Recovering alcoholic returns to rez with gifts

By Bill Donovan
Staff writer

GALLUP — Those living in the central part of the Navajo Reservation have probably heard Tom Gantt's story of despair and rebirth many times.

They may have heard him talk of the time he was heading down to a river in Missouri some 12 years ago preparing to drown himself after a lifetime of being a drunk. Then just as he was getting ready to enter the water, he saw an open Bible along the shore and decided to read a little before he went to meet God.

Since then, thousands of Navajo families have received clothing, a Bible or toys during his numerous visits here.

Gantt is back on the Navajo Reservation in his truck papered with cartoon characters after an absence of more than two years, bringing a truckload of donations from the people in Missouri and Arkansas to pass out to families on the Navajo Reservation.

But this time he came with something extra 14 brand new washing machines that he will be giving away between now and Tuesday.

On Wednesday night he was in Chinle staying with Benson and Mildred Kee, who run the Present the Truth Ministries, making preparations for several days of speaking at various churches in the central portion of the reservation.

With the help of Eddie Tsosie, a recovering alcoholic and a veteran, he's planning to speak at these churches about the joys of staying sober and off of drugs, a mission he has undertaken ever since that day he decided not to drown himself and to give his life to helping others.

This is his first trip to Navajoland in more than two years. For almost a decade he made two or three trips here a year, many with members of his family, passing out clothing, Bibles and toys and making friends.

But two years ago, he said he decided it was time to stay at home for awhile and take care of personal matters after his home had burned down and he started a new life selling steel buildings.

But during all that time, he kept in contact with people here and also people around his home in Missouri who kept contributing merchandise and money to help the Navajo people. Then, when a woman in Missouri decided to use part of the money she received from selling off her property to buy the 14 washing machines, he decided it was time to pay the reservation another visit.

The washing machines are not on his truck it's not big enough to hold them and everything else.

But they are at Lowe's in Farmington and Gantt said he is prepared to give them away in the next few days.

He's already given one to the senior citizen center in Chinle. He's also preparing to give one or more away at various church meetings he will be attending between Friday and Tuesday.

"We're going to have a drawing at each of the services," he said, "and each family that attends will get one ticket."

He stressed that tickets will only be given out to families that show up before the services begin.

His schedule is as follows:

• Friday Community Bible Church in Blue Gap, 7 p.m.
• Saturday United Full Gospel Church in Blue Gap, 7 p.m.
• Sunday Amazing Grace Church in Lukachukai, 11. a.m.
• Sunday United Methodist Church in Many Farms, 7 p.m.
• Monday Del Muerto Presbyterian Church in Del Muerto near Canyon De Chelly, 6 p.m.
• Tuesday Jordan River's Church in Wheatfields, 6 p.m.

Along the way, he will also be stopping and delivering the other items he has brought to families in those areas. And more than likely, he said, he will have what people are needing.

For example, he said, on Tuesday he was meeting with a local pastor in Lukachukai who mentioned that his youngest son had always wanted to play a guitar and Gantt pulled out a guitar that some family in Missouri had donated.

When he leaves here next week, his plans are to go to southern New Mexico on his way back home and do some speaking there.

He's planning on coming back in the spring, but until then he said his thoughts will continue to be with the people on the Navajo Reservation.