by Sean McManus
Staff Writer
In a time when NASA is shopping for old computer chips on e-bay, Waymond Lee is hunting for computer parts, too, but on a much smaller scale.
Sure, spaceships cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build, so NASA argues that it is a lot smarter to rebuild quality machines from the past rather than to wait for what must seem like an eternity for a brand new one. But new computers cost a lot, too, so Lee argues that it’s smarter to give children old machines to begin to familiarize themselves with technology than the all-to-frequent alternative: no computer at all.
Now, Lee isn’t NASA. He’s actually a security guard at Independent Square. But the principles are the same. He collects old computers that companies such as Modis and law firms in the building don’t want any more and he rebuilds them in his garage. When the holidays roll around, he gives them to local children to help them with school.
“I’d say if we went over to my house right now we’d find about 10 old computers in various stages of completion in my garage,” said Lee, who lives on the Westside. “I mean we’re not talking about anything serious. There’s no Internet or sound board or anything, but it’s a start.”
The inspiration for what Lee refers to as his “hobby” occurred about five years ago when he found himself playing video games with his grandson, who was then in first grade. “I thought if kids can understand video games, wouldn’t it be better to channel that energy into learning computers, ” recalled Lee, 51, who admits that he still plays video games. He has a Sony Play Station, a Sega and a Dreamcast.
Lee, who was at Bank of America at the time, started learning computers. One of the bankers sold him an old computer for $50 and Lee took it apart.
“I started learning DOS (Disk Operating System) and learned other stuff,” said Lee. And he started buying books on computers and familiarized himself with the terminology. And he asked a lot of questions.
“If something came up I would just ask the tech people at the bank,” he said. “I would always be learning more.”
And it was a thirst for knowledge that propelled Lee’s continual interest in helping children.
“This is a learning tool,” Lee said. “These days, kids have to be proficient with technology.”
Lee’s been a security guard downtown for 12 years.
“And there was only one robbery under my watch,” said Lee, referring to a gang initiation in 1994. Lee works for First Coast Security, which oversees Independent Square, the Life of the South building on Bay Street and the Jacksonville Center Garage behind Independent Square.
During his time as a security guard — Lee is the security chief — he saw lots of people just throwing away old computers.
“I don’t advertise,” said Lee. “But through word of mouth I get calls all the time now when people have stuff they want to donate to kids who need computers.”
Lee, a Mormon, also passes the word around his church.
He will take anything computer-related, a mouse, a keyboard, a monitor, a mother board. And he is forceful when he talks about it being a hobby.
“I don’t want to get burned out,” he said. “So I do it just enough.”
Lee’s other hobby is hunting.
“I think they should teach gun safety in the schools,” said Lee, who is a former self-protection teacher for the National Rifle Association.
“Things have been a little slow lately,” said Lee about the volume of computer parts he’s been seeing come his way. “But you never know. If people would clean out their closets, you never know.”
Lee said he “hasn’t lost a computer yet,” meaning that there’s never been one to blow up on him.
“The mind’s a terrible thing to waste,” said Lee. “I hope this article encourages other people to do the same as me.”