Air Sho.......
It's that time of year again. Time for the CAF Air Sho! And also time for me to get back to work as the "Transportation Chairman". A high sounding title and a necessary function but actually I come far down in the pecking order of important personages. Things are a little hectic this year as some of my more regular workers have will be out of town or otherwise engaged. But I still have lot's of good help and it should be fun.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Midland...1926
The latest image of Midland's past is up on my pictures of Old Midland From Above. This photo is actually from not very far above...shot from the top of the old red stone Midland County Courthouse which is what makes this image so memorable.
I like it because, unlike the other aerials in the series, this shot gives a pigeons eye view of downtown letting us see citizens of the day going about their business. People coming and going from the buildings and even several workers perched atop an office building being newly constructed. We can see the automobiles parked and in action, which always gives a flavor of the time period to me. The building under construction, the Leggett Building, is actually the first "high rise" building in Midland. This photo was provided to me by long time native Midlander Wilbur Yeager. While talking about the photo and town of the times, Wilbur amazed me by telling me that he was actually born in the Leggett Building not long after this photo was taken. There was no real hospital in town at the time and so he came into this world in his doctor's office in the building. Wilbur's family were among the first tenants in the "new" Petroleum Building, built in 1928. They still maintain offices there today, 77 years later.
The Scharbauer Hotel, which was old and decaying when it was razed in the mid 1970's is just being built. The Scharbauer was the hub of Midland for nearly half a century and was where I attended my first dance as a teenager. I love this upclose and personal view of the town.
The latest image of Midland's past is up on my pictures of Old Midland From Above. This photo is actually from not very far above...shot from the top of the old red stone Midland County Courthouse which is what makes this image so memorable.
I like it because, unlike the other aerials in the series, this shot gives a pigeons eye view of downtown letting us see citizens of the day going about their business. People coming and going from the buildings and even several workers perched atop an office building being newly constructed. We can see the automobiles parked and in action, which always gives a flavor of the time period to me. The building under construction, the Leggett Building, is actually the first "high rise" building in Midland. This photo was provided to me by long time native Midlander Wilbur Yeager. While talking about the photo and town of the times, Wilbur amazed me by telling me that he was actually born in the Leggett Building not long after this photo was taken. There was no real hospital in town at the time and so he came into this world in his doctor's office in the building. Wilbur's family were among the first tenants in the "new" Petroleum Building, built in 1928. They still maintain offices there today, 77 years later.
The Scharbauer Hotel, which was old and decaying when it was razed in the mid 1970's is just being built. The Scharbauer was the hub of Midland for nearly half a century and was where I attended my first dance as a teenager. I love this upclose and personal view of the town.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Ben Stein....
vocal supporter of free market capitalism and a vocal critic of his neighbors in Hollywood. Ben was effusive in his praise for Midland and it's citizens, a feeling that seemed genuine as he described how the people he met here are not the typical stressed out more angry American he runs into all too often in the larger cities where he speaks.
The two underlying points that Ben made repeatedly were that 1] it is not the Jimmy Carter's and UN's of the world that bring freedom and democracy to downtrodden peoples, it is the example of a free people set in the U.S., backed up by a strong military and that 2] it is not the Bono's and Bob Geldorf's who bring prosperity to the third world, but free market economics. Points well taken. Thanks Ben.....
 | Ben Stein is a true renaissance man. Jack of all trades and a master of most. Scholar, author, economist, teacher, presidential speech writer, actor, Visine spokesman and game show host are but a few of the lives that Ben has led. It was a pleasure to have seen Ben in Midland last night. Ben was well received as he is a |
The two underlying points that Ben made repeatedly were that 1] it is not the Jimmy Carter's and UN's of the world that bring freedom and democracy to downtrodden peoples, it is the example of a free people set in the U.S., backed up by a strong military and that 2] it is not the Bono's and Bob Geldorf's who bring prosperity to the third world, but free market economics. Points well taken. Thanks Ben.....
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Hurricane Lemonade.......
As they say, you should try and make the best of things, make lemonade out of the lemons that you are dealt. And it looks as if we're going to be dealt some serious hurricanes for awhile. So we're cashing in. Rooms for rent, refugees wanted, reasonable prices for room and board. I'm going to need the income.
This afternoon we were called by Duke Energy, our natural gas buyer, and told that due to the hurricane, they would shutting their Houston processing plant down. Which in turn means a back up of natural gas supply all the way into West Texas, thus meaning that we have no gas buyer, thus meaning that we had to "shut-in" our wells. I suppose this is somewhat akin to the theory of the butterfly fluttering his wings in China and creating a tornado in Texas. The energy markets are all interrelated. My advice to you, at this moment, is this. Go right now and fill up your car's gas tank. If Duke Energy is shutting down their gas plants on the Texas coast, the gasoline refiners can't be far behind.
As they say, you should try and make the best of things, make lemonade out of the lemons that you are dealt. And it looks as if we're going to be dealt some serious hurricanes for awhile. So we're cashing in. Rooms for rent, refugees wanted, reasonable prices for room and board. I'm going to need the income.
This afternoon we were called by Duke Energy, our natural gas buyer, and told that due to the hurricane, they would shutting their Houston processing plant down. Which in turn means a back up of natural gas supply all the way into West Texas, thus meaning that we have no gas buyer, thus meaning that we had to "shut-in" our wells. I suppose this is somewhat akin to the theory of the butterfly fluttering his wings in China and creating a tornado in Texas. The energy markets are all interrelated. My advice to you, at this moment, is this. Go right now and fill up your car's gas tank. If Duke Energy is shutting down their gas plants on the Texas coast, the gasoline refiners can't be far behind.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Old Midland Update.....
