Men total 79 years of income tax
By Jackie Perrone Jacper@juno.com

(l- r) John Stinton, Dick Clark (seated) and Jack Wilson log 79 years between doing tax returns.

The dreaded 1040 tax form is a piece of cake for these guys.

Dick Clark, John Stinton, and Jack Wilson have logged, between them, an awesome 79 years of doing other people's tax returns, strictly volunteer, as AARP Tax Aides.

What's a person's reward for doing other people's income tax returns, gratis? Gruelling hours of hard work, working through perplexing problems, and the great satisfaction that comes from serving others.

Oh, and if you stick with it for 20 years or longer, you'll have a plaque to hang on your wall.

Dick Clark, now in his 90s, has logged 32 years as a tax aide. John Stinton, "Mr. South Carolina Tax Preparer," is in his 21st year of service. For Jack Wilson, 89, it's 26 years (so far) of tax preparation.

Members of the elite squad of AARP Tax Aides met January 24 at O'Charley's in the Village at Sandhill to toast their colleagues and present the awards. Martha Hatcher, local coordinator for the program, presented the plaques.

"You do so much good for so many people," she said. "We know we won't see much of you for the next three months, but we look forward to getting together when you resurface after April 15."

John Stinton not only assists taxpayers with their returns, he teaches the course for training new volunteers. His expertise is on call for the instruction manual which he checks thoroughly and corrects.

A retired USC professor, he is winding up his Tax Aide service now as he packs up to move to Tennessee.

Dick Clark has his own accounting firm but makes himself available through AARP.

Jack Wilson, retired from Dupont at the Savannah River Site, has a built-in clientele at his home at the Presbyterian Community of Columbia. Last year he did 40 returns for his neighbors there.

Bill Cleary is Administrator for the Appalachian Region, the entire Southeast. He told the group, "Forty years ago, AARP decided to try setting up some tax help with four volunteers who did about 100 returns. Last year, the AARP Tax Aide Program prepared returns for more than two million people. Since 1968, it has served more than 27 million individuals at more than ten thousand sites."

AARP's Tax Aides focus on those over 60, but are available by appointment for people of all ages with middle or low income.

The American Association of Retired Persons offers assistance with income tax reporting for low or middle income individuals of any age, although their focus is on those over 60.

In Columbia, three sites are open: Richland County Recreation Center Technology Center, 7494 Parklane Road, 462 - 0064; Lexington County Main Library, Augusta Road, Lexington, 808 - 2600; and Lexington County Irmo Branch Library, 6251 St. Andrews Road, 798 - 7880.