Inquisitive Quest

The Cessna 172 was making an approach to Kiowa, the flyover was heard within the confines of the Kiowa Service Company, Sandy Palmer, the office manager mentioning that it was probably Steve returning.  Steve Miller,  the John Deere dealership owner an accomplished pilot as was his brother John,  the flyover was an unspoken notice given for the need of assistance at the airport to berth the plane.  Steve having served notice that when available, Sandy could send a service company employee to assist the housing of the aircraft  at the  Kiowa airstrip.  Gary having assisted Steve on several occasions had recently acquired a new  responsibility,  the Miller brothers being  the primary consumer of the aviation facility was resolute in its upkeep and appearance, assigning the service company parts manager this added assignment.   Miller and several other local aircraft owners bestowed their craft in the small hangar facility.   Beside the mowing,  Gary found himself adjudging and replacing runway light bulbs, never observing a night landing,  having no idea that dirt runway even had lighting. Steve was adamant about keeping  the outer grounds mowed and manicured,   having good reason with his and Johns piloting of prospective customers from adjoining states to the John Deere dealership, it was good business sense, as a prospective customer’s first impression might be a lasting one.

The Kiowa Airport

Steve Miller wasn’t a home-grown local, Gary sensed that he wasn’t overly  appreciated by the Kiowa community,  his success in capturing a small rural John Deere Dealership known as Schubach Implement may have been the reason. Changing the name and building the business into the largest combine sales dealership in the United States may have inhibited some within the community to be invidious of his accomplishments.  The sales department demonstrating phenomenal prestige and success, the Miller Brothers,  Steve, and John and salesperson Larry Swonger having obtained  prominence with Deere & Company as the most prodigious company combine salesmen,  the three and their spouses being awarded for their marketing expertise with an all expense paid European vacation.  Gary discovering that the volume of  success required progress and alteration, installation by John Deere of an inventory control computer system,  a product of Texas Instruments.  The large encumbering apparatus, its size even dwarfing the service company’s Western Union teletype machine and with its installation came the time consuming  process of downloading all of the prevalent inventory.   Attendance in a classroom educational programs at the John Deere school facility in Wichita introduced Gary to the operating aspects of the new computer innovative application,  the era of a new age having arrived in this small rural agriculture community, no more inventory flagging  on the hand written parts index cards.

Ron Zahnter was a small in stature, but the only Kiowa John Deere serviceman that accomplished replacing a combines hydro-static transmission in the field,  its size and weight  normally requiring the formidable pulleys and chains of a shop application.   A request finding Gary mounting the forklift,  securing a pallet with the heavily laden  hydrostat from the warehouse,  transporting the burdensome transmission of all places, to the airport.  On arrival, the forklift driver finding Steve Miller and a number of the service shop personnel waiting.  Their purpose was to attempt to load the hydrostat into the rear of Steve’s 172 Cessna.  The improbable  became probable, a partial temporary disassembly of the passenger seat giving just enough clearance and with four stout mechanics maneuvering the bulky transmission to a placement in the rear seat area of the aircraft.   Bruce,  the newly acquired company pilot and Ron Zahnter preparing for a journey to Garden City to rendezvous with a custom harvesting crew awaiting the replacement and installation of the 7720 hydrostatic transmission.

Gary finding the events of Ron and Bruce’s flight to Garden City interesting,  not only because of the transporting of the transmission but because  it was Ron’s first flight in an aircraft and he was extremely apprehensive about flying,  even with a multi-engine rated pilot of Bruce’s stature.   The take off from the short dirt landing strip of Kiowa completed,  the Cessna 172 attaining a cruising altitude of 10,000 feet,  encompassing the 160 air mile journey,  the supercharged Cessna able to approach a cruising speed of  140 mph.   Ron was beginning to relax, the anxiety of his first flight starting to recede,  questioning Bruce about the remaining time to Garden City,  Bruce replying,  it would be another twenty minutes before reaching their destination.  Then it happened,  the steady consistent drone of Cessna’s engine coming to a halt,  Ron suddenly realizing a deafening silence and that the sound resonating from the plane’s engine  having stopped,  the only audio sound  he could accord was the presence of the wind,  its echoing whispers contacting the winged airborne structure.  Bruce’s first concern  was not the gliding craft,  but Ron,  his appearance now void of any skin color,  his eyes wide with panic.   The pilots first response was to calm  Ron,  a recollection of  an instructional  class about a similar  situations when a passenger loses all sense  and  attempted to open the door.  Bruce in a  sequestered voice,  not totally truthful,  telling Ron not to worry,  because of the altitude we have plenty of  time to appraise the situation, but to Ron it seemed like a life-time before a familiar sound came to life, the restarting of the engine.   Bruce having accessed a supercharger malfunctioning causing the engine to shut down,  Ron gaining some assurance as they descended, the Garden City Airport coming into  view.

