Who was the solitary shoveler in that dramatic November storm photo? From the A look back at the 'wall of snow' in November 2014 series By Charity Vogel May 17, 2015 May 17, 2015 Updated Nov 18, 2025 0 This dramatic photo showing Christopher Robinson digging out in Depew on Nov. 19, 2014, went viral during the storm. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save By Charity Vogel He was the Everyman of the November storm.kAmyFDE 9:>[ @FE H:E9 2 D9@G6=[ 32EE=:?8 2 H2== @7 D?@H]k^AmkAmx7 J@F H6C6 A2J:?8 2EE6?E:@? 5FC:?8 =2DE }@G6>36C’D DE@C>[ D92C:?8 :? E96 4@==64E:G6 5:D36=:67 2?5 7CFDEC2E:@? 2?5 2>2K6>6?E[ J@F <?@H E96 A9@E@]k^AmkAm%96 D@=:E2CJ D9@G6=6C 42AEFC65 3J 2 qF772=@ }6HD A9@E@8C2A96C :? 2? 26C:2= D9@E[ 2D 96 EC:65 E@ >2<6 2 A2E9 5@H? 9:D 5C:G6H2J 5FC:?8 E96 6A:4 DE@C> E92E 5F>A65 2D >F49 2D f 766E @7 D?@H :? A=246D 24C@DD E96 C68:@?]k^Am kAm%96 5C2>2E:4 A9@E@ H6?E 2C@F?5 E96 4@F?ECJ – 2?5 36J@?5 – =2?5:?8 :? AF3=:42E:@?D 2?5 @? ?6HD H63D:E6D C2?8:?8 7C@> &$p %@52J E@ %:>6] xE 3642>6 2 7246 @7 E96 DE@C>]k^Am People are also reading… Privacy laws prevent Smyth school board from commenting on parent allegations Smyth County undertakes groundwork to prepare for potential data center interest Health Commission analysis finds Smyth hospital 'at risk of closure' 'The Coolest Hometown': Actors, stage crew sought to support new play about Marion Smyth County seeks public input on future use of Carnegie School Mount Rogers Community Services makes case for its funding requests Smyth's Octagon House enters new chapter with donation of original materials Commonwealth's Attorney's Office to host church security training for Smyth County Inmate 'died in agony' at Western Virginia Regional Jail, lawsuit claims Three-star cornerback Dozier commits to Virginia Tech Smyth explores billing real estate taxes twice a year Virginia football flips former Penn State commit Semajay Robinson Marion's ArtWalk to feature Ned Johnson's artwork, music by Wayne Dunford Former Virginia Tech Rector John Rocovich sues Gov. Abigail Spanberger over removal Smyth's top prosecutor launches Junior Commonwealth's Attorney Program kAm%96 }6HD C646?E=J EC24<65 5@H? E92E D9@G6=6C[ 2D :E D@F89E E@ >2C< E96 D:I\>@?E9 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 E96 5@F3=6\=2<6 67764E DE@C>[ 3J AFEE:?8 @FE 2 C6BF6DE @? D@4:2= >65:2 7@C E96 :56?E:EJ @7 E96 D?