Just because someone manages people doesn't mean they're an effective leader.
"There's no satisfactory definition of this thing called leadership," retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf said Wednesday night in Spokane. "But I do know this: Leadership is not managership."
Schwarzkopf, venerated senior commander of allied troops during the Persian Gulf War, addressed an enthusiastic crowd of about 5,000 people at the Spokane Arena. They gathered for "Stars: A Celebration of Heroes," also featuring country singer Johnny Cash.
During the show, six Inland Northwest residents were honored as "heroes" - one for saving lives, the others for helping people in need. Schwarzkopf called them examples of good leaders.
"Leaders are people who help lead others to their hopes, dreams and ambitions," he said. "The challenge of leadership is to get people to willingly do what they ordinarily would not do."
The show was sponsored by Washington Water Power Co. The six people honored:
Twyla Lubben, Spokane: Over six decades, Lubben, 85, has raised 13 of her own children and more than 100 foster children.
Each day, four grown children, two drug-affected foster babies and two grandchildren gather at Twyla and Henry Lubben's table for dinner.
"We never asked for the perfect and beautiful," Lubben said recently. "I asked God repeatedly, 'We need another baby.' Each child was the answer to a prayer."
Mike Martin, Chattaroy: On a trip to Yellowstone National Park last year, Martin, 80, stopped to take pictures. His wife Jean was in the car and began to have an asthma attack.
Then their car began rolling toward a cliff.
Martin ran to the driver's door and attempted to jump in. He didn't make it and was dragged by the car, suffering a brain injury. The door he opened caught the trunk of a tree, stopping the vehicle at the edge of the cliff.
Kimberly Holt, Lewiston: Holt suffered burns over more than half her body in 1984 when a bonfire got out of control. The blaze killed her fiance.
After several skin graft operations and months of therapy, Holt became a volunteer for Hope House, a home for disabled children.
Denise Osei, Spokane: A multicultural specialist at Spokane Community College, Osei goes to the region's community centers, churches and Indian reservations, encouraging people of color to go to college.
Osei is vice president of the Spokane chapter of the NAACP.
Bill Bialkowsky, Spokane: Bialkowsky is the founder of the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery. After five years of working on a project designed to provide abused children with a safe home, the nursery opened its doors in January 1987.
Since then, the nursery has helped more than 18,000 at-risk children.
George Nadler, Bayview, Idaho: Nadler spent 21 years in the Air Force, logging 1,472 combat hours. He flew hundreds of missions during three tours in Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia.
Nadler has since made a name for himself volunteering in Bayview. He recently founded a store in Athol, Idaho, that distributes free clothing to needy families.