The John Deere mechanic again on the ground,  a shaken but now an experienced flyer,  vowing,  his first flight would be his last flight in  a small plane.   Ron completing his assignment,  the hydrostat installed, Steve sending a service pickup to retrieve the now non flyer,  Bruce remaining with the Cessna  172  awaiting  the supercharger repair.  The pilot later relating the events, having an opportunity to pen the account of his episode with the aircraft and Ron,  submitting the article to the Aviation Safety, a monthly avionics  magazine,  the venture published for all to experience.

The  parts department at the  Kiowa Service Company wasn’t without its humorous moments,  especially when provided by a good natured parts employee and her attempt to drive Department Manager Gary Willson’s 1950 Dodge pickup.  An afternoon found a need arising to encompass a fan belt for one of the service pickups,  Gary initiating a call to the Jarvis Auto Parts store informing Gerald Elwood about the belt,  and adding that Kathy would be arriving to realize the purchase.

Kathy,  skilled at pricing work orders and cataloging sales for inventory control having worked for Larry Foster in the service department,  was about to leave when it was discovered the only company pickup available was the one requiring the fan belt.  So without hesitation,  Gary handed Kathy the keys to his 50 Dodge pickup stationed curbside, asking if she had driven a manual shift.  Kathy assuring him she had.  He observed from inside as she positioned herself behind the steering wheel, inserting the key in the ignition,   she remained seated,   the seconds ticking away, then stepping out,  returning inside.  With a bewildered look,  questioning, “alright where’s the starter?”.

Gary explaining, the starter was on the floorboard adjacent to the accelerator ,  just step on it and the gas pedal at the same time, making sure you engage the clutch pedal before starting  Kathy approached the parked vehicle for a second attempt, successfully starting the Dodge  but immediately shut it off once again returning inside with a question, “where’s reverse?”. Gary holding back a smile,  informing her that the floor-shift reverse was located all the way to the right and in the down position.

A return to the pickup finding the young lady again starting the Dodge,  attempting to back out, trying to turn  the steering wheel, then abruptly letting the Dodge coast back to the curb turning off the engine,  returning once again,  handing Gary the keys with a look of frustration mumbling as she walked away  “I can barely turn the steering wheel”.

 Gary realized her dilemma,  the pickup didn’t have any  power assist steering and unless moving it took a concernable  amount of strength to turn the steering wheel,  especially when parked on a downhill slant against a curb,  Gary with an inward smile deciding to pick up the part himself, applauding Kathy’s perseverance and determination in her attempt to drive the Dodge.

.  The household heat provisions at the Willson residence was being upgraded, the floor furnace was to be replaced.  A used central heat unit from Richard Guthrie’s barn finding a new home, a gift, Richard having found a more suitable barn fixture. The central heating units location being position in Jan’s craft shop area adjacent to the dining room wall. The air intake in the dining room,  the heat output would be ducted in a 8 inch ceiling trunkline to the front of the house, through the dining and living room, with branch lines to the two downstairs bedroom,  and floor registers to the upstairs hallway and 2 bedrooms.    Gary having formulated how to fabricate and fasten the ductwork, noting with ten foot ceilings there was plenty of clearance.

.  With the ductwork completed, the next project at hand was the installation of the metal framework for an acoustic tile drop ceiling.  Gary by chance making a discovery at work, rummaging thru the pulldown laddered upstairs attic storage area at Kiowa Service, coming across several partial containers of 24 by 48 inch white ceiling tiles, remnants from the office remodeling addition.  A believer in ‘nothing ventured nothing gained’,  he approached Steve Miller, asking if he could utilize the leftover tiles found in the attic for a ceiling project at home,  Steve not giving it any thought, affirmed his request.   To Gary’s amazement, with a small addition from Hood Lumber, the panels numbered enough to encompass the two rooms, the dining and living room ceiling’s now lowered to eight feet.

.  Jan was rather upset, Gary having just returned from spending a winter Saturday night in Oklahoma City visiting his estranged family, and friend Jerry Willis.  Jan wasn’t upset about the visit,  but about the weather, the temperature in Kiowa having dropped into single digits,  informing him that the temperature got down to 61 degrees in the house and that was with the central heat running continually.  Apparently the central heating unit wasn’t up to what was needed in the drafty non-insulated house, Gary pondering whether to invest in a bigger unit,  but came up with an alternative for those extreme cold days, a wood burning stove.  Having never experience the use of a wood burner or consulting someone,  he bought what he thought was a proven reliable stove, one that had sufficed for hundreds of years, a classic Ben Franklin, and confident with its installation it would provide the needed additional heat, but in reality,  it produced more smoke than heat,  and there was a chimney problem, there wasn’t one,  having run a hazardous single wall six-inch stovepipe up the side of the house that the wind played havoc with.