Most Bloggers spend the time on their Internet journals for personal reasons and would probably make the effort to dispense their wit, wisdom and items of interest no matter what. Still......it's nice to know that someone is out there reading the fruits of their efforts. As you know doubt recall I'm working on a website dedicated to Midland past, which features some places of interest to me personally and more so now old photos of Midland as it grew. This week I received an email from Andrew Custer in Seattle who wandered across the site and had this to add about "The 007 Room" as featured on the site.
Most Bloggers spend the time on their Internet journals for personal reasons and would probably make the effort to dispense their wit, wisdom and items of interest no matter what. Still......it's nice to know that someone is out there reading the fruits of their efforts. As you know doubt recall I'm working on a website dedicated to Midland past, which features some places of interest to me personally and more so now old photos of Midland as it grew. This week I received an email from Andrew Custer in Seattle who wandered across the site and had this to add about "The 007 Room" as featured on the site.
Hello Wallace,Thanks Andrew glad you enjoyed the visit!
I grew up in Midland from ’67 to the late 80’s. Thoroughly enjoyed your photo essay on “places long gone.” During my trips to visit my father and stepmother, I still enjoy driving my wife around, pointing places out from my childhood, and telling stories. Pity her!
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that the 007 was previously called The Egyptian Room. There used to be a back room where the regulars would play dominos and cards. They still had a lot of the original Egyptian-ish paintings. Mummies, pharaohs, etc. When I heard they were shutting down, friends and I went in for a ‘lil’ drank’ and asked about them, but they were given out as keepsakes to some of the good old customers. I remember they had the tabs tallied up on a piece of poster board on the wall. Some of the amounts were in the thousands of dollars. I can’t say I didn’t recognize a few names. Also, it appeared in the movie Waltz Across Texas, which I forced my wife to watch with me a couple of weeks ago.
As for Peyton’s, I always remember on my birthdays careening over to the red and white, candy-striped packages, knowing exactly where they came from.
Enjoy your sites. Visit them regularly. Keep it up.
Andrew Custer
Seattle, WA
Thursday, September 15, 2005
On Rattlesnake Raceway....
and Jim Hall were our heroes, we wanted to be like them, dashing and sophisticated men of action.
It has been my pleasure in the last several years to get to know and become good friends with Jim Edwards, who runs Chaparral Racing and Jim Hall's Midland operations. Through Jim I've learned the inside story of the Chaparral's and more about the cars than I ever thought I'd know. Today I had the pleasure of getting to know Rattlesnake Raceway, the track where the Chaparrals were tested all those decades ago. What a thrill!
I had mentioned to Jim Edwards that I'd like to see the track and so he kindly offered to let me take my 2 mile daily walk there today...and anytime I wanted. I also wanted to inspect the track to see what would be needed to get it back in shape for high speed driving. The track is not in good shape with weeds growing through cracks in the asphalt and the small stones of the pavement coming lose. Edwards tells me that when Chaparral started testing Indy Cars on the track the condition worsened. Indy Cars sit very low to the ground and create a suction effect when run at high speeds...literally sucking the pavement apart.
I had seen pictures of Rattlesnake but was surprised at the narrowness of the track. It must have been quite a thrill running at high speeds through the mesquite! And high speeds were possible there. Jim told me that in the back "dog-leg" straight, 200 miles an hour was not out of the question. This section of the track, at the gentle curve, is seen in the photo above. It is easy to see why Jim Hall was not thrilled about full blown racing at his track.
Walking the 2 mile course by myself with only the wind whistling through the mesquite scrub was quite an experience. I could just imagine, just almost see and feel, the Chaparral 2E screaming down the long straight at 180 mph. The history associated with this track is amazing and I'm one of the few in town who has been lucky enough to see and stand upon it.
And next week it gets even better. I'm meeting with Jim Hall himself. Not, mainly, about cars but about the oil business. Who, all those years ago, would have thought that I'd be sitting down to talk business with my boyhood legendary hero.
 | It's not often that as an adult one gets to meet, know, and even associate with the sports legends of his youth. I'm one of the lucky ones. The legends I've gotten to know are both mechanical and human.....the Chaparral Racing machines and their creator Jim Hall and his team. When I was a teenager I thrilled to the exploits of Jim and his innovative cars. The newly created James Bond |
It has been my pleasure in the last several years to get to know and become good friends with Jim Edwards, who runs Chaparral Racing and Jim Hall's Midland operations. Through Jim I've learned the inside story of the Chaparral's and more about the cars than I ever thought I'd know. Today I had the pleasure of getting to know Rattlesnake Raceway, the track where the Chaparrals were tested all those decades ago. What a thrill!
I had mentioned to Jim Edwards that I'd like to see the track and so he kindly offered to let me take my 2 mile daily walk there today...and anytime I wanted. I also wanted to inspect the track to see what would be needed to get it back in shape for high speed driving. The track is not in good shape with weeds growing through cracks in the asphalt and the small stones of the pavement coming lose. Edwards tells me that when Chaparral started testing Indy Cars on the track the condition worsened. Indy Cars sit very low to the ground and create a suction effect when run at high speeds...literally sucking the pavement apart.
