Archaeologist Turned Activist

Category: "Inspire" Stories

Date: January 16, 2023

At some point in our lives, many of us have daydreamed of becoming like Indiana Jones: visiting exotic locales, exploring ancient structures and discovering lost civilizations. One of our Partners, Wayne Gray of Legacy Insurance and Financial Services, has taken that dream and turned it into a reality. Wayne travels the world and lives his dream of being an amateur archeologist.

On a recent trip, Wayne flew down to Colombia, hiked through the Amazon rainforest and studied 12,000-year-old petroglyphs. A trip to Bolivia gave him the opportunity to visit the Puma Punku archeological site to help excavate two of the massive H-shaped stones that were created by the Tiwanaku people over 2,000 years ago. The stones that he helped uncover are now being studied by universities to learn more about the strange shapes, as their intended purpose is still a mystery.

Another trip brought him to Eastern Europe, where he visited several countries over a month-long excursion. As he traveled through Hungary, Poland and the Baltic region, he gained a love for the refugees in those areas and a desire to help them. He’s currently planning a return trip soon for additional visits with embassies and outreach organizations to bring in humanitarian aid and work.

Wayne’s dedication to understanding and serving people — be they ancient cultures, Medicare and life insurance consumers, or refugees — reminds us to remain open to humanity and care more deeply. Be sure to check out the rest of Wayne’s amazing story on the “Inspire” Podcast!

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