.   Gary discovering that Humphrey Implement was a local distributor of fireplace and wood burning appliances and accessories.  Visiting with Kem Humphrey, the dealer giving testimonial that he had just installed an air-tight Hurricane wood burner, with an electric blower system in his residence and was totally satisfied with it performance.   With the purchase of the Hurricane,  Gary address the chimney, kem recommending  triple wall eight inch insulated pipe running up the outside of the two-story old house,  Gary having another alternative plan in mind.

.  Father-in law Bud Murrow,  when being told of the idea shook his head, but agreed that it would work.  Gary deciding to run the triple wall insulated flu inside rather than outside of the house.  He would install it against the inside outer wall,  thru the ceiling,  addressing the upstairs floor at the far corner of  Sandi’s upstairs  bedroom,  and continuing thru the bedroom ceiling to the roof above.  The pipe residing in the outside corner of the second floor bedroom, requiring only a square foot of room space which would be enclosed with Sheetrock.   The project finished, not exactly kosher,  Gary concluding,  that someone was right when they said “necessity is the mother of invention”, and adding,  “at least the wind won’t play havoc with it”.

.  Jan having made it known that sometime in the future she would like to host the Apostolic Churches Sunday night Bible Study & Singing,  Gary having assured her the time would come, he was doing the best he could in getting the house presentable.  The Roth families residential heirloom face-lift seemed like a never-ending project, Gary having improved the interior, but the residence outside posture having set for years enduring the Kansas environment was worn and weathered.  Gary somewhat perplex about the undertaking the outside painting project, whether to brush it or apply it with a spray gun, deciding to approach Tom Wells, the recent hired Service Co painter about the use of a compressor and spray gun.

.  Tom instructing him on some basic  principles, and during the process Gary discovered that when spraying you could vastly increase the amount of paint required if you didn’t know what you were doing.  Not being an experience spray painter  he had second thoughts.   The brushing of the ship-lap endowed two-storied  structure  commenced, as it progressed Gary discovered with the steepness of the roof, a ladder was required to be laid upon the pitch to for him to reach the throws of the gables, not a secure experience and somewhat time consuming,  but once again innovation coming to mind.

.   Once again approaching  Steve Miller, this time asking about borrowing the company’s forklift for a couple of hours Saturday afternoon, explaining he wanted to use it to reach and paint the gables on the roof of his house, Steve looked somewhat puzzled but said  he didn’t have a problem with it.   With a 48 x 40 pallet as a platform, the forklift in position all that was needed was someone to operate the lift and horizontal control levers raising him the proper height and position, so with some thought an answer was found

.  His Five-year old son Robert having been diligently watching Dad’s preparations,  Gary sitting the young protégé in the operators seat,  instructing  the astute youngster on how to operate the lift and  forks forward movement levers.   His young son,  apprehensive at first,  but then acknowledging he could do it, a confident Robert sitting at the controls, following dad’s directions enabling the levers when told, Gary acquainting the reaches of the second floor gable.   The resolute Robert  beaming with accomplishment, the residence endowed with two effervescent coats of paint

.  The house now somewhat more presentable,  Jan able to host a Sunday night Bible Study & Singing.

69 Chevy with a tractor Ansel cab window.

.  The acquisition of the 1979 Chrysler New Yorker for Jan wasn’t without adversity,  its disposition wasn’t always amiable for transporting the many boxes containing her ceramic endeavors to the sales events. The 1951 Dodge Pickup having been christened to assist as a means of transportation which was satisfactory until the weather turned detrimental with a forecast of rain.  Gary coming to the conclusion that a search for a more applicable transportation was in order, the beckoning being answered by his friend,  Ron Zahner who just happened to acquire a 1969 Chevy Cargo Van from his younger brother Chad in lieu of payment for a financial allowance.  Ron having no need for the Van was more than willing to part with it.

.  The two coming to a conditional agreement, Gary offering Ron $250 for the van but the transaction would have to wait until he could sell the Dodge.   Gary’s  trust in Ron was absolute,  having no reason to doubt his pronouncement of the van’s soundness.   The Chevy was  powered by a 327 cubic inch large-bore, shorter stroke V8,  a mainstay for the Corvette in years past,  the endowed engine occupying a cab placement between two bucket front seats,  no other seating prevailing in the van’s shell encasement.

