President Jimmy Carter's 2014 trip to North Texas left a lasting legacy
DALLAS - President Jimmy Carter left a lasting legacy in North Texas through his own physical labor with Habitat for Humanity.
Carter took a trip to Dallas in 2014 to build homes in Oak Cliff.
The work on Habitat for Humanity houses continued long after the cameras were gone.
FOX 4's Clarice Tinsley talked with the former president about why he kept up the hard work.
"The most emotional aspect of Habitat is when we finish a house and we give the keys and a Bible that Rosalynn and I have signed to the homeowners and let them know for the first time in their lives they will own a house," said Carter.
At the time of the trip, Carter had just celebrated his 90th birthday, but that did not stop him from performing some physical labor.
"I notice that I've lost about 10% of my vigor since I was 85, you know, working all day, but still, I get along well, put in a full day's work along with everybody else and enjoy it very much," said Carter at the time.
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Ashley Brundage, the CEO of Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, says the nonprofit had prepared a private trailer for the former president.
"The entire time, during the whole build, not once did President Carter use the trailer. He used the port-o-potties like all of the other volunteers and homeowners. And never really rested. He was out working and talking the entire time of the Carter build," she remembered.
It is work that FOX 4 has a unique connection to.
Photojournalist John Gnann grew up next door to the former president. It was Gnann's parents who introduced the Carters to the Habitat concept in the early years of the organization.
Gnann says Mr. Carter's involvement went beyond the philanthrophy that was typical of former presidents.
"That’s the difference. That’s what connects with people. Sending money gets some things done, but getting out there and doing the physical work, that’s what inspired people to get involved with Habitat," said Gnann.
Mr. Carter also made a point to meet all 30 Dallas families who were buying their homes through Habitat, saying a prayer with the family each morning.
Brundage says Carter's legacy continues with new home being built near the east Oak Cliff neighborhood where Carter worked.
"Homes he built here in Dallas, 30 homes, are impacting generations of families living there. That is just here in Dallas," said Brundage.
Trinity Habitat COO Christine Panagopoulos was with the president and the former First Lady when they helped build 20 houses in east Fort Worth.
"Mrs. Carter, the first morning I drove her around the site, and she said it reminded her so much of Plains, because it was a small tight knit community of a few houses," Panagopoulos recalled.
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The mission, one needed more than ever today, was to help families achieve homeownership.
"Homeownership and that house is the launching pad for the rest of the generations to come for that family," Panagopoulos said.
Overall, the Carters renovated and reparied more than 4,300 homes in 14 countries.