CINspirational People
CINspirational People: Dior Betts
CINspirational People is a feature of Good Things Going Around profiling diverse people of Greater Cincinnati, what inspires them, and what is inspiring about them. You can read more profiles by clicking on the link at the top of the blog. Do you know someone to suggest? Please reach out. Thanks!
Meet a very special young man whose dedication to his classwork, positive outlook on life, and goodwill to others has not gone unnoticed. Dior Betts, son of proud 
parents Ericka King-Betts and Darrell Betts Jr., is his class’ first Student of the Week this year.
From his words:
“Hi! My name is Dior Betts. I have 3 brothers named Simeon, Aaron and Darren. I have a pet dog named Naina and she is a two year old Yorkie. My favorite food is pizza. My favorite snack is Cinnamon Rolls and my favorite color is blue. Lastly, my favorite thing about summer and winter is cruising in the summer and partying in the winter.”
From his teacher:
“Dior was chosen this week as student of the week for his positive attitude and hard work. Dior comes in each day ready to learn. He is also always willing to help those around him and is a great role model at Colerain Elementary.”
Way to go Dior!
NOTE: I also heard that Dior’s brother, Simeon, was named Athlete of the Week. Congratulations to him as well!
CINspirational People: Kenneth Collopy
CINspirational People is a feature of Good Things Going Around profiling diverse people of Greater Cincinnati, what inspires them, and what is inspiring about them. You can read more profiles by clicking on the link at the top of the blog. Do you know someone to suggest? Please reach out. Thanks!
Today I am highlighting a very long time friend who I have known since a little girl when he was my mom’s and my hairdresser, Kenneth Collopy, owner and artistic director of Perfections Hair Salon in Montgomery.
After having trained under the Artistic Director of Antoine’s of New York City, Kenneth’s 55 year career has including cutting and styling hair of many celebrities including the BenGal cheerleaders, Bob Braun, soap opera stars, Elizabeth Taylor, Dianna Ross, and more. It was his long time friend and client of more than 40 years, Carl Linder Jr., who had the biggest impact on Kenneth’s career and life.
Please learn more about Kenneth below.
GTGA: What do you love most about what you do?
Kenneth: It gives me the chance to be artistic and meet some incredibly wonderful people, especially Carl. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss him.
GTGA: In what ways did Carl Linder Jr. influence your life?
Kenneth: He really impacted my entire life. We talked about everything from religion and politics, to business, to life and relationships.
Carl had cards that he would pass out with different quotes on them. One of them was, “Be nice to people on the way up because they are the same ones you will meet on the way down.” Another was about old friends being gold and new ones being silver.
More than just carrying around those sayings, I have never met anyone walk the talk the way that Carl did.
He always made it very clear to me that I was his close friend and he has helped me out many times. I’d watch him talk to his gardeners and he spoke to them no different than he would the President.
Carl was my mentor professionally and in life; and contributed to most of my success. He was the neatest, most loving and generous person I have ever met outside of my father. You could walk in feeling down and you always left Carl with a smile.
GTGA: What is the best advice you have ever received?
Kenneth: Carl always told me to concentrate on my persistence. You have got to believe in what you are doing and put your all into it. Most people give up too soon. If your heart is not into what you are doing, then do not do it.
GTGA: What are some of your simple pleasures?
Definitely fishing and working in my yard.
GTGA: Of what are you most proud?
Kenneth: I am so proud of my family including my wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
I am most grateful because I feel like I have been the most fortunate person I know. Uncle Carl used to say, “I never worked a day in my life and gee, I am lucky. But the harder I work, the luckier I get.” There is a lot of truth in that. If you are negative, then you won’t see the positive. People who recognize the best if life, grab it and go for it.
I have experienced depression all of my life and may never know what it is like to not experience that (with professional help) but I still count my blessings. Depression is a chemical condition. It is very difficult but you learn to live with it and know you are not living in this moment.
I always say the best is yet to come. And I am 72.
