When Lloyd Loving was assaulted on the street two years ago, he says it changed his life – for the better.

At the time, he was in his 16th year as a reference librarian in the Downtown library’s business and technology section. After work, he took a bus to his usual Greenville Avenue stop and walked across the busy street on his way home.

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But on this day, he was almost hit by a speeding car that nicked his briefcase, he says. The driver stopped his car, and angered that the briefcase had broken the car’s antenna, and began hitting Loving with a tire iron.

This 50-year-old dad says it was fate.

Loving had been considering quitting his job to become a teacher, since he has a teaching degree in science. But soon after the assault, he learned of an opening at Lakewood Library for a children’s librarian.

He had found his calling.

Loving says being victimized made him re-examine his life and what he wanted to do with the rest of it.

Loving, whose two children attend Stonewall Jackson Elementary, says he always has wanted to help young people. The assault pushed him to pursue his passion, he says.

Since 1995, Loving has planned children’s activities for our neighborhood library, located at 6121 Worth. And each month, he scours 300-500 new children’s books to choose which ones our library should stock.

“You kind of wonder how you get paid for doing something like that,” Loving says. “A lot of people would probably like to go through those books.”

Every Wednesday at 11 a.m. and Thursday at 7:15 p.m., Loving also conducts a storytime at the library, which is free and open to the public. The show is targeted toward preschool-age to preteen children.

It’s an exceptional one-man show, says Patricia Bradfield, who takes 10 children each Wednesday from her Montessori preschool.

Loving plays the piano, reads books, shows films, performs puppet shows and plays games with the children.

“He’s very creative,” Bradfield says. “He certainly puts a lot of thought into it to offer a wide variety of activities for a wide variety of ages.

“Every now and then, he’ll even interject a little bit of adult humor for the moms patiently waiting in the back row.”

Loving says he wants to encourage children to read and learn.

“I really respect kids, and I don’t believe in talking down to them,” Loving says. “Sometimes I’m a little sophisticated, but I never insult them.”

Loving grew up in West Dallas in a poor family, he says. Librarians used to come to his elementary school and make presentations as part of an outreach program targeted at disadvantaged children, he says.

“They really inspired me so much that on Saturday mornings, I’d get on the bus and go to the Downtown library,” Loving says.

“This is a payback time for me. I’m trying to promote the library to the users of the future.”

It’s working, Bradfield says. The children adore him.

“He appreciates what he does and does it from the heart,” Bradfield says. “He’s a very kind, loving man – just like his name.”

News & Notes

AWARDS/HONORS

Woodrow Star Named All-American: Brian Bessner of East Central University in Ada, Okla., has been named to the NAIA All-American football team. Bessner, a senior punt returner and wide receiver, was the leading punt returner in the nation last season. Redshirted in 1993, Bessner has one season of eligibility remaining. He will captain the E.C.U. team next season. Bessner is a 1993 Woodrow graduate.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Poss Tapped for National Post: City Councilwoman Mary Poss has been appointed to serve as vice chair of the Transportation and Communications Policy Committee for the National League of Cities. The committee is one of six NLC standing committees that develops policy positions on national issues regarding municipal governments.

Lakewood Travel Addition: Lakewood Travel Partners recently announced the affiliation of Jody Burch as a new travel consultant. Burch is the son of Ron and Suzanne Burch and a graduate of both Woodrow Wilson High School and Abilene Christian University. Burch specializes in church and senior group trips.

Second Saturday Spruce-Up: The Adopt-A-Shoreline Volunteer Groups, in cooperation with the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department and “For the Love of the Lake!”, invite neighborhood residents to spruce-up the lake on the second Saturday of each month. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Bath House Cultural Center Parking lot (off Buckner at Northcliff) at 8 a.m. Clean-up lasts from 8:30-10:30 a.m. The next clean-up is Saturday, March 8. Wear old clothes, shoes that can become wet, and gloves. For information, call 214-622-SAVE.

SERVICES

Catholic Charities Opens Office: Catholic Charities’ Immigration Counseling Services recently set up shop in our neighborhood. The service helps people understand U.S. Immigration policies and procedures. ICS provides a variety of services to people seeking legal status in the U.S., including relative visa petitions, citizenship applications, representation in Immigration Court, and family unity applications. The office is open Saturdays and has evening hours Tuesdays. For information, contact Vanna Slaughter at 214-946-4889 or Alina Ramirez at 214-823-3886.

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS

Texas A&M Mothers’ Club: Carl Baggett, current T.A.M.U. student body president and a 1992 graduate of Lake Highlands High School, will speak at the March 20 meeting of the Dallas County A&M Mothers Club. The 7 p.m. meeting will take place at the A&M Extension Center, 17360 Colt.

BUSINESS PEOPLE

New Bank Launched: Longtime neighborhood banker Michaux Nash Jr. recently opened Dallas National Bank at 2725 Turtle Creek (next to the Mansion on Turtle Creek), specializing in “personal, friendly, and caring customer service.” Dallas National Bank offers a two-lane drive-up window and a large vault for safety deposit boxes. Lobby hours are Mondays to Thursdays from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., and Fridays from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Drive-up hours are weekdays from 8:00 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon. For information, call 214-520-6156.