Chat Room: Chase Whitmire

Name: Chase Whitmire
Age: 31
Married: to Katie, and they have three girls: Alice, 6; Mae Mae, 5. and Liza, 2.
Occupation: Whitmire is the area director for Blount County Young Life.

What was your first paying job?
"I started a lawn business when I was in elementary school with a buddy of mine. It ended when we accidentally let a dog out of the fence, and it got hit by a car and died."

If you were stranded on an island, what one thing would you take?
"My wife. She is my companion and my love."

If you could do one impulsive thing, unrestricted by cost, what would it be?
"Take my family to Bangalore, India, to visit my sister and her family. My brother-in-law works for IJM and is a lawyer."

What task or activity have you still not gotten around to doing?
"Getting my pilot’s license."

Do you think there is life on other planets?
"I like to think so."

What is your favorite material possession?
"My grandfather’s 1967 pea green mustang convertible."

What are you reading currently?
"Deep Unto Deep" by Dana Candler.

Why did you pursue the career you chose?
"I actually was not pursuing Young Life. I was the admissions director for two nursing homes in Greenville, S.C., and was trying to get into pharmaceutical sales when God lead me into Young Life.

When you were 5 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?
"A pilot. I was fascinated with flying and had a pastor who was an old World War II pilot who took me up on occasion. I thought that was the coolest thing."

What is your passion?
"Creating a loving community that will show others the love of God."

With whom, living or dead, would you most like to have a long lunch?
"Bono."

What do you hate?
"Being late. I think honestly if you’re late, you’re telling people you care more about yourself than you do about them."

What do you do to relax or for fun?
"Go camping with my family."

What is your dream vacation?
"Three months of travel in Europe with money as no concern. We actually took a trip to Italy once, and it gave us a desire to see more."

What is your all-time favorite movie?
" ‘Les Miserable.’ What a beautiful story of redemption."

Would you travel in space?
"Heck yes, after my kids move out."

If you could go back in time for a week, what time period or year would you visit?
"The 1800s. One of my favorite things to do is to watch ‘Little House on the Prairie’ with my girls. I love the simplicity of it. I love the idea of living off the land."

Who has been the best United States president of the last 100 years and why?
"Gerald Ford. He was the grandfather of one of my good friends."

What is your favorite sport and favorite sport’s team?
Whitmire says he enjoys college football and the University of. Alabama football team. "I grew up going to Bear Bryant games with my dad and granddad."

What is the best present you ever received?
"I got a go-cart from my grandparents when I was 10."

Did you ever get paddled in school and if so, why?
"Yes. In third grade, I got into a fight with a guy at recess after he hit me late in a football game."