CINspirational People: Aurora Lira
CINspirational People is a feature of Good Things Going Around profiling diverse people of Greater Cincinnati, what inspires them, and what is inspiring about them. You can read more profiles by clicking on the link at the top of the blog. Do you know someone to suggest? Please reach out. Thanks!
I’d like you to meet old Dr. Aurora Lira, M.D. At 88, she wants people to know you are never too old to put on your dancing shoes and have fun in life. It was about 15 years ago for her when she took their first lesson at an Arthur Murray Studio, and she has been hooked ever since.
For years Dr. Lira (who retired as a family medicine practitioner just three years ago) has been learning from, rehearsing and competing with local professional ballroom 
professional, Jozsef Parragh. Entering about four regional competitions every year – including the international Ohio Star Ballroom in Columbus, she just advanced to the Gold Level has amassed an entire cabinet of awards. Most recently she was named the CincySensational Award recipient at the Cincinnati Ballroom Classic.
Born in the Philippines, Dr. Lira moved here many years back to do her residency, met her husband, and eventually came to call Cincinnati her home.
Competitive and compassionate. Strong willed and determined.
A caring woman who loves and takes great pride in her family.
An inspiration to all of us.
– These are among the words Patty Lira Relojo uses to describe her mother.
Let’s learn a little more about Dr. Liro.
GTGA: What do you enjoy most about dancing?
Dr. Lira: Dancing makes me feel young. It makes my mind dance with the music and I forget about everything. I feel like I have to do my best so I can satisfy myself and
I like being viewed as a good dancer, and when I dress up like that people always compliment me.
GTGA: What are your favorite dances?
Dr. Lira: My favorites are the International Smooth Style (International is distinctive in that it emphasizes remaining in a closed dance position) such as the waltz, fox trot, tango and veinnese waltz; and the American Standard Style (American is distinctive in that it is less strict and allows the partner to open up in several steps).
GTGA: Practicing and competing is a lot of work. And each of your competitions includes some 35 to 40 heats. How do you do it?
Dr. Lira: My feet do get sore after dancing so many dances but when I am out on the dance floor I don’t feel it at all. I am just enjoying myself.
GTGA: Tell me about someone who has been an inspiration to you.
Dr. Lira: I owe my dancing to my dance partner and teacher, Jozsef. He said to me, “You can dance whatever you want to dance and you can meet your goal if you want to meet it. You have to be very meticulous in your dance step and your appearance on the dance floor.”
GTGA: What advice do you have for others about reaching for goals?
Dr. Lira: I would tell them that if anyone can do it, you can do it better. That is my motto. When I was younger (I have five sisters and a brother), my father told us what occupation we would all study and become. He told me I was going to be a doctor. I worked hard and became a doctor.
GTGA: How did it make you feel when you were named the Cincysensational Award recipient at the Cincinnati Ballroom Classic?
Dr. Lira: It meant so much to me. I was so happy that I could even cry.
CINspirational People: Connor Thomas
CINspirational People is a feature of Good Things Going Around profiling diverse people of Greater Cincinnati, what inspires them, and what is inspiring about them. You can read more profiles by clicking on the link at the top of the blog. Do you know someone to suggest? Please reach out. Thanks!
Connor Thomas is a Loveland teen who is driven and passionate when it comes to pursuing goals, and one of those goals is supporting military veterans. In addition to raising thousands of dollars for the Joseph House of Cincinnati and the Disabled Veterans of America, he founded a military club at his high school (serving as its president) that organizes awareness and fundraising events. Recently Connor begun working with the Clermont County Sheriff’s Department to establish the 
Purple Heart Initiative, a program that provides market parking spots for soldiers that have received the Purple Heart Award. Connor also runs a unique website called My Clermont Military Heroes that honors veterans.
With all of this, he maintains a 4.25 GPA and is an All-Conference athlete playing football and running track.