I had seen pictures of Rattlesnake but was surprised at the narrowness of the track. It must have been quite a thrill running at high speeds through the mesquite! And high speeds were possible there. Jim told me that in the back "dog-leg" straight, 200 miles an hour was not out of the question. This section of the track, at the gentle curve, is seen in the photo above. It is easy to see why Jim Hall was not thrilled about full blown racing at his track.
Walking the 2 mile course by myself with only the wind whistling through the mesquite scrub was quite an experience. I could just imagine, just almost see and feel, the Chaparral 2E screaming down the long straight at 180 mph. The history associated with this track is amazing and I'm one of the few in town who has been lucky enough to see and stand upon it.
And next week it gets even better. I'm meeting with Jim Hall himself. Not, mainly, about cars but about the oil business. Who, all those years ago, would have thought that I'd be sitting down to talk business with my boyhood legendary hero.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Midland, 1928....
And now for your comparison, Midland in 1928. 1928 was a pivotal year in the growth of Midland, with the Scharbauer Hotel just nearing completion and the start of construction on The Petroleum Building, both assuring Midland's future as the hub of the Permian Basin oil business. Work on the Petroleum Building would begin later in the year on the block just to the north and across the street from the court house.
And now for your comparison, Midland in 1928. 1928 was a pivotal year in the growth of Midland, with the Scharbauer Hotel just nearing completion and the start of construction on The Petroleum Building, both assuring Midland's future as the hub of the Permian Basin oil business. Work on the Petroleum Building would begin later in the year on the block just to the north and across the street from the court house.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Midland, 1947.....
I'm a lover of old photos, maps and history. As you may recall over the last year or so I've started a website to chronicle some of the photographic history of our hometown, Midland, Texas.
JoJo's cafe in our office building is a hub of old time Midland oil folks and a few not so old but who also have an interest in the way Midland was in the past. While eating at JoJo's on Friday the conversation turned to old buildings and one of the participants, attorney David Lindemood, invited me up to see his collection of maps, plats and photos. He has some great ones and has kindly consented to assist me in bringing these to digital form.
Here is the first photo of David's that I've scanned. Midland, 1947 is an amazing photo showing the town as it was after WWII, just gearing up for the energy boom that followed. It shows some interesting features including the original First Baptist Church and the railroad station, thoughtlessly destroyed in the 1970's. More photos and maps from Davids' collection will be added as well as some really historic images provided by Mr. Wilbur Yeager whose family has resided in Midland from it's earliest days.
I'm a lover of old photos, maps and history. As you may recall over the last year or so I've started a website to chronicle some of the photographic history of our hometown, Midland, Texas.
JoJo's cafe in our office building is a hub of old time Midland oil folks and a few not so old but who also have an interest in the way Midland was in the past. While eating at JoJo's on Friday the conversation turned to old buildings and one of the participants, attorney David Lindemood, invited me up to see his collection of maps, plats and photos. He has some great ones and has kindly consented to assist me in bringing these to digital form.
Here is the first photo of David's that I've scanned. Midland, 1947 is an amazing photo showing the town as it was after WWII, just gearing up for the energy boom that followed. It shows some interesting features including the original First Baptist Church and the railroad station, thoughtlessly destroyed in the 1970's. More photos and maps from Davids' collection will be added as well as some really historic images provided by Mr. Wilbur Yeager whose family has resided in Midland from it's earliest days.
Monday, September 12, 2005
Rick Rescorla...
Who is a hero? What makes a hero?
Honestly I can't answer those questions, but I know that sometimes in our day and age the term is too loosely applied. I do know that many of the fire fighters and other emergency personnel at the World Trade Center acted in heroic fashion four years ago. True heroes, some who are with us today but many who perished in the catastrophe.
Another hero at the Trade Center that day was Rick Rescorla, a man who actually had earned hero status to many of us almost exactly four decades earlier, in Vietnam in November of 1965. A man who so exemplified what a leader should be that he was chosen to appear on the cover of the best seller, "We Were Soldiers Once.....and Young". You can read a short synopsis of his amazing life in the this tribute I posted not long after 9/11. In two months we will be attending the 40th anniversary of the battles at LZ XRay and Albany from which the book and film "We Were Soliders" were drawn. Susan Rescorla will be an honored guest and we will remember Rick, talk about Rick, wish Rick was with us still, but most importantly we will remember what kind of a man he was.
And a special thanks to the guys at Powerline who noted Rick's story here and were kind enough to publish my personal note to them [scroll down].
Who is a hero? What makes a hero?
Honestly I can't answer those questions, but I know that sometimes in our day and age the term is too loosely applied. I do know that many of the fire fighters and other emergency personnel at the World Trade Center acted in heroic fashion four years ago. True heroes, some who are with us today but many who perished in the catastrophe.
Another hero at the Trade Center that day was Rick Rescorla, a man who actually had earned hero status to many of us almost exactly four decades earlier, in Vietnam in November of 1965. A man who so exemplified what a leader should be that he was chosen to appear on the cover of the best seller, "We Were Soldiers Once.....and Young". You can read a short synopsis of his amazing life in the this tribute I posted not long after 9/11. In two months we will be attending the 40th anniversary of the battles at LZ XRay and Albany from which the book and film "We Were Soliders" were drawn. Susan Rescorla will be an honored guest and we will remember Rick, talk about Rick, wish Rick was with us still, but most importantly we will remember what kind of a man he was.
And a special thanks to the guys at Powerline who noted Rick's story here and were kind enough to publish my personal note to them [scroll down].
Friday, September 09, 2005
Leadership.......
