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Marble Falls and the Area Around it., UncategorizedLeave a comment

Grease, The Movie And David’s Mishap At The Marble Falls Rodeo

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The year was 1978. It was July, Rodeo Time in Marble Falls. Shirley, my sister in law was staying with Madeline and me in Austin. The movie “Grease” had just been release. We had a 4 year old Matthew and a 1 year Michael. Shirley was wanting to see John Travolta swiveling his hips, so it was decided that I was a better choice to accompany her to the movie down on Riverside Drive, than to stay home and keep order with those children. We were sitting there enjoying the movie when a theater worker came down the aisle announcing … Continue reading Grease, The Movie And David’s Mishap At The Marble Falls Rodeo

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It Worked Every Time I Heard My Old Friend Dink Say it.

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When paying out at a coffee shop. Dink: Hey Baby, did you know they aren’t making those wooden toothpicks any longer. Sweet Innocent Cashier: Oh really !! Dink: If they make em any longer, they won’t fit in that little dispenser you got here. Yes, Ida Baylor & Dan Smith he would say that and many other things.Of course many of the things he’s say to the waitresses would have gotten nearly any other guy slapped, but not Dink. They’d giggle and just go with it. Continue reading It Worked Every Time I Heard My Old Friend Dink Say it.

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, On The Job, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and Musings, UncategorizedLeave a comment

My Memorial Day Memory – 1981

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Memorial Day is a time for reflection and to honor those Military Person’s that gave the ultimate sacrifice for this wonderful nation. But 40 years ago Memorial Day was marked by devastation to parts of Austin, like nothing some of us had ever lived through. The story below tells my personal experience that day. During the early morning hours parts of Austin received 11 inches of rain in the span of 3 hours. I have no doubt that one of the highest elevations around, Jester Mountain received that much rain or close to it. We were building what is now … Continue reading My Memorial Day Memory – 1981

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Leona May Purcell Lewis

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She was known by many names. Leona, Nonie, Aunt Nonie, Maw-Maw, which turned into Maw-Maw Nonie to Kenny and me somewhere along the way. She had a nickname that her Daddy called her by. She and I spent a lifetime of me asking her what it was and her telling me I’d never find out. In her later years I was talking to one of her sisters and posed a question in such a way that she blurted out the name. When I got back to her, I called her by that name. She was surprised that I’d found out. … Continue reading Leona May Purcell Lewis

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Winfield and the Farming Enterprise

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When Winfield left Austin on shaky ground with me, and many others may I add, he ended up in Oklahoma for a short time. Doing what? Trying to go into the Utilities Construction Business. That venture didn’t make it far, but I wasn’t surprised. One day when he was coming through Austin from Oklahoma he called and wanted to stop for a visit. We agreed to meet at one of my jobsites. I had just purchased a micro-cassette recorder and was playing with it when Winfield drove up. Knowing that I was going to hear some wild stories that I … Continue reading Winfield and the Farming Enterprise

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Nelson Took A Tumble

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We were on a project in the early 70s between 12th and 32nd St, installing new water and wastewater lines all up and down I-35. We were moving water and wastewater lines for an expansion of Interstate 35. It was one of the most difficult projects I have ever been involved in. Nelson Lewis had a very sharp mind and could figure out these difficult jobs and how best to make everything work. Nelson was a great person to study under and learn the business from. I will always be thankful that I got my start working for him. Most … Continue reading Nelson Took A Tumble

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Ross Bros. Horse & Mule Company

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This was a business that was located at the Fort Worth Stockyards. The barns were wooden and destroyed by a fire on March 14, 1911. It was rebuilt using concrete and steel at a price of $300,000 and were said to be among the finest stables in the world. The Ross Brothers – Waddy, Sam & R.E. became very wealthy selling horses and mules during World War I, sending them to Europe. Once again they sold many more during WW II. Continue reading Ross Bros. Horse & Mule Company

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San Antonio’s Union Stockyards

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Below is about the best article I’ve found on the history of the SA Union Stockyards that has now been closed for more than 15 years. From The Houston Chronicle: “Union Stock Yards says goodbye after 112 years in San Antonio” John W. Gonzalez | April 22, 2001 SAN ANTONIO — After 112 years as a landmark of the South Texas cattle industry, the Union Stock Yards held its final auction last week, giving workers and well-wishers one last chance to savor its colorful yet faded traditions. In an auction barn that used to witness thousands of transactions a day, … Continue reading San Antonio’s Union Stockyards

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Unraveling A Fifty Five Year Old Mystery

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I never thought that I’d be the one writing this. But I figured someone needs to. Not wanting to hurt anyones feeling or cause pain to anyone, I intentionally left out the names of those involved. Anyone familiar with the story will recognize it immediately and if you don’t, it shouldn’t make any difference to you. I find myself between a rock and a hard place telling what I believe is the answer to a decades old murder, a murder of a young girl that was killed in my hometown, when we were in the 8th grade. I am writing … Continue reading Unraveling A Fifty Five Year Old Mystery

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The Evolution of the Excavator Buckets We Use to Dig Ditches

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When I first started in the underground utility business, almost 50 years ago, excavator buckets were all flat bottom, mostly lighter weight buckets made for digging in dirt. We dug rock with them by day and welded on them by night. Standard Weight Bucket A Heavy Class Flat Mouth Bucket For some of our harder digging we started welding ripper teeth pockets on the back of our heavier buckets. The ripper shanks were used to contact with rock by curling the bucket inward and dragging the ripper into ledgey rock and even in blasted rock. They worked well most of the … Continue reading The Evolution of the Excavator Buckets We Use to Dig Ditches