.  With the agreement to buy the van concluded, Gary placing a for sale notice in the rear window of the Dodge stationed curbside at the Service Company and within an hour Dan Luthi approached Gary inquiring about the sale of the van. Dan in the wheat and cattle business, his farm on the old Gerlane Rd north and west of Hazelton making a declaration, the old Dodge pickup was just what he needed for running fences.  Gary having given little thought to a price for the Dodge, keeping in mind Ron’s asking $250 for the van, a wild supplication came to mind,  how about $500  and to his amazement Dan reached for his checkbook addressing a check for the $500.  A testament of value to the 50 Dodge,  still having a life finding a secure home with a new owner.   Gary somewhat sadden to see the dodge go, he would miss it’s reliability.

.  Gary was impressed with the 69 Chevy van, the 3 27 engine was everything Ron said it was, but the new owner realized he had his work cut out for him,  having already pictured what was planned.  His first order of business was a journey to Alva Oklahoma auto salvage,  finding two thee passenger front seats from two old cars.  With the seats fastened to the floor in the rear of the van, the two person vehicle,  was  now an eight passenger convenience, and still having an ample rear storage area. The enclosed Chevy with its windowless double side doors,  was not very desirable from the two rear seated passengers point of view.  Gary evaluating a windows application for the van,  applying an innovative idea for providing a window for those seated in the rear two seats.   On the west side of the Jack’s Ford building was an area over grown with weeds  dissuaded with old tractor remnants,  amongst the rusted remains was the relics of tractor Ansel cabs.  Ansel a well known add on windowed cab manufacturer for older open air tractors, including the John Deere 10 and 20 series tractors

.  The inward opening Ansel cab windows and frames bolted to the cab, Gary finding the frame and window easily removed.   A metal cutting bladed  saber saw finding use on  the driver side panel of the van, rendering an opening for the Ansel produced window.  Bolting and sealing the frame,  with its safety glass window in place, the provisional application ready to provide a panoramic view for those seated.    A further enhancement to the van also decided upon,  a visit to Hood Lumber Company,  the acquisition of wood paneling to address the interior walls,  metal screws adhering the panels to the inside structuring metal joist.  Gary questioning Dale Hood about buying an old carpet remnant that he could use for the Chevy’s floor,  Dale once discovering the purpose of the paneling and the carpet,  relinquished a blue remnant at no cost. The weeks of resounding labor fruitful, the once quotient van now a formidable centerpiece of accomplishment, a final added crowning achievement,  Gary installing a used A M Cassette radio, mounting a six speaker sound system.

.  Unbeknownst to many in the community,  Gary had come to recognize that Steve Miller in many respects was accommodating and generous to his employees,  one being,  allowing them to purchase the company merchandise at cost and with a retail mark-up of 40%,  it was a benefit.   The Christmas season having arrived,  Steve funding a holiday company party for the employee’s and their family and besides a token Christmas bonus check each was provided both a turkey and a ham.   Gary never giving much thought to how the seasonal bonus check amounts were determined, assuming that the sales and service departments were the real income generating source and were rewarded as such. This was Gary’s first Christmas in a managerial position,  the acknowledgement of a Merry Christmas being accorded by Steve distributing  Christmas cards containing a bonus check.   Opening the envelope expecting a token $35 check as in the past, Gary was thunderstruck not expecting what he found, a $500 Christmas check,  realizing it would be a Merry Christmas.

.  Gary discovering although Robert and Sandi were a year apart one would have thought they were destined to mirror the footsteps of the other in  pursuing their academic travel,  but not thus far in life.  Roberts first introduction to school was abrasive,  he experienced a chastisement from his kindergarten teacher,  Sally Forester,  an involvement in a jostling action taking place in class.  The newly accredited students  in line for an activity,  finding a disturbance among the six-year olds,  Robert accused of the instigation,  a notification finding Jan traversing to the school,  the matter being resolved.   Sandi’s advent in her school debut not nearly as climactic as Roberts,  her luscious disposition, always amiable and attentive to those around her, finding a total acceptance from her classmates.

.  It was a normal winter Saturday afternoon,  the temperature finally accomplishing the 32 degree level,  the sun basking the south side of the residence with its warmth,  Jan having fired the large ceramic kiln in the garage.   Gary stepping outside the craft shop door,  noticing a gray haze emitting from the garage aperture.   Approaching and opening the door,  he was immediately confronted with an intense blanket of smoke, a sensing of heat and a reflected glow of flames.   Hurrying back inside the house alerting  Jan to call the fire department,  the garage was on fire.  Returning and opening the side door entrance, unable to observe because of the dense smoke, but could perceive flames being emitted from burning boxes across the expanse on the far wall.  Without hesitation he traversed the distance back outside to where a garden hose was connected at the side of the house,  a prayer that the hose was no longer frozen from the overnight temperature.  Addressing the gate valve and dragging the stiff outlay to the garage door, turning on the nozzle,  his prayers being answered, kneeling beneath the layer of smoke  he proceeded to spray the inflamed containers,  encapsulating them with a mist of water.