There has been a dearth of posts here at Streams. Sorry but I've just felt dearthful. In real life I've been busy but also just rather burnt out on the news of disaster and the tasteless rancor it has created.
With the recall of FEMA head Michael Brown and his less than honest resume, a resume that was rather shallow padded or not, I have one piece of advice for future Presidents. Here it is. When filling important positions like FEMA, get a military man. A qualified General Officer, or hell, a good Colonel or Command Sergeant Major. Preferably Army or Marine Corps. Instilled in these people are the principals set forth as, Plan, Organize, Lead and Control. You don't need a bureaucrat, you need a leader.
Even Geraldo realized this. While watching the news last weekend in New Mexico we witnessed Senõr Rivera actually overcome with tears at the sight of the military moving in to take over what had been a cluster jerk. Geraldo summed it up: "The only people who can actually do something have arrived....the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard". For once, he was entirely correct.
There has been a dearth of posts here at Streams. Sorry but I've just felt dearthful. In real life I've been busy but also just rather burnt out on the news of disaster and the tasteless rancor it has created.
With the recall of FEMA head Michael Brown and his less than honest resume, a resume that was rather shallow padded or not, I have one piece of advice for future Presidents. Here it is. When filling important positions like FEMA, get a military man. A qualified General Officer, or hell, a good Colonel or Command Sergeant Major. Preferably Army or Marine Corps. Instilled in these people are the principals set forth as, Plan, Organize, Lead and Control. You don't need a bureaucrat, you need a leader.
Even Geraldo realized this. While watching the news last weekend in New Mexico we witnessed Senõr Rivera actually overcome with tears at the sight of the military moving in to take over what had been a cluster jerk. Geraldo summed it up: "The only people who can actually do something have arrived....the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard". For once, he was entirely correct.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Home from the mountain......
We're back from a short vacation to the mountains of New Mexico. Julie's folks are building a house at about 7,800 ft. in elvation in the Alto area of Ruidoso and so we accompanied them to check construction progress and to enjoy the cool mountain air and just to relax. With the day time temps reaching only into the 70's and the 50's at night we had a good break from the late summer heat of West Texas.
Besides checking with the builder, we mainly just bummed around during the days and constructed a monster crossword puzzle at night. A great way to relax. The highlight Saturday was a trip over to the Inn of the Mountain Gods the Apache Indian resort that I have not visited in over 20 years. And what change in those years. The resort is now nothing short of amazing, having grown in scope and quality since my last visit. I think that the Apache's are raking it in.
Sunday was a big race day at the horse track in Ruidoso and so we had to try our luck and just enjoy the race crowd, an interesting crowd to say the least. Somewhat a combination of a NASCAR and State Fair of Texas group but well behaved and fun to be around, except for the cowboy at the end of our row who talked non-stop for the entire 5 hours we were there. I think he used to be a woman. Julie's Dad befriended the young hispanic couple sitting next to him [from Midland no less] and the young woman helped Don plan his betting and come out ahead.
Coming back on Monday we, or rather I, had to stop at La Rinconada, which is the Ranch and gallery of artist Peter Hurd. Since I had taken three cameras on the trip I thought I had better be getting some photo shooting accomplished and my fellow travelers were kind enough to allow me this stop. The photo above is of the Hurds polo field in front of their old house, which is now the gallery.
A pleasant long weekend with family and some great vistas. Additionally we got to see the gamut in wildlife along the way including antelope between Hobbs and Artesia New Mexico, mule deer camped out right below our balacony in Alto and most interestingly several groups of wild turkey, one of which almost flew into our car while driving very high up in the mountains.
We're back from a short vacation to the mountains of New Mexico. Julie's folks are building a house at about 7,800 ft. in elvation in the Alto area of Ruidoso and so we accompanied them to check construction progress and to enjoy the cool mountain air and just to relax. With the day time temps reaching only into the 70's and the 50's at night we had a good break from the late summer heat of West Texas.
Besides checking with the builder, we mainly just bummed around during the days and constructed a monster crossword puzzle at night. A great way to relax. The highlight Saturday was a trip over to the Inn of the Mountain Gods the Apache Indian resort that I have not visited in over 20 years. And what change in those years. The resort is now nothing short of amazing, having grown in scope and quality since my last visit. I think that the Apache's are raking it in.
Sunday was a big race day at the horse track in Ruidoso and so we had to try our luck and just enjoy the race crowd, an interesting crowd to say the least. Somewhat a combination of a NASCAR and State Fair of Texas group but well behaved and fun to be around, except for the cowboy at the end of our row who talked non-stop for the entire 5 hours we were there. I think he used to be a woman. Julie's Dad befriended the young hispanic couple sitting next to him [from Midland no less] and the young woman helped Don plan his betting and come out ahead.
Coming back on Monday we, or rather I, had to stop at La Rinconada, which is the Ranch and gallery of artist Peter Hurd. Since I had taken three cameras on the trip I thought I had better be getting some photo shooting accomplished and my fellow travelers were kind enough to allow me this stop. The photo above is of the Hurds polo field in front of their old house, which is now the gallery.
A pleasant long weekend with family and some great vistas. Additionally we got to see the gamut in wildlife along the way including antelope between Hobbs and Artesia New Mexico, mule deer camped out right below our balacony in Alto and most interestingly several groups of wild turkey, one of which almost flew into our car while driving very high up in the mountains.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
New Orleans...Update
Thanks to Jimmy Patterson of the Midland Reporter-Telegram for asking me to expound upon my thoughts about my childhood home in New Orleans. The story online can be found here at My West Texas. Also I received an email from my brother Mark who used to live in Slidell, La. and Picayune, Mississippi while Deputy Director of NASA's Stennis facility. He relates that his old home in Slidell was probably destroyed but that his antique home in Mississippi survived.
