Philip Workman was executed by lethal injection at 1am Wednesday night. His request for his last meal was that a pizza be given to a homeless person near the prison. That request was not honored by the prison officials who claimed they don’t do that sort of thing.
A day later though, his request was honored by many others, and many of those without homes in Nashville ate delicious pizza, inspired by a man whose last request was a benevolent act be done on his behalf.
From CNN:
Donna Spangler heard about Workman’s request and immediately called her friends. They all pitched in for the $1,200 bill to buy 150 pizzas, which they sent to the Rescue Mission.
“Philip Workman was trying to do a good deed and no one would help him,” said the 55-year-old who recruited a co-worker to help her make the massive delivery Wednesday evening.
“I knew my husband would have a heart attack — I put some of it on the credit card. But I thought we’ll find a way to pay for them later,” she said. “I just felt like I had to do something positive.”
Spangler wasn’t the only person to place an order in Workman’s name.
The president of the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals read a news story about the prison denying the inmate’s last request and ordered 15 veggie pizzas sent to the Rescue Mission Wednesday morning.
“Workman’s act was selfless, and kindness to all living beings is a virtue,” said PETA President Ingrid Newkirk.
Not far away, 17 pizzas arrived at Nashville’s Oasis Center, a shelter that helps about 260 teenagers in crisis. By 9 p.m. ET, more pizzas had arrived, said executive director Hal Cato.
“We talked to the kids and they understand what this is tied to and they know that this man [Workman] wanted to do something to point out the problems of homelessness.”
When Workman robbed a Wendy’s in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1981, he was a strung-out cocaine addict looking for a way to pay for his next high, he has said.
He was homeless at the time. Workman was convicted of s
Here’s to you Philip Workman, may my last request be half as noble.