.  The sirens announcing the arrival of the Kiowa volunteer fire department, Roger Robinson evoking a large fire hose toward the open side door. Gary immediately arresting his entrance,  asserting him not to employ the high pressure hose,  as it would cause havoc with the stored ceramic greenware yet to be fired.  The smoke beginning to clear, Roger and several others of the fire department entering the scene of what could have been.  Accessing that the fire was out, it was only then that Gary realized what he had done, besides spraying the flames, he had unconsciously stood on a wet floor with a 60 amp kiln still firing, shutting it off,  thankful he wasn’t greeted with 240 volts.  On closer inspection, it was decided that somehow the kiln sparked the fire.  Its place in the garage was kept totally free from flammable items, apparently there was an electrical malfunction that provided a high energy arc,  sending a charge across the width of the garage,  causing the boxes containing the ceramic items stored  to ignite.  Upon a closer examination Gary discovering the tell-tale signs of an arcing heating element.  With a trip to Wichita for parts,  the kiln quandary soon found its production life back in operation.

.  The  epoch of the everyday,  having settled into a normalcy,  with Robert and Sandi’s school attendance, the day no longer finding Jan burgeoning with young ones.   Her Stateline Crafts having reached the pinnacle of success,  and the recently acquired addition of the Apostolic Christian Church housekeeping positions that Gary and her shared was beneficial.   Marvin Ott,  a major principal and president of the Bank of Kiowa posting a notice in the Kiowa News for a bank teller position.  With Jan’s job as a stay-at-home  mom, for the most part having come to a conclusion, deciding to enter the pool of applicants for the opening at the bank.  Gary wasn’t surprised when  she was welcomed as a new employee.

.  Gary’s  fulfilling another harvest season at the Service Company, the combines sales having reached an apex and started to decline.   An unexpected new development,  Larry Foster the service manage being replaced, although portrayed as a mutual agreed upon resignation, it was questionable.  Larry wasn’t the only change to come about, Gary being asked to recede from his management position, Steve Miller soliciting Steve McCreary from the Wichita John Deere dealership to assume the parts department managerial position.  McCreary and his wife Tudy moving from Wellington were also to open a Mexican restaurant in the recently closed Daylight Donuts building.  Gary finding his replacement  a very personable, good nature and laid back person, portraying himself as just a fellow worker to help in the parts department.   Gary discovering working with Steve an acceptable experience, no longer having the responsibility and lassitude of endless paperwork and the oversight of inventory.  His three years, two in management was an applicable learning experience and  didn’t feel slighted at being replaced, it was more like a promotion since there was no change in his pay check

.  The opening of a Conejos’ found it resembling a Taco establishment rather than a purveyor of Mexican cuisine.  Steve’s wife Tudy, a member of the Conejo family,  an implied prosperous  name in Wichita,  the owners of a very large and successful demolition and trash transporting concern, plus financing several family own Mexican restaurants.   Gary questioning his own perception of events,  it was well known that Steve Miller had financed the purchase of the house that Steve, Tudy and their two children occupied, and in all likelihood it was part of the contract for their relocation.  Needless to say there were always those spreading  rumors of seeing Miller and Tudy together,  Gary chalking it up to small town residual chatter because of Steve Miller’s past notoriety and indiscretions.   The advent of  Conejo’s  was an overnight success, Tudy having a keen business sense,  having managed a family establishment in Wellington.  Conejo’s in their rise to prominence promoted a causality, having an undesirable effect on the Dairy Bar, the only other fast food endowment in Kiowa, the  concern being evoked that its operation would desist,  the rumor becoming fact,  its closure inevitable.

. With the passing of time,  the real world persisted and the newness of Conejos tapered off,  returning  like a Phoenix, the Dairy Bar took flight again,  the hamburger and ice cream parlor opening with new management, Monty and Kay Blunk,.  Gary concluding that the surrounding world wasn’t  changing, it was evolving.

.  It was a preharvest extravaganza more than an open house, members of the local farming community and others from a distance attaining a presence,  many ferried in thru the avionics of  Steve Miller’s  Cessna 172.   The quantum staff of Kiowa Service petitioned to participate, each employee assigned as a spokesman in some capacity.   A capacious amount of comestibles,  roast beef,  ham,  a diversity of condiments,  soft drink refreshments,  iced beer acquainting voluminous tubs, and a more potent variety of bottled oblation established in the employee’s appurtenant, better known as the break room.   The structured shop buildings petitioned to provide stations of presentation for a multiple of John Deere productions,  including the complete line of 40 series tractors, the 7720 and colossal 8820 combines,  with its 30 foot wheat harvesting header.   Displays of plows, chisels, drills, the 346 baler and the new 8300 drill,  a shop employee commissioned at each station  with literature in hand,  answering the inquisitive questions.   It was John Deere Day at The  Kiowa Service Company.