We, the Bride and I, will be in New Mexico for the Labor Day weekend to enjoy the 70 degree temps and mountain scenery. Not to sound self centered but I hope that we don't see a TV while we're gone. The news is exceedingly depressing.
New Orleans..
It's hard to fathom the magnitude of the disaster in New Orleans. Can you image every single structure in your hometown affected to some degree, large or small, by floodwaters? It is incomprehensible to me and thus very hard to watch the news reports from New Orleans.
Very hard since I spent over three years of my childhood there. We lived at 6017 Perlita St. which is pinpointed on the map above. As you will notice the house is located between two canals and just south of the lake. Our house used to flood with 1-2 inches of water covering the floor with only heavy rains as the cause. I would suspect now that it is mostly under water. The waterway to the left of our old home is the Bayou St. John where I would fish almost everyday I could. I recall having to climb a 15 or 20 ft. levee, up and down, to reach the water. The canal pictured to the right of our house had levees as well and it is one of these that failed, probably not more than a mile from 6017 Perlita.
I pray for the best for all those in distress in New Orleans.
Thanks to Jimmy Patterson of the Midland Reporter-Telegram for asking me to expound upon my thoughts about my childhood home in New Orleans. The story online can be found here at My West Texas. Also I received an email from my brother Mark who used to live in Slidell, La. and Picayune, Mississippi while Deputy Director of NASA's Stennis facility. He relates that his old home in Slidell was probably destroyed but that his antique home in Mississippi survived.
We, the Bride and I, will be in New Mexico for the Labor Day weekend to enjoy the 70 degree temps and mountain scenery. Not to sound self centered but I hope that we don't see a TV while we're gone. The news is exceedingly depressing.
New Orleans..
It's hard to fathom the magnitude of the disaster in New Orleans. Can you image every single structure in your hometown affected to some degree, large or small, by floodwaters? It is incomprehensible to me and thus very hard to watch the news reports from New Orleans.
Very hard since I spent over three years of my childhood there. We lived at 6017 Perlita St. which is pinpointed on the map above. As you will notice the house is located between two canals and just south of the lake. Our house used to flood with 1-2 inches of water covering the floor with only heavy rains as the cause. I would suspect now that it is mostly under water. The waterway to the left of our old home is the Bayou St. John where I would fish almost everyday I could. I recall having to climb a 15 or 20 ft. levee, up and down, to reach the water. The canal pictured to the right of our house had levees as well and it is one of these that failed, probably not more than a mile from 6017 Perlita.
I pray for the best for all those in distress in New Orleans.
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Banner Photos....
I look at the photos in the top banner logo on this site daily. It occurs to me occasionally that perhaps some readers wonder who the folks are in the pictures. Perhaps you can't see them clearly or just don't know. So let me tell you.......
From the left the pictures are 1] Julie and me with Gen. Tommy Franks taken a year of so ago in Midland. We were presenting him with one of the photos that Joe Galloway and I sell online. 2] Me with Gen. Hal Moore and Joe Galloway at a book signing at Ft. Hood 3 years ago. Hal was played by Mel Gibson in the film "We Were Soldiers", Joe was portrayed by Barry Pepper. Hal and Joe wrote the book the movie is based upon. 3] Julie and me with Bruce Crandall and wife Arlene in Midland 2 years ago. Bruce was the helicopter pilot in "We Were Soldiers" and was played by Greg Kinnear. 4] Me with Chuck Yeager at the CAF. Chuck was, as you know, the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound. 5] Me with actor Sam Elliott in Washington D.C. 4 years ago. Sam starred in "We Were Soldiers" playing the role of SGM Plumely. 6] Julie and me with Pat Simmons, founder and lead guitarist of The Doobie Brothers. Taken in Odessa last summer. 7] Finally, me with Mike Hossack, drummer for The Doobie Brothers.
And the Picture of the Day is a breathtaking shot of a bridge over the Mississippi River near, I believe, Natchez Mississippi taken in 1964. Note the paddle wheel steamer under the bridge. Even as a young photographer I had a knack for the good shot!
I look at the photos in the top banner logo on this site daily. It occurs to me occasionally that perhaps some readers wonder who the folks are in the pictures. Perhaps you can't see them clearly or just don't know. So let me tell you.......
From the left the pictures are 1] Julie and me with Gen. Tommy Franks taken a year of so ago in Midland. We were presenting him with one of the photos that Joe Galloway and I sell online. 2] Me with Gen. Hal Moore and Joe Galloway at a book signing at Ft. Hood 3 years ago. Hal was played by Mel Gibson in the film "We Were Soldiers", Joe was portrayed by Barry Pepper. Hal and Joe wrote the book the movie is based upon. 3] Julie and me with Bruce Crandall and wife Arlene in Midland 2 years ago. Bruce was the helicopter pilot in "We Were Soldiers" and was played by Greg Kinnear. 4] Me with Chuck Yeager at the CAF. Chuck was, as you know, the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound. 5] Me with actor Sam Elliott in Washington D.C. 4 years ago. Sam starred in "We Were Soldiers" playing the role of SGM Plumely. 6] Julie and me with Pat Simmons, founder and lead guitarist of The Doobie Brothers. Taken in Odessa last summer. 7] Finally, me with Mike Hossack, drummer for The Doobie Brothers.
