Back in 1978 my company contracted to excavate for the new Capitol National Bank. It was the largest job of that type that Lewis Contractors had ever taken on. Considering it was excavating 30′ deep a full block square downtown Austin from 7th to 8th St. between Guadalupe and Lavaca and it was solid limestone rock it had its challenges. The only real way to accomplish a project like that was to blast. If I remember correctly, we did it in around 60 days. Considering the equipment we had to work with in those days, it seems remarkable to me … Continue reading EXCAVATING FOR A NEW BANK BUILDING

While it’s probably evident that I enjoy talking about myself, I have a few stories to tell that were told to me along the way. This one provided a good lesson, that proves up that things are not always as they seem. Years ago I had an accountant working for me that previously had worked for a wealthy gentleman over in Rockdale. GK was the accountant, Pete Coffield was his previous employer. Mr. Coffield was in almost any business where he could make money. His earlier years, during the Depression, he had a little money so he hired guys to … Continue reading Selling Firewood

Gk was my accountant for several years. I’ve mentioned him in a few of my other stories before. GK was so fast on a desk calculator, you’d think the keys were going to fly off. By the time I got to know him, he was pretty much an old drunk. He would shake a lot. But when he sit down and had a pen in his hand that man had the nicest handwriting of any person I’ve ever known. He had gone to a business school when he was young. He could do shorthand and took dictation at an amazing … Continue reading GK Worley And The Coffield Family

Not that anyone asked, but my favorite sandwich is a Reuben. I can’t tell you the first time I had one but I can tell you I’ve eaten a bunch of them. Most likely I’ve eaten more that I’ve made myself than all the ones from various deli’s and sandwich shops. We went to the Famous Katz Delicatessen in Manhattan a couple of weeks ago when we were there. There’s is very good. Actually the corned beef they have is what sets theirs apart. I was a bit disappointed that they don’t grill the bread. But with the quality of … Continue reading Reuben Sandwich

As much as I have written about Dink and his ability to talk me into things, I was able to get one thing from him that I really wanted. He wore a lot of jewelry, including gold chains when they were the thing back in the 60’s and 70’s. He had a ring, a pinky ring that he wore. It was a really unique ring, gold with a brown diamond. A large brown diamond was a Calf’s Head cut, about the side of a pencil eraser. I knew he really liked that ring but I would always try to trade … Continue reading Dink’s Ring

There was a comment on another post this morning by ex-school nurse Jan talking about Ron Jr. leaving school when he wasn’t suppose to. I have no trouble buying into that happening. There was one morning in his 16th year of life that I wish he had left school for the day. Let me explain; Ron Jr. got his first car, a Ford Probe. It’s hard for me to remember now, but it was either within weeks, maybe days or possibly hours he totaled it out on a country road, driving way too fast and I’m certain he wasn’t paying … Continue reading The Challenging One

When I reflect back on the competitive nature of my brother and me, I know that one day we will both show up at the local Walmart and in our attempt to be the first through the door our Rascal Scooters will become entangled, turning over and we’ll both be laying on the sidewalk kicking around unable to get up. After telling the story about the Circling 4 Wheelers a few days ago, no one should have a doubt about the possibilities. The photo is something I found on the internet and not actually us, but it will at least … Continue reading It’s Only A Matter Of Time