1974 was a really wet year over in San Jacinto County, Eastern Texas

About this time of the year, October 1974 took us down past Huntsville to do a drainage project. It was a new development on Lake Livingston called Waterwood. It was aptly named, especially that year. We were in a piney … Continue reading 1974 was a really wet year over in San Jacinto County, Eastern Texas

The Fire

Ruby Waggoner was my dad’s mother. She and my grandfather had divorced when Cecil was very young. He was raised by his dad, Theron and a host of aunts, uncles and his grandparents. Ruby Lee, Grannie Ruby or Grannie was a big part of our life going up. She lived in Austin and visited her often. She was one funny old gal that laughed a lot and made the rest of us laugh. Any time after I was grown and had projects around North Austin, I’d stop by even if for just a few minutes. One day she and I … Continue reading The Fire

How About Some Highway Talk, To Get The Morning Going.

One time when we were talking about borrow or bar ditches and crowns in the road, those terms are critical that make roadways safe during rainy conditions. That reminded me of another road building term. When you hear about the amount of super in a curve, (which I guarantee most of you never have) that actually is short for Superelevation. That is how much slope there is in a curve or how much tilt there is. If you notice racetracks have varying degrees of slope, depending on the speed that will be used during a race. A highway curve is … Continue reading How About Some Highway Talk, To Get The Morning Going.

Flying Down The Colorado

You can travel far and wide and not see prettier sites (or sights for the grammar police 😭🤣) than right here in the Hill Country. These were taken on a return trip from out in West Texas in Kenny’s Helicopter – Dec. 2009 (excuse the glare on some photos – shooting thru the bubble) I had a lease agreement with Kenny and could lease it when I need to look at projects that were farther away. Came in pretty handy. Flying right down the Colorado River to the upper end of Lake Buchanan. Continue reading Flying Down The Colorado

John, We Ain’t In Marble Falls Anymore

I posted pictures of laying pipes across Lake Marble Falls back in the early 1980s. On this forum my friend John mentioned in a post about things going so well on the pipes going across the lake that he, Belinda, Madeline and I took a trip to Vegas to enjoy our successes. Our flight was out of Austin. The plane had passengers on it that had originated in Houston. When John, the 2 blond bombshell’s and I boarded we looked back and our friend and fellow MF Classmate, Winfield was toward the back. With hand gestures we agreed to visit … Continue reading John, We Ain’t In Marble Falls Anymore

Preston Milk

Who remembers the fleet of Preston Milk Trucks that traveled US 281 from Burkburnett down to San Antonio, delivering raw milk in tankers and other products in refrigerated van type trailers? Seems like all the trucks were Freightliner Cabovers, painted a light blue color. They could be seen many times daily rolling down US 281. Sometime to break up the monotony, you’d see them traveling down I-35 through Austin. I think some also were going down into the Rio Grande Valley. They were running at least in the later 1960s and continued until into the 1970s and maybe later. They … Continue reading Preston Milk

Then and Now, a lot of differences.

An incident happened back sometime in the mid 80s that I’d all but forgotten. We took one of our many trips to Houston to watch the Astros play baseball and let the boys go to AstroWorld. We were staying at the Holiday Inn, at the corner of Loop 610 and Kirby Dr., which was a short walk to either AstroWorld or the AstroDome. This particular day we let the two older boys go to AstroWorld alone or maybe they stayed when the rest of us left. They were about ages 10 & 13. This is unthinkable in today’s terms, but … Continue reading Then and Now, a lot of differences.

Twin Oaks & Odas Jung

Below is a summary of Twin Oaks and its developer, Odas Jung. From their Website: Twin Oaks Associates, Ltd. is a privately held family business located in Austin, TX. Founded in 1953 by Odas Jung.  The company has prospered into an impressive industrial and commercial leasing firm still expanding to this day. Since Odas personally oversaw the building of the majority of his property, the company is familiar with every aspect of their business. In 1960 the son of Odas, Joe Jung, entered the business alongside his father. After gaining experience while working for the company during high school and … Continue reading Twin Oaks & Odas Jung

Remembering Oak Hill, Texas in a completely different time

Oak Hill was quite a place in its day. I suppose it’s lost most of it’s charm with all the building and a freeway running through the middle of it. I think of the place it was in the 60s … Continue reading Remembering Oak Hill, Texas in a completely different time