And the Picture of the Day is a breathtaking shot of a bridge over the Mississippi River near, I believe, Natchez Mississippi taken in 1964. Note the paddle wheel steamer under the bridge. Even as a young photographer I had a knack for the good shot!
Friday, August 26, 2005
Duchess.....
In mentioning my dog companions of the 1960's I would be remiss in not noting as the picture of the day, our other dog, Duchess. Duchess was our first golden retriever and the pet that gave my Dad a fondness for dogs that had not been there previously. Duchess was, like most golden's, a sweet dog and one summer she stayed at home with Dad while the rest of the family was on vacation in Missouri. Apparently she followed him around everywhere he went endearing herself to the lonely father.
We had Duchess during some of the same years as we had Frisky, mostly because my little sister, Susan, felt that since I, her older brother, had a dog that so should she. Duchess had one litter of jet black pups before she was "fixed" which must have been a big deal to me as I have a multitude of pictures of them from all angles and poses. They were extremely cute.
I remember the 4th of July that we kids were throwing "cracker balls" on the patio. Cracker balls were the little colored balls with a small amount of black powder inside that exploded when thrown against hard surfaces...like patio cement. They looked amazingly similar to Trix cereal. That's probably what Duchess thought the day she tried to eat one and had it explode in her mouth, a muffled pop. She was OK, but I don't believe that she ever ate anything off the ground again.
We had Duchess through my high school years and when I went away to college in 1967 little did I know that when I left that would be the last time I would see sweet Duchess. She developed a terminal illness and had to be released from her pain while I was away. I think even my Dad cried at her passing.
In mentioning my dog companions of the 1960's I would be remiss in not noting as the picture of the day, our other dog, Duchess. Duchess was our first golden retriever and the pet that gave my Dad a fondness for dogs that had not been there previously. Duchess was, like most golden's, a sweet dog and one summer she stayed at home with Dad while the rest of the family was on vacation in Missouri. Apparently she followed him around everywhere he went endearing herself to the lonely father.
We had Duchess during some of the same years as we had Frisky, mostly because my little sister, Susan, felt that since I, her older brother, had a dog that so should she. Duchess had one litter of jet black pups before she was "fixed" which must have been a big deal to me as I have a multitude of pictures of them from all angles and poses. They were extremely cute.
I remember the 4th of July that we kids were throwing "cracker balls" on the patio. Cracker balls were the little colored balls with a small amount of black powder inside that exploded when thrown against hard surfaces...like patio cement. They looked amazingly similar to Trix cereal. That's probably what Duchess thought the day she tried to eat one and had it explode in her mouth, a muffled pop. She was OK, but I don't believe that she ever ate anything off the ground again.
We had Duchess through my high school years and when I went away to college in 1967 little did I know that when I left that would be the last time I would see sweet Duchess. She developed a terminal illness and had to be released from her pain while I was away. I think even my Dad cried at her passing.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Frisky......
As I may have mentioned, my Mother was recently cleaning out the office in their home and came upon a box of my old mementoes which contained news clippings about me, letters to and from them, but mainly a treasure trove of old photos. Some of these photos I had not seen in probably 30 years, some perhaps longer.
Of special interest were photos taken on my first Kodak Brownie camera which used the old 140 type film that produced smallish, square black and white snapshots. I was 11 or 12 years old when I snapped these images of dogs past, trips to New Mexico, and the backyard on Douglas Ave. as it was when we first moved to Midland in 1960. Sometimes when I stare at these old remembrances I really almost go into a trance thinking of the way things were then. Sometimes I almost want to cry.
I will share some of these memories with you and for my Picture of the Day this Wednesday I present you with my dog and boon companion Frisky. We got Frisky when we lived in New Orleans in 1957. In those simpler times kids and dogs could and did roam freely in the extended neighborhood and so Frisky was with me everywhere. I remember riding my bike daily to the Bayou St. John with Fisky running right at my side while my friend Mike Lancaster and his dog Rex followed along.
In the 1950's dogs were let out front to roam and somehow always seemed to come home. Usually there were no problems but when I saw Frisky's picture once again after all those years I was reminded that once he did get hit by a car while out. He managed to make it home and then spent a week under my parents bed. When he came out he was fully recovered from the collision.
Frisky moved with us to Midland and seemed to love it here in West Texas, espcially after he learned to scale the cinderblock wall encircling the backyard. He could walk on the top of the wall like a trapeze artist and soon learned that if he walked all the way around the fence he could access the roof of the house. Thus, Frisky spent many a happy hour perched on the top of the house surveying his neighborhood domain.
Frisky was with us a long time, but I'm ashamed to say I can't remember exactly how long....when it was that he passed away. As I grew into my teenaged years I probably spent less and less time with him and thinking about that makes me very sad. I try to do better with my dogs as an adult.
As I may have mentioned, my Mother was recently cleaning out the office in their home and came upon a box of my old mementoes which contained news clippings about me, letters to and from them, but mainly a treasure trove of old photos. Some of these photos I had not seen in probably 30 years, some perhaps longer.
Of special interest were photos taken on my first Kodak Brownie camera which used the old 140 type film that produced smallish, square black and white snapshots. I was 11 or 12 years old when I snapped these images of dogs past, trips to New Mexico, and the backyard on Douglas Ave. as it was when we first moved to Midland in 1960. Sometimes when I stare at these old remembrances I really almost go into a trance thinking of the way things were then. Sometimes I almost want to cry.
