NASCAR Dave has left the building.

The final broadcast of NASCAR Dave MacMillan’s Hometown Sunday Morning Show on WHDD Radio this past week ended a career that spanned 25 years.

But what he managed to accomplish over that distance is the real story here.

If you follow the arc of Dave’s life, you’ll find a blueprint of what the average working man can achieve in his lifetime.

Starting 25 years ago with a 15 minute radio show to talk about NASCAR racing, Dave, along with his wife Chris and a couple radio cohorts, scraped together two Thanksgiving dinners for local families in need. Dave understood hunger- he’d experienced it himself as a young man.

” When you go to sleep hungry, you wake up hungry,” Dave said, ‘I never forgot that”.

Over time the show grew to three hours at Robinhood Radio and the Sunday in the Country Food Drive grew as well- this year 500 turkey dinners will find their way into deserving Tri-State homes this Thanksgiving. To date, the organization has raised over $300,000 and still counting.

But Dave’s service to community didn’t end with the Food Drive. He used his show to promote uncountable fundraisers throughout his listening area- firemen’s breakfasts, Veteran’s causes, Walks for Alzheimer’s , sports-related fundraisers and much more. No charity was too small for Dave to shed light upon. He made each cause important. During his last broadcast Sunday, as well- wishers were calling in a steady stream, Dave reminded listeners that there was still time to catch the local pancake breakfast.

By week’s end, Dave and Chris will be at their new home in Florida. The Sunday morning show will continue under a different format, and Dave has left the Sunday in the Country Food Drive in capable hands. In these parts, life will certainly continue without Dave and Chris, just not quite as well.

Besides leaving an unmatchable legacy of community service, Dave leaves behind some lessons and inspiration for those who have been paying attention: Always remember where you came from. Understand the importance of giving back. Always acknowledge those who have helped you along the way. And, maybe most significantly, see how much one “average” man can accomplish in a lifetime.