GTGA: Your two grandfathers served in the military, as well as your great grandfather. Please share about how they have influenced your work for veterans.
Connor: I have reverence for both my grandfathers for what they did for my country, as I do all veterans. They are both supportive and have bought many military items along the years. I did not get to meet my great grandfather, but he had three stints between the Navy and USMC. He was a very disciplined and proud American. I have some of his items.
GTGA: You have so many responsibilities that you excel in – academics, athletics and your charity work. Where does your motivation come from?
Connor: I grew up on a college football sideline and everyone in our family is so competitive. Board games rarely get finished. My motivation is 90% internal. I want to be the best at everything I do to challenge myself to be a better person, so I can continue to serve more or more efficiently, but I was put here to serve. I have raised tens of thousands of dollars for military charities as I love my vets. The 10% is my environment. Nobody would complain seeing me graduate from a service academy.
GTGA: What is one of the greatest life lessons you have learned from your experiences?
Connor: Humility is #1. I see the fellas at The Joseph House and hope they are picking themselves up off the turf. I don’t care how many times I get knocked down, I will always get back up. That is all I know. “Indeserta” Latin for never quit.
GTGA: What words of wisdom do you have for other young people about having goals?
Connor: I’d tell them to set their goals high and plan their course to get there. If you want to be a doctor, you better be a master of math & science in school. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t have something. If something is difficult the price is high, but if you are willing to pay it, you will succeed.
CINspirational People: Jennings Barnett
CINspirational People is a feature of Good Things Going Around profiling diverse people of Greater Cincinnati, what inspires them, and what is inspiring about them. You can read more profiles by clicking on the link at the top of the blog. Do you know someone to suggest? Please reach out. Thanks!
Jennings Barnett teaches in a private school in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky but older adults and audiences of all ages recognize him for his Red Skelton impersonations. Jennings has been entertaining for years, playing the role of many Red Skelton characters including Gertrude and Heathcliff, Clem Kadiddlehopper, Junior the Mean Widdle Kid, and Will Lump Lump. Jennings also performs Red’s most requested pantomimes.
Let’s learn more about the man who shares the same passion as his idol.
“God’s children and their happiness are my reasons for being.” – Red Skelton
GTGA: What inspired you to begin imitating Red Skelton’s comedy?
Jennings: Since the first time I saw Red on television when I was eight, I never missed another of his shows. What impressed me most about him was HIS character. His love for God, family and country.
I often dreamed of meeting Red and I got the chance twice. The last time, I literally snuck into his dressing room after a St. Louis performance and we talked for over an hour. I asked him if he would be offended if anyone did his character, pantomimes and skits. He looked at me with a grin and told me, “No, I would be very honored.”
After Red passed away in 1997, I contacted the co-owners of the Red Skelton Gallery of Clowns in California to share what I wanted to do and they gave me their blessing. “Go and honor your hero, Mr. Red Skelton,” they told me.
Since 2001 I have been carrying on Red’s family oriented comedy, doing 60 to 70 shows a year. I have performed in 16 states.
GTGA: What do you hope will be the impact on others of your comedy?
Jennings: I keep my act clean, bringing back precious memories of a legend. For a few brief minutes they can enjoy a time of laughter and enjoyment; and if someday they are going through a difficult time, they might bring back to memory some silly thing I said or did. In doing so, it will lessen their sorrow.
GTGA: What is the best advice you ever received?
Jennings: The best advice I ever received came from my dad. He told me, “Son, don’t ever be afraid to take a chance. If you try and succeed, it was for you. It was meant to be.
On the other hand, if you try and you don’t succeed, it wasn’t to be. That way, years later when you look back on life, you will have no regrets. One of the worst things in life is to look back when it is too late, and ‘say, why didn’t I try?’”.
Listening to and taking my dad’s advice, I have been able to accomplish so many things that to others would boggle their minds. One example is carrying on the legend of Red Skelton’s comedy.
Who would have ever believed it would happen or could happen?
I did.
