GLENN BECK PROGRAM
BEGIN TRANSCRIPT
GLENN: All right. So I want to introduce you to somebody. Can we put Bill on the line, please? Bill is a double amputee himself. In 2002 he lost both of his legs. You were highway construction consultant, weren't you, Bill?
BILL: Yes, I was. I developed intelligent transportation systems for highway construction projects
GLENN: Okay. So you're setting some equipment up on the interstate and what happened?
BILL: I was on I-94 and Joy Road in Michigan and we were -- it was about 6:00 in the evening and we were all done with the system and we had just, my coworker wanted to check one last trailer for communication and we parked on the side of the road, and you have to check communication with a laptop computer, and we were going to do that and we go, who's going to do it? And I said, I'll tell you what, I'll flip you for it. We flipped a coin and I lost, and she said, well, Bill, you know what, your cell phone's been going off all day. I'll get out and check it. And then I said, okay, then I'll meet up with you to the trailer. And she got out, proceeded to hook up the laptop, and then I finished my phone calls and was walking back when I heard a big smack, and the motor had taken my shoulder at 80 miles an hour and plowed into us. It killed Tonya instantly and threw me for a loop myself.
GLENN: And you were actually thrown 65 feet. You were in a coma for 45 days. Your pelvis was shattered in 19 places, but I think you have a lot in common with Vanessa and Jake. Not only do you love motorcycles, you decided to start your own business. Vanessa and Jake, I -- the reason why I'm bringing Bill on, he owns a business called Cool City Customs. I want you to look him up online, coolcitycustoms.com. He heard about your story and he would like, Jake, to build you a bike so you can ride a bike again.
JAKE KEESLAR: Oh, no. [Laughter]. You've got to be kidding me.
VANESSA KEESLAR: Are you kidding me?
BILL: Not at all, man. We -- your story touched my heart, not only because you're a veteran, but also the fact that you lost both your legs like myself, and I remember in my hospital bed and, Jake, you and I could really tell a lot of the same stories. And along with my wife Jane I'm sure we could all just sit down and chew the fat for quite a while, but one of the things that was very inspirational to me was one of my friends came to my hospital bed and he stuck a sticker on my bed that said live to ride, ride to live. And that was my inspiration to get back on a bike and to design a bike that I could ride, and we were able to do that, and I'm able to enjoy biking all over, all over the country. And when I read about you or heard about your story, it kind of put me back in that same point in time where, you know, I wanted to get back on my bike, and it really touched me very deeply.
JAKE KEESLAR: I can't tell you how much this means to me. I mean, this is -- you know, this is my dream to get back out on the bikes and, you know, get on the road again. This is just, this is just amazing.
BILL: Well, you know what? I look forward to riding side by side with you and, you know, just checking out the countryside and, you know, be free, you know.
JAKE KEESLAR: Yeah.
BILL: And when I'm on my bike, I'm a wheeler as well. I race wheelchairs. And when I'm either in my chair racing in marathons or riding my bike, it's the freest I feel in my entire life, you know. You just feel so free and open, and the open road is nothing greater to experience that. So I want you to experience the same thing that I've been able to experience, and we really look forward to working with you and getting you back on your bike, man.
GLENN: Bill, thank you so much. It's coolcitycustoms.com. Check out their website. Just a cool story with you and thank you so much for what you're doing.
BILL: You're very welcome. One last thing I'd like to mention is Tommy Hearns who is a legend boxer here in Michigan, Tommy the Hit Man Hearns, he is going to personally sign your motorcycle for you because he had heard about your story as well and he was deeply touched by it as well. So Tommy is going to personally sign your tank for you and, you know, kudos to him as well.
GLENN: Yeah. Thank you very much.
VANESSA KEESLAR: Thank you so much.
GLENN: Vanessa and Jake, next time we'll see you, we'll see you on a bike.
JAKE KEESLAR: Wow.
VANESSA KEESLAR: Thank you, Glenn. I just, I don't even know what to say. This is truly amazing. Thank you so much for what you're doing.
GLENN: God bless you both and sincerely thank you for your service. Thank you.
VANESSA KEESLAR: Thank you.
GLENN: All right. See you guys.
END TRANSCRIPT