I will share some of these memories with you and for my Picture of the Day this Wednesday I present you with my dog and boon companion Frisky. We got Frisky when we lived in New Orleans in 1957. In those simpler times kids and dogs could and did roam freely in the extended neighborhood and so Frisky was with me everywhere. I remember riding my bike daily to the Bayou St. John with Fisky running right at my side while my friend Mike Lancaster and his dog Rex followed along.
In the 1950's dogs were let out front to roam and somehow always seemed to come home. Usually there were no problems but when I saw Frisky's picture once again after all those years I was reminded that once he did get hit by a car while out. He managed to make it home and then spent a week under my parents bed. When he came out he was fully recovered from the collision.
Frisky moved with us to Midland and seemed to love it here in West Texas, espcially after he learned to scale the cinderblock wall encircling the backyard. He could walk on the top of the wall like a trapeze artist and soon learned that if he walked all the way around the fence he could access the roof of the house. Thus, Frisky spent many a happy hour perched on the top of the house surveying his neighborhood domain.
Frisky was with us a long time, but I'm ashamed to say I can't remember exactly how long....when it was that he passed away. As I grew into my teenaged years I probably spent less and less time with him and thinking about that makes me very sad. I try to do better with my dogs as an adult.
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Down at the FUMC...
Things were hopping down at the First United Methodist Church [the FUMC] this morning. By the way it's the 120th anniversary of the FUMC this year which may not seem like a long time if you live in England but in West Texas anything that's been around for 120 years is a big deal. Those Methodists ranchers were a devout lot and led the pack in setting up a church. The Presbyterian sheep herders weren't far behind.
People make a church and I had to laugh at several comments made to the person seated in front of us this morning. We were seated far to the rear in order that Julie could make an early exit in order to go home and start dinner for our parents who were coming over at noon. The older gentlemen in the next pew was by himself, but apparently he was not without a bevy of good buddies. One man passed him by, stopped, and then came back and said, "hey Bill good to see you......when did you get out of jail"? Shortly thereafter another older man strolled by and casually said to Bill, "you know you'd get a lot more out of this if you'd move to a pew near the front". Good natured banter which just struck me as humorous.....
And now a feature not seen in a long time, the "picture of the day". Or, perhaps better titled, "the picture of whenever I feel like putting a new one up". The POD can be found at: Stream Views
Things were hopping down at the First United Methodist Church [the FUMC] this morning. By the way it's the 120th anniversary of the FUMC this year which may not seem like a long time if you live in England but in West Texas anything that's been around for 120 years is a big deal. Those Methodists ranchers were a devout lot and led the pack in setting up a church. The Presbyterian sheep herders weren't far behind.
People make a church and I had to laugh at several comments made to the person seated in front of us this morning. We were seated far to the rear in order that Julie could make an early exit in order to go home and start dinner for our parents who were coming over at noon. The older gentlemen in the next pew was by himself, but apparently he was not without a bevy of good buddies. One man passed him by, stopped, and then came back and said, "hey Bill good to see you......when did you get out of jail"? Shortly thereafter another older man strolled by and casually said to Bill, "you know you'd get a lot more out of this if you'd move to a pew near the front". Good natured banter which just struck me as humorous.....
And now a feature not seen in a long time, the "picture of the day". Or, perhaps better titled, "the picture of whenever I feel like putting a new one up". The POD can be found at: Stream Views
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
 | School Daze..... It's back to class time at St. Ann's Catholic School. Starting one day before the public schools, it does seem like the summer vacation was very short and had just started. It went quickly. Julie and Jack were off to England for two weeks right out of the chute, then Jack and I made an effort to play tennis in the mornings, followed by Jack's visit at his Dad's for two weeks and then with a little piddling around time, vacation is over. Being of the "old school" it does seem to me that ending summer vacation in the middle of August is a tad too early. Of course being "old school" means I went to an old school, one without air-conditioning which made it all but impossible to attend classes in August. |
This year Jack is starting the 6th grade at St. Ann's. A time of some reflection for me, since my family moved to Midland between my 5th and 6th grade years and I started school for the first time here at Bowie Elementary which was, and still is, just down the street from my house. I have returned to the old neighborhood and so still get to see the children strolling down the same sidewalks as did I all those years ago. But Jack is a St. Ann's kid and proud of it. This year he gets more choices in his uniform attire, between red, green or blue shirts. The younger kids have to wear yellow. A choice in colors is a newly acquired status symbol for a young man growing up. And he has grown just this summer looking noticeably taller and more, dare I say, teenager like. Even my Mother mentioned his growth spurt. Tonight we will stand him up against the back of the door in his room, mark his height and compare it to last years altitude. I'm thinking the gain will be an inch or more.
I hope Jack's year in the 6th grade will be as memorable as mine, I came away with many blessings. We still talk about my teacher Ms. Lucia Pearl Penny, a professional old maid school teacher who loved her kids. In those days we said the pledge of allegiance with no qualms and the last thing we did before going to lunch was to listen to Paul Harvey News on the radio. We knew the rest of the story. I met two of my lifelong best friends that 6th grade year at Bowie Elementary and learned my love of art there too. I was on the committee charged with drawing a full length mural on the wall [OK, on paper on the wall] depicting the history of Midland. I learned perspective on the project. No, not philosophical perspective, but how to draw using perspective to correctly show distance.
Oh to be back in those simpler times. Enjoy yourself Jack!
Sunday, August 14, 2005
When it rains, it....deluges!
