Students Working Against Tobacco at Holley-Navarre Middle

When Rick Stoddard began speaking to a room full of seventh-graders at Holley-Navarre Middle School, the room was full of fidgets and whispers.

By the time he had stopped speaking an hour later, a hush had fallen over the crowd and there were more than a few tears being shed.

Stoddard, author of the book “The Burning Truth,” visited the middle school with SWAT, Students Working Against Tobacco, to speak to the students about his story with tobacco and how lung cancer due to a lifetime of smoking killed his wife Marie, at the age of 46.

“I’m not a speaker. I’m a carpenter,” Stoddard told the group.

He recounted the story of his wife’s life and death.

For more on this story, see the May 26 edition of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.