Eutawville, SC (WLTX)- More good news for Bill Watkins! The 89 year old owner of Signs By Bill is receiving a new van to replace the old one that broke down after it was stolen.
Over the weekend, a green lift Watkins uses to install billboards was stolen along with his van, putting him out of work. The theft devastated him, and he said at the time that it had "taken all the life out of me." (He's been in the sign-making business for 75 years, after all)
Previous Coverage: 89-Year-Old SC Man Loses His Livelihood After Work Truck is Stolen
But late Wednesday night, the van and lift were found in some woods about 10 miles from his home. They were then brought back to Watkins's home.
Previous Coverage: Man Reunited with Stolen VAn, Excited to Get Back to Work
However, the news wasn't all good: it turns out the van now had a broken engine. But that's when a generous human being stepped in to save the day.
News 19 viewer March Chase called Road and Track cycles. The shop buys, sells and trades motorcycles, ATVS and automobiles. He's heard about Watkins's plight, and when he saw a white van at Road and Track, he got to thinking, "how could I be of service?"
Chase then decided to purchase the van and to give it to Watkins.
Chase released a statement to News 19 saying, "The nature of the story triggered something in me and I felt compelled to act. In my opinion, we live in a world that is witnessing an erosion of moral decency and an absence of leadership and as a society, we seem to have grown numb to stories like Bill's. I was raised by my parents to show respect, manners and act out of kindness in situations like this and as a father to a young daughter myself, I wouldn't be setting much of an example if I didn't do the right thing. So, my hope is that this small gesture catches fire and perhaps through several small acts we can begin to reconstruct our societal leadership and morality"
Mr. chase sent News 19 a message Thursday afternoon the van is fully paid off and helping Signs By Bill get back in business.