Mid to late August in West Texas is normally the driest time of the year. The dog days where during many years one is lucky to see a cloud. It has been that way for the last 8 or so years accentuated by the drought we had been in.
I say had because as I sit here on a Sunday afternoon it has just rained almost 1.5 inches at the Bedford Dr. estate. This in the last hour or so, on top of the half an inch we had accumulated since the early morning hours. Fire crews are out rescuing inattentive drivers, the draw is overflowing and more rain is expected.
Normally I would rejoice in the deluge and the goodness it brings to the land, but the Bride and son are driving back from New Mexico in the yellow bug and I fret about their well being. At least her Dad and Mom are on the road with them in another larger vehicle, but the flat lands are notorious for flooding even in remote stretches. I pray that the Good Lord watches over them.....more later.
5:30 update: The bride just phoned and she and Jack are safely back inside the city limits of Midland. Thank you Lord, and now the rain gauge out back reads, 2.5 inches!
Mid to late August in West Texas is normally the driest time of the year. The dog days where during many years one is lucky to see a cloud. It has been that way for the last 8 or so years accentuated by the drought we had been in.
I say had because as I sit here on a Sunday afternoon it has just rained almost 1.5 inches at the Bedford Dr. estate. This in the last hour or so, on top of the half an inch we had accumulated since the early morning hours. Fire crews are out rescuing inattentive drivers, the draw is overflowing and more rain is expected.
Normally I would rejoice in the deluge and the goodness it brings to the land, but the Bride and son are driving back from New Mexico in the yellow bug and I fret about their well being. At least her Dad and Mom are on the road with them in another larger vehicle, but the flat lands are notorious for flooding even in remote stretches. I pray that the Good Lord watches over them.....more later.
5:30 update: The bride just phoned and she and Jack are safely back inside the city limits of Midland. Thank you Lord, and now the rain gauge out back reads, 2.5 inches!
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Miss Ellie....
Barbara Bel Geddes, Miss Ellie, is gone. Barbara died Monday at the age of 82. Miss Ellie was the only consistantly good hearted soul on "Dallas", only losing her cool when one of her family members got completely out of control...which come to think of it was at least once an episode.
Dallas was a smarmy soap opera and now days I would probably not watch something of it's ilk. But when it originally aired I was a resident of Dallas [the city not the show] and the filming occured at many locales I was very familiar with including the First International Building which was where the Ewing Oil empire was based. I was based there too. In fact the real estate company that I worked for leased the building and so, many times, we could get great viewing opportunities of the filming when the general public was excluded. I don't think I ever saw Miss Ellie [she wasn't usually invited to the Ewing offices!] but I did see J.R. [Larry Hagman] and Bobby [Patrick Duffy] and Cliff Barnes [Ken Kercheval] on many occasions when they were filming street scenes in front of the building.
I once ran into Larry Hagman at a country and western bar on the Greenville Ave. strip. The name of the bar escapes me though I remember it was at the corner of Greenville and Lovers Lane. Larry was in rare form making the rounds of the tables handing out "J.R. Bucks", fake one dollar bills with his picture in place of Washington's. Fun times though I, and I think Larry, have given up that wilder side of life. It's interesting to catch "Dallas" reruns sometimes today and remember my life in Big D in the early 80's. Miss Ellie was a part of that and Barbara Bel Geddes seemed like such a nice woman among a pack of thieves. Thanks for the memories.
Barbara Bel Geddes, Miss Ellie, is gone. Barbara died Monday at the age of 82. Miss Ellie was the only consistantly good hearted soul on "Dallas", only losing her cool when one of her family members got completely out of control...which come to think of it was at least once an episode.
Dallas was a smarmy soap opera and now days I would probably not watch something of it's ilk. But when it originally aired I was a resident of Dallas [the city not the show] and the filming occured at many locales I was very familiar with including the First International Building which was where the Ewing Oil empire was based. I was based there too. In fact the real estate company that I worked for leased the building and so, many times, we could get great viewing opportunities of the filming when the general public was excluded. I don't think I ever saw Miss Ellie [she wasn't usually invited to the Ewing offices!] but I did see J.R. [Larry Hagman] and Bobby [Patrick Duffy] and Cliff Barnes [Ken Kercheval] on many occasions when they were filming street scenes in front of the building.
I once ran into Larry Hagman at a country and western bar on the Greenville Ave. strip. The name of the bar escapes me though I remember it was at the corner of Greenville and Lovers Lane. Larry was in rare form making the rounds of the tables handing out "J.R. Bucks", fake one dollar bills with his picture in place of Washington's. Fun times though I, and I think Larry, have given up that wilder side of life. It's interesting to catch "Dallas" reruns sometimes today and remember my life in Big D in the early 80's. Miss Ellie was a part of that and Barbara Bel Geddes seemed like such a nice woman among a pack of thieves. Thanks for the memories.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Friends....update
This morning I received a personal call from the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the honorable Gordon Mansfield. Gordon and I had a very nice conversation and I could tell that Gordon is as sincere as they come about doing the right things for veterans. He promised to personally look into my case. I cannot ask for more. I hope to have the privelage of meeting Gordon at the Ia Drang reunion in Washington over the upcoming Veterans Day weekend.
This morning I received a personal call from the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the honorable Gordon Mansfield. Gordon and I had a very nice conversation and I could tell that Gordon is as sincere as they come about doing the right things for veterans. He promised to personally look into my case. I cannot ask for more. I hope to have the privelage of meeting Gordon at the Ia Drang reunion in Washington over the upcoming Veterans Day weekend.
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