.  The distant rumbling of mother nature was perceived within the two metal fabricated buildings,  but with little fanfare or acknowledgement,  the farming guest in attendance absorbed in the celebration of the gala event.   The intonation of the gathering storms rain could be heard striking the metal canopied roof,  at first a gentle patter of sound,  then an increasing intensiveness,  the resonance of thunder beginning to echo an increasing presence.   Still the ambiguous group displayed an unconcern,  then a change in plangency,  a pinging sound, then another,  the sound of hail striking the metal covering aloft,  lightly at first,  then growing in magnitude,  a noticeable vocal silence from the assembly as the volume of sound increased,  a concern starting to evolve.   Gary standing among the guest, perceiving a comment,  “these hailstorms are of short duration and will soon pass.”  

.  The intensity increased,  the reverberating sound within the metal structure reaching a fervent pitch,  then exclaimed  a fury,  the vigor of the sound asphyxiating normal conversation.   Gary struck with the magnitude of  sound,  his curiosity abounding,  approached the outside door and  with its opening, discovering the pelting hail blanketing the ground, up to two inches in depth.  Then an eerie calming silence except for the rumble of the thunder as the waning storm continued its journey, another destination awaiting its destructive ambiance.  The faces of those in attendance,  a silent reflection of consternation,  an aura of uncertainty as  the encroachment of wheat harvest was soon to commence,  but now a wonderment.   The once festive occasion, digressing to one of concern, finding an exiting of the local participants,  their flight to assess the storms adversity to their crops.

.  Jan’s parents,  her Aunt Esther and Uncle Charles Terry having left Kiowa to meet with her Aunt Leona and Uncle Melvin Weyeneth from Illinois.  The three couple to traversing  to  New York State  to visit  Lewis County and the first Apostolic Christian Church,   founded by the Benedict  Weyeneth in 1847.  Included in this visit would be the opportunity to partake of  a scenic journey to address the water expressway, The famous Erie Canal.  The day following the storm, Gary having heard reports of many losing their wheat to the onslaught of the hail, thought it best to drive out and assess father-in-law Buds quarter section of land.  A concerned Gary and Jan with the children in tow driving the Stateline road approaching the Murrow’s farm,  Bud having  seeded a 120 acres in wheat in the old home place location. 

.  On their way,  the family observing neighboring farms and the havoc inflicted on the already budding out wheat,  giving testament to its devastation.  Continuing on, a hope for supplication, but the view not promising.  Stopping at the home place acreage, embarking from the car,  finding a field of despair.    Venturing into the maze of broken wheat stalks,  the ground laden with the remains of a prosperous crop, a notice of scrutiny confirming the worst.  Gary ascertaining the path of the storm had discharged its raiment paralleling the Stateline, affecting an area five-miles on either side of the boundary.  The Murrow family wasn’t alone with the storms adversity as mother nature plays no favorites.   Later in the week Jan’s folks called to give notice they were on their way home, Jan informing them of the storm.  Once home, Bud like many others wrote off his crop as a total loss,  but with his crop insurance,  it allowed some redemption, providing a start for next year’s harvest.

Webstar television communication satellite

.  Kiowa basic cable television consisted of five channels,  three being the major networks, the other two, TBS and channel 13,  a public television presentation, HBO and Showtime being offered as a premium.  Gary finding the Sunday night Wonderful World of Disney presentation paramount to Robert and Sandi, but alas the network dropping the program with the announcement of the inauguration of the Disney channel, but it was not available on the Kiowa  cable.  Gary taking notice of an ad in the Kiowa News, C-Band satellite dish television had arrived in Kiowa.   Chuck Graves having established a plumbing service,  occupying the Schupbach Plumbing building on Main Street, erecting a mobile home residence just south of the water tower on highway 8,  adding an additional small building and positioning several satellite dishes adjacent to the highway for display,   Steve Miller was one of the first in Kiowa to inaugurate the new accord.

