Category: The Early Days

On The Job, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Mr. Lawson Gibbs

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Mr. Lawson Gibbs was such a nice man. He was the head of the Water Department in Burnet for many years and was in that position when I worked all over town replacing water lines in the 1971 and 1972. The pipe we used back then was AC (asbestos cement) and was very fragile. Sometimes the pipe would break after being put in service as settling would occur. Most of the time in the middle of the night, it seemed. Madeline and I rented a room at the Arrowhead Motel. (That’s a whole other story) Many times I got a … Continue reading Mr. Lawson Gibbs

Cecil Lewis, Crazy Times, Kenny Lewis, The Early DaysLeave a comment

When We First Moved To Jollyville

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We left Smithwick in August of 1956. My brother, Kenny was ready to start to first grade early the next month. I turned 4 years old that month. Our dad, Cecil had just had a career altering run-in with Skinny Childers at Pure Stone, where he had been from the beginning of its existence. I guess Skinny had seen something in Cecil and had hired him as his right hand man to get the plant built and the quarry started. He even allowed Cecil to own and operate the dump trucks that brought the rock from the quarry into the … Continue reading When We First Moved To Jollyville

The Early DaysLeave a comment

Building Campfires

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When we were kids we played outside all year round. Weather didn’t seem to be that big of a deal. When it was real cold we just carried more wood and built our campfires bigger. In the summertime a small fire was built so it wouldn’t give off much heat. But on those cold days we’d take Tar Baby the donkey and pull up cedar stumps and drag fallen trees to the clearing out from the house where we had our fires. I don’t guess we were ever told we couldn’t build a fire. It kept us busy. Out away … Continue reading Building Campfires

Crazy Times, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Excuse Me Officer, But You Are Wrong

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In 1977 I was on my way to Houston from Austin. I was headed to an important meeting in downtown Houston. When I got the Brenham, several cars flashed their lights indicating an officer was up ahead. I slowed and maintained the speed limit. My radar detector went off indicating there was a cop up ahead. We met around on the east side of town and he immediately he whipped around and stopped me. He informed me that he clocked me 15 mph over the limit. I explained to him that he was as full of it as a Christmas … Continue reading Excuse Me Officer, But You Are Wrong

Cecil Lewis, Smithwick, The Early Days2 Comments

My Dad And Melvin Had Been Life Long Friends

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Melvin Heine and my dad, Cecil Lewis were just about as close as friends get. They were at one or the other’s house for coffee almost every morning. Whatever Melvin owned, my Dad was welcome to use and the same the other way. That also went for Cecil’s two sons. Melvin and his wife never had children. When Melvin needed help hauling hay, building fence or whatever, Cecil was more than happy to volunteer my bother and me. That’s the way friends were. It didn’t set right with me that hot summer day that Melvin thought we weren’t working hard … Continue reading My Dad And Melvin Had Been Life Long Friends

Kenny Lewis, The Early DaysLeave a comment

The Bank Depositor

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One day in the 1980’s Kenny was driving and I was the passenger. That’s generally the way we have always traveled. Who needs to listen to a bunch of belly-aching about my driving. Not me. So I didn’t have to watch the road and see what he was about the crash into, I decided to read the newspaper. There was a story that I found intriguing. It was about this new bank they were opening in Austin and they were only going to have women customers. Relating the story to Kenny got him all stirred up. “This Women’s Lib crap, … Continue reading The Bank Depositor

Meeting New People, On The Job, The Early DaysLeave a comment

John Charles Savignac Hall

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Charlie Was Always Welcome In Our Office When you are in the construction business, having visits from salesmen are part of the deal. Most salesmen find a way to show up when you are the busiest and then overstay their welcome. Not all, but many. When Charlie showed up, I was more than happy to shove things to the side and set and visit. He was that kind of guy. He worked for Waukesha Pearce Industries, out of their San Antonio office, but stationed in Austin. We first met in the early 1970’s. He sold about the best brand of … Continue reading John Charles Savignac Hall

Crazy Times, The Early Days2 Comments

Never A Broken Bone

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Hey folks, can we make this about me for just one minute. As if I don’t have a pretty bad habit of doing just that. I’ve told about everything that has ever happened in my life. Almost. Every near miss. Miraculously I’ve never had a broken bone. In my story about going for the Army draft physical I told about crushing my foot. There we no bone fractures. The bones had what Dr. Allen called radial cracks, I think. There were bones that had longitudinal cracks but nothing fractured, if that makes sense. He bandaged my foot but no cast. … Continue reading Never A Broken Bone

Crazy Times, The Early DaysLeave a comment

The Smashed Finger

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It was a cold February morning in 1971. My dad had leased a truck out to a Trucking Company in San Antonio with me driving it. I would spend all week living in a small rundown motel, The Spur, that was along I-10 on the east side of San Antonio. The trucking yard was just down the frontage road. Most of the time I hauled equipment around San Antonio, but one afternoon I was dispatched to a steel company on north I-35 to load steel beams to go to a new building being built in Houston. I got loaded and … Continue reading The Smashed Finger

Kenny Lewis, The Early DaysLeave a comment

A Beautiful Jackie Kennedy or is it ?

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I only have one regret in bringing you this picture. That it wasn’t clearer and in color. He was wearing a nice red dress. Would you ever guess this was a 13 year old Kenny Lewis, on his way to a talent show for the end of school at Pond Springs Elementary School in Jollyville, Texas – May 1963. He was a very attractive Jackie Kennedy, the First Lady of the United States. I promise if I run across a better photo, I’ll post it. He was smokin hot. Continue reading A Beautiful Jackie Kennedy or is it ?