The PreCast Concrete Venture That Exposed Me To A Ponzi Scheme

The year was 1991. I had spent 20 years digging ditches and I thought enough is enough. The economy was in the crapper. The great real estate boom of the 80s was over and all the big water and wastewater lines had been constructed to the far reaches of the city and beyond in Austin. The future didn’t look so swell for our business. I needed a break. I thought it was time for some new scenery, so to speak. I had two groups of employees by that time. The old and the new. It was time for the old … Continue reading The PreCast Concrete Venture That Exposed Me To A Ponzi Scheme

The Rest Of The Trip To California

After eating the big ole hairy steak in Del Rio, Butch crawled back in the sleeper for some much needed rest. He had been on the road for several days straight. We were in his Cabover Kenworth that was powered by a 335 HP Cummins engine that was turn to something like an additional 100 HP. This truck was equipped with 4 x 4 transmission. Meaning it had 2 – 4 speed transmissions. To shift those transmissions you stuck your left arm through the steering wheel and shifted the front transmission while shifting the back one with your right hand. … Continue reading The Rest Of The Trip To California

Eating In Del Rio

I was a 17 year old kid, just growing boy. Butch Sayers got me to go with him to Marysville, California to deliver a truck load of Corriente Steers (Mexican Roping Steers). It was just over a year after this that I married Butch’s niece, Madeline and he became Uncle Butch. We left Marble Falls in the middle of the afternoon in Butch’s Kenworth Cabover and arrived in Del Rio at the stockyards after dark. The trip had been sprung on me suddenly and I didn’t have a chance to eat before we left. I mentioned to Butch a couple … Continue reading Eating In Del Rio

My Mother In Law Has Been A Bad Influence On Me A Couple Of Times

I have professed that I have chosen to drink very little alcohol in my “adult life”. I think I’ve even said that it’s doubtful that any of my son’s have ever even seen me embarrass myself, at least from being … Continue reading My Mother In Law Has Been A Bad Influence On Me A Couple Of Times

The Car Business

I often talk about all the different cars I drove when I was a kid. I may have shown up to school in a different vehicle just about any day. To say we were in the used car business would be an over statement. Cecil Lewis was an entrepreneur of his own kind back in the day. He dabbled in about anything that made a little money or kept his sons busy. Buying and fixing up used cars was but one of his ventures. In my early days working for Charlie Ulbricht, I watched him do body work out of … Continue reading The Car Business

The Lone Star Beer Wreck On The River Bridge – Marble Falls, Texas – 1968

Anyone remember the wreck on the River Bridge in Marble Falls back in 1968? A car traveling at a high rate of speed careened into the concrete and steel railing, knocking out a huge section. It was thought the car was traveling at 100 MPH, according to the speedometer being stuck on that speed at impact. (photo # 4) Note the number of full Lone Star Cans, left scattered about (photos # 2 &5) The driver was killed. That bridge had several cars and trucks run into it over the years. One, that I can personally attest to. https://angorachronicles.com/2021/01/23/the-wreck-at-the-south-end-of-the-marble-falls-bridge-2/ Continue reading The Lone Star Beer Wreck On The River Bridge – Marble Falls, Texas – 1968