.  Gary having kept abreast of the new technology,  acquiring an interest,  deciding to meet with Chuck to satisfy his curiosity of how much a system would cost.   A discussion with Chuck immediately found the total expenditure exceeded what he could afford,  but further inquisition discovering a possible solution.  Graves explaining, the total cost wasn’t in just the application of the dish or its signal reception equipment, but an aggregate of size and other components.  Besides the size, the most costly being the automated motor acquisition and locking features, the system that located the satellite and  halted the dish when acquiring a broadcasting satellite.  Gary questioning,  the standard for a satellite dish being 8 to 12 ft.. in diameter,  did they manufacture an acceptable quality smaller dish,  the answer was an affirmation, there was an acceptable six-foot dish available.

.  Gary was hesitant with the second question, but it needed to be asked.  Do they make  a relatively low-cost manual device for rotating the dish rather than the automated and self-locking device.  Chuck smiling knowing where Gary was going, again affirming there was a much lower cost manual control available but he didn’t stock the product.  Gary concluding after comparing prices, by substituting a 6 ft. dish for an 8,  installing a manual control opposed to an automated self-acquiring application,  the satellite dish system suddenly became affordable.   Gary also discovering the amenable Chuck having restrained his profit margin in appreciation for being one of the first to come aboard his new  business platform.

.  Gary recognizing that the geosynchronous satellites were stationed in an area similar to the moving path of the moon and planets,  an unobstructed view of east to west southern quadrant of the sky needed.  He also soon discovered the Willson’s 11th St. residence was unacceptable for a ground level dish,  it seemed the trees on neighbor Jim Looker’s property was an arresting venue,  an innovative application would be required.  Gary fabricating a four-foot square platform on the  roof over Jan’ Stateline Crafts southern door entry, enabling the mounting of a dish stand,  a solvent solution to the obstructed view.  Chucks arriving,  Gary as a provisional assistant, the two firmly fastening the mounting stand to the provided platform, the espousing 6 ft. dish finding a home able to search the heavens,  a receptive introduction to a distant communication provider.

.  A realization having come true, the six-foot rooftop satellite dish acquisition fulfilled,  others including John Miller and  Larry Swonger adding their names to Chuck’s list of advanced technology host.    The satellite presentation providing  a broader spectrum of  programming with other geosynchronous  satellites.   Beside the premium channels like Disney , HBO,  and Showtime, was the ability to watch the unabridged network program feeds and behind the scenes footnotes before their scheduled viewing time giving one an insight to the inter-workings of the television networks.

.  A totally expanse of the television industry was at a person’s disposition, viewing no longer confined to the beckoning selection and cost of the cable company.  Gary concluding the dish wasn’t a symbol of affluence,  but one of accomplishment,  having discovered an unconventional way in fulfill what would in otherwise would have been a high-cost desire.

Bud Murrow new owner of a John Deere 95

.  An unexpected change,  the advent of a new service manager for the Kiowa Service Company, Larry Foster having moved on, the communal being that he desired to go in business for himself, the clandestine reason being,  a discordant with owner Steve Miller’s posture,  on warranties and other irregularities.  Gary having experienced Miller’s pressure to apply a warranty resolution whenever possible,  or even  manufacture a possibility,  Larry’s refusal to be part of this deception,  an added reason for his departure.

.  The Service Company was introduced to Howard  Williams, a middle age service department manager,  who was previously employed by a John Deere Dealership in Norman Oklahoma.  Gary,  as well as many of the Service Company employee’s puzzled over how Steve Miller came about finding Howard, but then again the same could be said about his hiring of Steve McCreary.  Like McCreary, Howard immediately sought  means to establishing permanent residency,  he and his wife  purchasing and preparing a vacant lot on the corner of South 9th and Robinson Street for a double wide modular home.

.  On the home front, Gary’s father-in-law,  Bud Murrow,  was prompted by his family to engage in something he had never attempted before, harvest his own wheat, the only problem was he didn’t have a combine.  Bud in the past, along with other members of his wife’s family,  joined together hiring someone to harvest the once Roth family sections of land.  Bud giving in to the wishes of his wife and daughters, approaching John Miller about renting or buying a used combine to harvest his quarter section of wheat.  John recently having  traded for a vintage 1960’s 95 combine that was in working order,  but in need of some minor repairs and an engine head gasket.  The two coming to agreement at a nominal price for what Gary thought might be the Murrow’s first and last time in harvesting their own wheat. also having some concern with his younger brother-in law Shawn Johnson,  who was working for Murrow construction at the time,  taking a quasi-part in the repairs.

The harvest event resembled more of a picnic than a serious harvesting endeavor, a family affair with the children and grandchildren all taking turns riding in the combine as it slowly progressed with its cutting endeavor thru the 120 acres.   The wheat hauling truck duties shared among the Murrow daughter Gayle Robb and son-in-law Shaw.  Gary unable to participate, his duty at the parts counter during the harvest weeks stretched into sixteen hour days.

