Category: Amazing Things

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

Two Of The Men That Were My Mentors

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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.

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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.

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

The Phantom Gambler or The Suitcase Man

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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

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

Fossil Limestone Building Cladding

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On many high rise buildings around Texas (and as far away as Washington DC) this type of stone cladding has been used. It’s fossilized appearance gives it a very distinctive look. It has been used for decades on schools, museums, office buildings and even the San Jacinto Monument. It is mostly referred to Cordova Fossil Stone (trade-name). It seems to be mostly all quarried out now, with other types of stone taking over. While it was a very unique stone, it tended to turn black in color over time, leaving a less than desirable appearance. (first photo) There were several … Continue reading Fossil Limestone Building Cladding

Amazing Things, My Family, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Shopping For Great Gifts

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Back in 1973 my wife was looking for the perfect gift for me for Christmas. She always shopped early, instead of waiting until the last minute. Usually she had everything wrapped up by the week after Thanksgiving. She looked and looked, going to every shopping mall in Austin. She thought, “it isn’t easy buying for the man that has everything”. I was 21 years old with lots of money to throw around (Cough…Cough…Cough) so I had a habit of buying whatever I wanted, leaving nothing for her to buy me. I don’t remember exactly what I received that year for … Continue reading Shopping For Great Gifts

Amazing Things, My Family, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Cecil & Bonnie Gay Lewis

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76 years ago today, my dad took my mother to be his wife. She was 15 years old. He was 23. Did she have any idea what was ahead for her? She passed away after 42 years of marriage, just short of turning 57 years of age. 4 years later he died at age 69. They spent their lifetime in Smithwick except for a little less than 9 years they lived at Jollyville, Texas – 1956 to 1965. They raised two knuckleheaded boys and then took on raising two adorable girls in what we call their second life of parenting. … Continue reading Cecil & Bonnie Gay Lewis

Amazing Things, Cecil Lewis, Crazy Times, The Jollyville Years, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

My Harvey Penick Story

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This really isn’t about Harvey Penick per se, instead involves his daughter. I used his name because it will grab ahold of just about anyone that has ever played the game of golf or has connection to The University of Texas. Mr. Penick owed a ranch down the road from us when Kenny and I were growing up down on the creek out of Jollyville. It was his weekend get away, but at the time of this happening (1963/1964) his daughter was living there. She had a German Sheppard Dog and a Collie. Us being goat people, we had to … Continue reading My Harvey Penick Story

Amazing Things, The Early Days, The Jollyville Years10 Comments

Swimming Holes on Bull Creek

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This is swimming weather. A hot and sunny afternoon like we have today transports me back in time. Before we moved back to Marble Falls, we spent almost a decade living near Jollyville in two locations. From 1958 until 1965 we lived down Spicewood Springs Road, where I’ve written about breaking Shetlands, raising Angora goats, playing with copperheads and rattlesnakes and had every kind of adventure young boys could have ever wished for. The beautiful Bull Creek meandered up through a nice peaceful valley from Lake Austin just below the Loop 360 – Pennybacker Bridge to the head of it … Continue reading Swimming Holes on Bull Creek

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, On The Job, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Hooking A Cutting Torch Up To Gasoline

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I went out to Las Vegas in about 1982 or 1983 to Con-Ex-Po. That is a trade show for machines and equipment in the construction and mining industries. You can see the biggest machines and all the newest innovations known to man. Anyone in my business will walk around in awe at some of the things you see. Nothing caught my attention more than a fellow at one booth that was cutting really thick slabs of metal. He was slicing through 2″ & 3″ thick pieces of steel like any one I’d ever seen before cut 1/2″ metal. It was … Continue reading Hooking A Cutting Torch Up To Gasoline