@H\D9@G6=6C] %96 A9@E@ 2AA62C65 @? E96 7C@?E A286 }@G] a_[ E9C66 52JD :?E@ E96 DE@C>]k^AmkAm%96 D9@G6=6C H2D r9C:DE@A96C #@3:?D@? @7 s6A6H[ 4@?7:C>65 E9C@F89 D@4:2= >65:2 D=6FE9:?8 2D H6== 2D 7C:6?5D[ 72>:=J[ 2 ?6:893@C 2?5 9:D A2DE@C] %96 }6HD 2=D@ 4964<65 #@3:?D@?’D 9@FD6 282:?DE >2AD 2?5 E96 26C:2= A9@E@8C2A9[ 2?5 :E 2AA62CD E@ 36 2 >2E49]k^Am kAm#@3:?D@?[ af[ D2:5 96 H2D @FE D9@G6=:?8 E92E 52J 7@C 2 76H C62D@?D] w6 H2?E65 E@ 86E 9:D 42C @FE[ D@ 96 4@F=5 86E 324< E@ H@C< 2D D@@? 2D C@25D 3642>6 A2DD23=6]k^Am kAm~9[ 2?5 E9:D]k^AmkAm“%@ 36 9@?6DE[ x H2D <:?5 @7 3@C65[” #@3:?D@? D2:5]k^AmkAm%9@D6 H9@ <?@H 9:> H6C6?’E DFCAC:D65 E92E 96 H@F=5 36 @FE E96C6[ D9@G6= :? 92?5[ AFD9:?8 324< 282:?DE E96 @?D=2F89E @7 D?@H]k^Am kAm%9:D :D 2 8FJ H9@ 92D 366? 2 >:I65\>2CE:2= 2CED 7:89E6C] (9@ A=2JD 8F:E2C :? E96 >FD:4 8C@FA 2E 9:D 49FC49] W“(6’C6 <:?5 @7 2 =6DD\E2=6?E65[ C6=:8:@FD G6CD:@? @7 E96 q62E=6D[” #@3:?D@? D2:5 HCJ=J]X (9@ 96=AD 4@249 HC6DE=:?8 :? 9:D DA2C6 E:>6]k^AmkAm$@ :? 2 H2J[ 7@C D@>6 H9@ <?@H 9:>[ E96 A:4EFC6 :D A6C764E=J 2AAC@AC:2E6]k^Am kAm“xE D2JD E92E 96 E2<6D :?:E:2E:G6] w6’D 2 8@\86EE6C] w6 86ED @FE E96C6 2?5 86ED :E 5@?6[” D2:5 E96 #6G] z6==J {] }68FD[ A2DE@C @7 {2?42DE6C !C6D3JE6C:2? r9FC49[ H96C6 #@3:?D@? D6CG6D 2D 2 ECFDE66 2?5 96=AD =625 >FD:4 5FC:?8 D6CG:46D] }68FD D2:5 96 7@F?5 @FE 23@FE E96 A9@E@ @7 #@3:?D@? 5FC:?8 E96 27E6C>2E9 @7 E96 DE@C> =2DE }@G6>36C]k^Am kAm#@3:?D@?[ 2? 6>A=@J66 2E 2 r966<E@H282 4@>A2?J H96C6 96 >2<6D 962E 6I492?8:?8 F?:ED[ >@G65 H:E9 9:D >@> E@ E96 9@FD6 :? s6A6H 7@==@H:?8 E96 562E9 @7 9:D 72E96C[ y@9? $] #@3:?D@? $C][ 7C@> 42?46C 2E 286 ch :? a__g]k^AmkAm%96 72>:=J – r9C:D 92D 2? @=56C 3C@E96C[ y@9? $] yC][ ah – 925 =:G65 :? (:==:2>DG:==6 2?5 t2DE p>96CDE] #@3:?D@? 2EE6?565 $E] y@D6A9 r@==68:2E6 x?DE:EFE6 7@C EH@ J62CD[ 2?5 E96? (:==:2>DG:==6 t2DE w:89 $49@@=] |@G:?8 E@ s6A6H[ 96 D2:5[ D66>65 E@ >@G6 E96> :?E@ 2? 2C62 H:E9 >@C6 D?@H]k^Am kAm“(6 567:?:E6=J 86E >@C6 D?@H 96C6[” #@3:?D@? D2:5 @? 9:D 7C@?E A@C49 @? 2 C646?E H66<?:89E]k^Am kAm%96 D9@G6=:?8 A9@E@8C2A9 H2D E2<6? (65?6D52J[ }@G] `h[ 2D D@>6 C6D:56?ED :? (6DE6C? }6H *@C< 962565 @FE :? E96 >:55=6 @7 2 H66< @7 E96 DE@C> E@ ECJ E@ 5:8 @FE 2 3:E 2C@F?5 E96:C 9@>6D]k^AmkAm#@3:?D@?’D 7C:6?5D BF:4<=J C62=:K65 H9@ E92E F?:56?E:7:65 D?