Steve Elliott

Name: Steve Elliott.

Age: 50.

Family: Wife, Jill Elliott; son, Erik Elliott; Leigh Ann Byerly, sister and owner of Farwood; Jack Elliott, father and co-owner of Rancho Electric; and Jodi Elliott, mother and owner of Stony Creek Station.

City of residence: Orland.

Occupation: Electrical contractor and co-owner of Rancho Electric.

Hobbies and interests: Photography: I will be part of a group show at the Orland Art Center in the summer; and writing: We host a Sun Magazine Readers Write Group in our home every month.

What are your goals for the upcoming year? Get some of my poetry published and install solar panels on our house.

What was the best thing that happened to you in 2011? The drunk driver responsible for killing our daughter, Rachel, was finally brought to trial and convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter.

What was the worst thing that happened to you in 2011? Sitting through the trial and facing the woman who killed our daughter.

Whom do you most admire and why? My personal heroes are Mother Teresa and Mr. Rogers. I used to tell my kids that they were stronger than any super-hero because they possessed the mightiest power of all - the power of love. One of my favorite quotes from Mother Teresa is: "We can do not great deeds. Only small deeds with great love." The people I admire most are the ones that stay sweet and keep loving even when life is difficult; people like my mom and dad.

What's something about yourself that your friends might not know? I was starting tight end and defensive end for my freshman football team. I played for Laguna Beach. There were only 13 players on the team. We were called the Artists.

What is your dream job? Host of "This American Life" or "Fresh Air." Maybe just being a StoryCorps interviewer. I love to hear the stories of real people.

What quality in people do you most admire? Kindness. My favorite quote is from Philo of Alexandria: "Be kind. For everyone you meet is fighting a great battle."

What is guaranteed to make you smile? There is nothing sweeter to me than to hear Jill laugh, to see her smile, to know that she is happy. Also, the B-52's. You cannot listen to "Hot Pants Explosion" without cracking a smile!

What are you thankful for? My loving family. And a God and Savior whom I can thank.

What are some of your fondest memories? Reading, singing and praying with my kids at bedtime.

Most embarrassing moment? Single-handedly losing the game - and, consequently, the season - for my otherwise undefeated junior pee-wee football team.

Biggest accomplishment? Raising two fine human beings.

What do you hope to see happen this upcoming year? I'd like to see Republicans and Democrats overlook partisan differences for the good of the people. But I'm not holding my breath.

Contact Jenn Anderson at 934-6800 or janderson@tcnpress.com.