Author: lewisotr

One Hell Of A Guy, If I do say so myself.
Past Angora Chronicles Stories, The Early Days, Thoughts and Musings1 Comment

Looking Back At The Civil War

lewisotr

I know the political climate in this country is poor at best right now. Please respect that this post is not meant to be a sounding board for any political persuasion. It is to illustrate something different. With our past there has always been turmoil with our government leaders and most likely always will be. I ran across something I thought was really indicative of how divided the country was over the outcome of the Civil War and its right there in the Marble Falls Cemetery. While researching a family name, that I think has long since died off or … Continue reading Looking Back At The Civil War

Cecil Lewis, Crazy Times, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Learning To Eat Foods You Hate

lewisotr

When I was about 13 years old, on a hot summer day Cec took me to a John Deere Front End Loader on the top of Taylor Mountain, as we always called it. From up there you could see Marble Falls, because you were up there looking down. It was far into the distance. I was clearing off the brush on several lots and then leveled them up for future building. It was early in the morning when he dropped me and I didn’t think about taking a jug of water. When noon rolled around I had never seen anyone. … Continue reading Learning To Eat Foods You Hate

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Funny Happenings, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

Why Did I Think This Would Work ?

lewisotr

Once or twice a week I go to a place for breakfast. Nothing is cheap anymore. But the menu has biscuits and gravy and for an additional amount you can get sausage crumbles on top. Always feeling that biscuits and gravy (or SOS) is a poor man’s breakfast, I never ordered it because $12 seemed a bit high to me. Of course adding $3 for sausage made it $15. I brought it up to my server a time or two that it seemed to be miss-priced. You can get a full meal deal breakfast for $15 and that’s what I … Continue reading Why Did I Think This Would Work ?

On The Job, The Construction Biz, The Early Days, Thoughts and Musings1 Comment

The Two Drifters

lewisotr

Back in the days when we were building the Guadalupe River State Park in 1981-1982 we had a lot of characters that worked on that project. One day a couple of guys walked up with backpacks on and asked for a job. They were probably about 20 years old with long hair. We had a bunk trailer onsite that had about 8 or 10 bunks in it. We let them move in. During summer and winter the guys mostly cooked out on a campfire or on a BBQ pit. They all would sit around the fire and tell stories and … Continue reading The Two Drifters

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Walter Yates – A True Adventurer

lewisotr

I never knew him personally, but followed him through writings in various publications. He first hit my radar through a friend we shared in common, Udo Haufler. I think Mr. Yates lived the life of adventure that many of us long for. Following is his obituary from the Austin Statesman that tells a lot about his life. For a detailed look at his life, his book Breakaway, tells about about his exploits. Obituary of Walter “Yukon” YATES1924 – 2015 YATES, Walter “Yukon”Walter “Yukon” Yates, age 90, passed away March 2, 2015. Walter was born on October 19, 1924 as the … Continue reading Walter Yates – A True Adventurer

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Funny Happenings, In and Around Austin, The Construction BizLeave a comment

Bill Tabor – Inventor and Hydronaut

lewisotr

I wouldn’t tell you that I ever really got to know Bill Tabor, but we were in the same type of construction business in and around Austin, back in the 1970s. I’d run into him from time to time. We both frequented the Jim’s Coffee Shop on Ben White Blvd and we would see each other and chat sometimes. Bill operated Travis Country Stables on Boston Lane out toward Oak Hill. He had his finger in a lot of things. He also operated a store, Tabor Town down around Cedar Creek. I read where Bill passed away back in 2017. … Continue reading Bill Tabor – Inventor and Hydronaut

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Two Of The Men That Were My Mentors

lewisotr

My Friend Dave I first got to know Dave Hampton in 1972. He was a successful underground utility contractor and very well respected in the business. My first subcontract was working for him installing water lines in Burnet, Texas. It was actually more complicated than that. I was a sub to another sub that subcontracted to Dave’s company. That happens in our business a lot. Ok if you aren’t too confused I’ll continue. Throughout the 1970’s I worked with Dave several times. He had an enormous capacity for numbers. I learned a lot from him. There came a time in … Continue reading Two Of The Men That Were My Mentors

Amazing Things, Another Daily Happening, Crazy Times, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

My First Day to Attend School in Marble Falls.

lewisotr

I went to school in a small 3 room school at Jollyville for my first 7 years. Starting the 8th grade in Marble Falls was the first and only time I ever switched schools. I had it pretty good over a lot of kids moving to a new school. I already knew a lot of the kids there. I had been around MF almost every weekend and summer for my whole life. Running around with Glenn Lewis gave me the chance to meet a bunch of people and be exposed to a lot of situations.Jimmy Frasier was the one person … Continue reading My First Day to Attend School in Marble Falls.

Crazy Times, Marble Falls and the Area Around it., Past Angora Chronicles Stories, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Teacher’s Pet

lewisotr

I wasn’t the most well behaved student in Mrs. Corkers 8th grade class. That year was the first and only time I ever had to change schools. I must have tried hard to fit in. I certainly got my share of attention, for a new kid. She was considered a good teacher, but was very stern. English was my most difficult subject. I didn’t like it, I didn’t understand it. Mrs.Corker didn’t take to students that failed to excel in English. It was obvious that the two of us were going nowhere, fast. One day during class, she was talking … Continue reading The Teacher’s Pet

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, In and Around AustinLeave a comment

The Phantom Gambler or The Suitcase Man

lewisotr

Who remembers the name William Lee Bergstrom ?He was commonly known as The Suitcase Man or The Phantom Gambler. Back in the high flying prosperous years of the 80s, me and several fellow contractors had a great propensity to head to Vegas a way to often. So when the William Lee Bergstrom situation came about, I was right in the middle of watching and reading about it unfolding. Following is the Wikipedia version of what transpired:Bergstrom was born in Austin, Texas and attended Austin High School graduating in 1969. He attended UT, but dropped out in 1974. His brother Alan … Continue reading The Phantom Gambler or The Suitcase Man