Gulf vs. Sinclair

Virg Baugh operated the Gulf Station at 4th and US 281 (most likely it was still designated Texas 66 in those days) The owners sign above the door is somewhat obscured, but I think it says Johnnie Crooks. If anyone knows differently, please holler. Photo reads 1954  It seems that Mr. Baugh’s son in law, Chet Sayers came to town and started operating the Sinclair Station that was across the street and almost a block to the north. I don’t know who actually owned it at that time. I have heard that the arraignment caused some consternation in the … Continue reading Gulf vs. Sinclair

The Gifts That Mean The Most

I am a little sentimental about gifts that my grandkids give me, even more so of things my sons made or bought for me when they were small. One gift that dates back over 40 years, that I count as one of my most treasured possessions. It stayed out on my dresser for years, but somewhere along the way it got put in my sock drawer and remains there to this day. Most people would look at this prized possession and wonder why I have it in my sock drawer. The answer is simple. It was a gift this one … Continue reading The Gifts That Mean The Most

The Patience Of Job (like in the Bible)

I’m not professing to be a biblical figure, but always hearing that saying seemed relevant to this odyssey I’ve been on for over four months, while trying to get my sickly truck running. THE STORY I hired a young man to make what I thought was probably a simple and straightforward mechanical repair. But it turned out to be anything but. The last thing I’d ever want to do is harm this young man’s reputation. He seems like a very nice and knowledgeable person. I have told him it’s never my intention to leave a bad review, but it would … Continue reading The Patience Of Job (like in the Bible)

Grandma May

She was Judy Maybelle Clark Linebarger. She was my Great Grandmother. When I was a kid she lived with her daughters. It seems like she kind of moved with the seasons. It wasn’t because she wasn’t happy one place, but rather because she enjoyed all of her girls (all 4) and choose to spend her later years with each. At least that’s the way it seemed. The time I remember her the most was when she was staying with my grandmother Ruby in her home in north central Austin. Grandma May was a lady that never complained and was always … Continue reading Grandma May

Marshall Ford, Texas

Marshall Ford is where the Mansfield Dam is built on the Colorado River of Texas. Below are a couple of submissions I made a while back to Texas Bridges & Crossings – History https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hrm16 More about Mansfield Dam https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansfield_Dam My dad was one of the workers on the Mansfield Dam Project. Continue reading Marshall Ford, Texas

Back When I Used to Go Visit The Gynecologist

Don’t let the title confuse you. I didn’t have a sex change procedure or anything like that. In fact back then, I don’t think I’d ever heard of such a thing. It was about 1986. I had a big project one time in Southwest Austin that took me though the property of a well known Austin doctor of female parts. I guess after what he had been looking at all day, a nice trip out on his farm was something he deserved. He would want me to show him what we were doing and explain how we were we going … Continue reading Back When I Used to Go Visit The Gynecologist

Long Distance Calls

The younger folks probably have a hard time grasping that a call from Marble Falls and Burnet was long distance, and it cost money. In the early to mid 1960s we would listen to the radio station out of Burnet. Big Jimmy Palmer got in a habit of calling up to the radio station for contests they were running and to request songs to be played. He got carried away with it and ran up a pretty good phone bill, at least for those times. I’ll tell you for sure that Hannah Cox, his momma laid into him. I don’t … Continue reading Long Distance Calls

I Don’t Even Know Where To Start With This

From my previous writings, I’m sure most of you have figured out that I go off half cocked at times and do things that create my own problems. But I’m as innocent as a newborn bunny rabbit in this deal. As many of you know, my wife’s mother, who turned 92 a month ago lives with us, as she has alzheimer’s. She is still very mobile, as any 92 year old can be. She is healthy, always has a great appetite and is generally very happy. Her daughter, who is “Her Friend” is extremely attentive to her and is so … Continue reading I Don’t Even Know Where To Start With This