that governing body for nearly two decades, said he’s known Seamon for about 18 years and saw first-hand what she meant to Harrison County and those that worked at the courthouse.

 

“Regina had, I believe, about 38 years in at the courthouses and worked with a lot of different commissioners and a lot of different administrations and worked with them well,” said Watson. “On a professional level, losing someone with her experience and knowledge is a blow. I don’t know if everyone realized just how much knowledge she had, but it’s going to be a while before we get back on course. On that level, it’s a tremendous loss to the county.”

 

Indeed it will be. Watson said she served for years as another Harrison County Administrator. In fact, Watson said he often referred to her as Harrison County’s “fourth commissioner” and meant it.

 

“She was our go-to person and the go-to person for so many because she was here every day,” said Watson. “It’s also been a blow personally. I’ve known her for so long that it really makes this tough. Her son, Michael Joe, and my grandkids attended Notre Dame together … It makes it that much more difficult to lose such a good person.”

 

In her obituary, she was listed as the “senior administrative assistant.” She was, in reality, that fourth commissioner that Watson described.

 

The irony is that she never held an elected position within Harrison County. Yet, one would be hard pressed to find too many elected individuals who quietly did more for Harrison County than Regina Seamon.

 

That’s certainly not meant to be a knock on anyone holding office. But the reality of the position Seamon held down, how she handled it, how long she handled it and how things progressed because of it makes my point one hard to dispute. And for those that knew her, they wouldn’t even consider disputing it.

 

Regina Seamon leaves behind her son Michael Joe and her beloved pets. She leaves behind her companion Matt Womeldorff. She leaves behind family and friends too numerous to mention. And she leaves behind a legacy of making a difference personally, professionally and to thousands who may have never known her name or even of her existence.

 

She made her place of the world a better place for everyone in it and because of that she changed the world. That’s a pretty strong legacy.

 

Rest in Peace my friend. Your job here is done.

 

Click HERE to read the obituary.