When it comes to success stories, Billy Jameson�s name is at the top of the list. In 1987, Billy was one of the first students matched with a tutor at the newly formed LVA-Bitterroot, MT. This year, in January, Billy became president of his affiliate�s board of directors.

Billy had always had trouble with reading and writing, but for 17 years he held down a good job as a boilerman at a local lumber mill. He lost that job when Montana law changed and required him to pass a certification test. Billy knew how to run the boilers, but couldn�t read well enough to pass the test. With a family to support, he decided to look for help. When he heard a new Literacy Volunteers affiliate was forming nearby, he signed up.

He credits his first tutor, Lolamaud Mitchell, who worked with him for five years, with teaching him to read and write. When Billy became frustrated because, he said, children learned so easily while learning was difficult for him, she pointed out to him that children are in school six hours a day, five days a week. She added that he worked with her for two hours each week, while working full-time and raising a family.

Billy was determined to succeed, even after he was told he would probably never earn a GED. He studied for the GED test in sections, passing each one before tackling the next. In 1997, at 43, Billy earned his GED. He never stopped learning because he had a goal to reach after that milestone: he wanted to become an emergency medical technician.

At 46, Billy is still an active student, and now he is president of the LVA-Bitterroot Board of Directors. He is vice-chair of LVA�s National Student Advisory Board and one of his co-workers nominated him for membership on the Equal Opportunities Board.

When he started, Billy said, he could hardly read anything at all, but now he can read all kinds of things. �LVA has helped me a lot,� he said.

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