@H D9@G6=6C H2D H96? E96J D2H E96 A9@E@ A@DE65 @? D@4:2= >65:2 3J #@3:?D@? 2?5 @E96CD]k^AmkAm“xE H2D 567:?:E6=J 9:>[” D2:5 p?E@?:@ $>:E9[ H9@ 92D EC2:?65 H:E9 #@3:?D@? 2E 9:D qF772=@ 8J> 7@C a½ J62CD] “%92E’D H96? :E H6?E G:C2=]”k^Am kAmqFE J@F >:89E 2D<[ H9J D9@G6=nk^AmkAm“x 5@?’E 92G6 2 3=@H6C[” #@3:?D@? 6IA=2:?65] “&DF2==J x D9@G6= – @C >J >@> 92D 8@EE6? 2 A=@H D6CG:46]”k^AmkAmw@H >F49 H2D @FE E96C6 2E E92E A@:?Enk^AmkAm“p =@E[” 96 D2:5] “|2J36 c 766E] x 5@?’E <?@H]”k^AmkAmpE E96 }2E:@?2= (62E96C $6CG:46 :? qF772=@[ C64@C5D D9@H E92E E96 D?@H72== E@E2= 2E qF772=@ }:282C2 x?E6C?2E:@?2= p:CA@CE :? r966<E@H282 H2D `e]h :?496D 7@C E96 DE@C> A6C:@5 E92E H66<[ 2 >6E6@C@=@8:DE D2:5]k^Am kAmx? {2?42DE6C[ E9@F89[ D?@H E@E2=D H6C6 >62DFC65 :? @?6 A=246 2D fc :?496D @G6C E96 4@FCD6 @7 E96 DE@C>[ E96 >6E6@C@=@8:DE D2:5]k^AmkAm}@E @?=J 5:5 #@3:?D@? 2?5 9:D ?6:893@CD 92G6 E@ 4@?E6?5 H:E9 566A D?@H @? E96:C 5C:G6H2JD 2?5 C@@7D – 3FE #@3:?D@? 7@F?5 9:>D6=7 H:E9@FE >F49 :? E96 H2J @7 6BF:A>6?E] pE @?6 A@:?E 5FC:?8 E96 H66<’D DE@C>D[ 9:D >2:? D9@G6= 3C@<6[ 96 D2:5[ 2?5 96 925 E@ E2<6 FA H96C6 96 =67E @77 H:E9 2 <:5\D:K65 D9@G6=]k^AmkAm%@ 4966C 9:>D6=7 – 2?5 2?J@?6 6=D6 :? E96 G:4:?:EJ – #@3:?D@? 5:5 D@>6 D9@G6=:?8 :? 9:D @=5 r]y] $A:==6C ;6CD6J 2?5 9:D 525’D D?@HA2?ED[ H9:=6 A=2J:?8 :?DA:C:?8 >FD:4 @? 9:D A9@?6]k^Am kAm“x’> 3:8 :?E@ ADJ49@=@8J[” 96 D2:5]k^AmkAm#@3:?D@? 4=62C65 H92E 96 C676CD E@ 2D 2 “EC6?49[” D@ E92E 96 4@F=5 H@C< 9:D 42C @FE @7 E96 5C:G6H2J] !=@HD 42>6 E9C@F89 E96 DEC66E[ =2E6C[ 2?5 96 H2D 23=6 E@ 86E @FE] w6 H6?E 324< E@ H@C< @? uC:52J[ 96 D2:5]k^AmkAmw:D >@E96C[ qC:8:EE6 #@3:?D@?[ df[ D2:5 D96 7:CDE =62C?65 @7 E96 A9@E@8C2A96C’D D9@E @7 96C D@? 7C@> 2 ?6:893@C[ 2C@F?5 E96 E:>6 :E 92AA6?65]k^AmkAm“~FC ?6:893@C – x 5@?’E <?@H H96? E96 ?6HDA2A6C 42>6 @FE[ 3642FD6 H6 5@?’E 92G6 2 4@AJ @7 :E – 96 42>6 @G6C E@ r9C:D :? E96 DEC66E[ 2?5 D2:5[ ‘s:5 J@F D66 E96 qF772=@ tG6?:?8 }6HDn q642FD6 J@F’C6 @? E96 4@G6C[’ ” D96 C642==65]k^Am kAm#@3:?D@?[ H9@ 8C25F2E65 7C@> &q :? a_`` H:E9 2 568C66 :? 4=2DD:4D[ D2:5 E92E 367@C6 96 H2D DFC6 :E H2D 24EF2==J 9:>[ 96 6?=2C865 E96 A9@E@[ DEF5:65 E96 56E2:=D[ 2?5 >2E4965 :E H:E9 @E96C :>286D @?=:?6]k^AmkAm“x AF==65 FA v@@8=6 t2CE9[” #@3:?D@? D2:5[ =2F89:?8] “x 5:5?’E H2?E E@ 36 E92E :5:@E[ D2J:?8 E9:D A:4EFC6 :? E96 A2A6C :D 9:>]”k^AmkAmw:D >@> D2:5 :E D66>D 2AE E@ 96C E92E E96 A:4EFC6 @7 E96 D?@H\D9@G6=6C E92E H6?E 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5 :D @7 96C D@?]k^Am kAm“pD x D2:5[ @?46 96 D6ED 9:D >:?5 E@ 5@ 2 E2D<[ 96’D E96 <:?5 @7 A6CD@? H9@ D66D :E E9C@F89[” D96 D2:5] “r9C:D H:== E9:?< =@8:42==J @7 9@H E@ 5@ :E[ 2?5 D6E 9:D >:?5 @? :E]”k^Am kAmqFE[ #@3:?D@? D2:5[ 96 >:89E 92G6 DA@:=65 E9:?8D :? 2?@E96C H2J]k^AmkAm“x E9:?< x <:?5 @7 CF:?65 >J 492?46D 7@C 2 D?@H3=@H6C[” 96 D2:5[ H:E9 2 =2F89]k^AmkAm6>2:=i k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i4G@86=o3F77?6HD]4@>Qm4G@86=o3F77?6HD]4@>k^2mk^Am In this Series A look back at the 'wall of snow' in November 2014 Apr 17, 2015 Before and after: The 2014 Wall of Snow Updated Nov 27, 2023 Readers share photos, stories of the November 2014 storms Updated Nov 19, 2025 Readers share photos of November storm 102 updates Previous Next 0 Comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Record $75 million gift to benefit Virginia Tech athletics, Honors College Virginia Tech announced Thursday it received its largest donation ever through a $75 million pledge that will see most of it go to athletics a… Virginia Tech board names new rector, vice rector after Rocovich removal On Tuesday, the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors elected members Jim Miller and Nancy Dye as its next rector and vice rector, less than a week … Watch Now: Related Video GLP-1s and cancer prevention: What’s known and what isn’t SpaceX Makes History with Record-Breaking IPO SpaceX Makes History with Record-Breaking IPO Alan Jackson on the Nick Reiner Case & Karen Read Updates Alan Jackson on the Nick Reiner Case & Karen Read Updates The MOST Controversial World Cup Topic Is... Tailgating?! The MOST Controversial World Cup Topic Is... Tailgating?!
Record $75 million gift to benefit Virginia Tech athletics, Honors College Virginia Tech announced Thursday it received its largest donation ever through a $75 million pledge that will see most of it go to athletics a…
Virginia Tech board names new rector, vice rector after Rocovich removal On Tuesday, the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors elected members Jim Miller and Nancy Dye as its next rector and vice rector, less than a week …