.  Gary’s wife Jan entering Kiowa  Service  looking perplexed, it was nearing the final day for the family’s  95 combine to complete its appointed task.  Jan evoking that the combine had stopped running,  Shawn, Gary’s brother-in-law spending several hours trying to remedy its problem but to no avail.   Jan with a look of hopelessness  presented a question,  “could you do something?   Gary immediately thought of his friend Ron Zahtner but he was on a service call and unavailable.   A walk thru the shop area finding Keith Hoffman,  Jim Pulliam and Danny Callison,  all three having returned from service calls.  Gary relating the Bud Murrow combine predicament,  mentioning that Shawn  had attempted to resolve the problem without success,  the three all shaking their head, acknowledging they knew Shawn.

. Keith volunteered to make the short journey to Bud’s acreage, then Denny added his voice,  followed by Jim,  all three would participate.  Keith’s service pickup was full, with three mechanics,  Gary notifying Craig Brattin he would be out of the building,  telling Jan that hope was on its way before following the others.  The short excursion to the Murrow’s state line  farm accomplished,  the three journeyman mechanics discovering a solace 95 combine sitting in the field with a sulking  Shawn Johnson giving a summary of the circumstances,  and what he thought the problems was.  the three addressing  the situation,  Jim cranking the engine,  Keith and Denny on top assessing the engine problem.

.  Within what seemed like minutes a resolution was determined, with some skilled adjustments the vintage harvester came to life,  once again ready to fulfill its appointed task.  The task completed, Gary posing a questioned to three about submitting a work order,  all three just smiled,  “tell Bud the service call is on us”.

.  An inherent responsibility of the parts department at the John Deere franchised Kiowa Service Company, was to ensure the defective part for warranty were properly tagged, stored and the appropriate paperwork filed with John Deere for reimbursement.  The work order filed for replacing the part, a function of the service department.  With the hiring of Howard Williams as Service Department manager,  Gary soon realized defective parts and failures on inventory no longer under warranty, were documented as aspiring from tractors and combines still certified.  Included were other initiatives, Howard boasting that Steve Miller approached him with an  innovative way to boaster the number of hours on the hour meter of a leased combine, simply wiring  the radio to activate the hour meter when turned on.  It was discerned that many during harvest utilized youths to wash and detail the combines when changing locations, and in the process, the youth’s would listen to the radio, which would register on the hour meter.

. Battery warranties also became a concern, the John Deere warranty representative, better known as the Block Man,  would visually inspect the batteries for warranty,  marking them with red spray paint.  Gary observing a service department employee removing the marking paint with a high pressure hose,  enabling the battery to be submitted again at a later date for warranty.  It was rumored Howard’s  special talent was one that paid big dividends,  the reversing of an hour meter on a used tractors or combine,  done after closing hours so never witnessed, the changed hours silently confirmed by previous owners.   Gary confronting Howard about his warranty concern,  it’s miss application approaching the realm of theft, and at the least representing a defrauding of John Deere,  the Service Manager’s explanation being,  he was only complying with Steve Miller’s directive.

. Gary’s consternation about the warranties and misgivings of  Steve Miller’s directives began to sojourn on his conscience.   An unanswered question discovered Gary in Steve Miller’s office,  the parts person presenting his assertion of the impropriety of warranty exploitation.  Steve readily acknowledging its presence, but rationalized with an explanation,  gesturing to the small utility tractors positioned across the street,  imparting,  “Kiowa Service having never sold a single one, but they remain”.   Gary, understood the smaller tractor application was not marketable in a wheat farming community, but listening to the owners accordance.   Steve continued,  “John Deere requires I floor plan a number of their products,  whether they are marketable or not, and as a dealer I am given no choice.   Floor planning equipment that I can’t sell cost me money,  and I am only recouping my loss of income from John Deere.”    Gary acknowledging  Steve Miller’s annotation,  noting that his justification was not acceptable,  the age old adage coming to mind, “two wrongs don’t make a right”. 

.  Exiting the office discerning that the seeds of lamentation have been planted, the fruits of emergence soon to flourish, and the  commission of righteous employment to be adjudged.

The Kiowa Supper Club

.  Music having been indelibly inscribed in Gary’s past life,  although dormant since his residency in Kiowa.  He still retained all the necessary band equipment to engage in a piano bar or bandstand presentation.  In Gary’s vision, Kiowa was currently disemboweled of performing musicians with exception of Larry Swonger,  who in the past had performed,  and Roger Powell,  having performed, recorded and complimented professionals, but currently was inactive.   The only establishments currently  with a Juke Box was the Uptown Recreation and The Supper Club.  Uptown Recreation was  a beer serving pool room,  providing sandwiches and accessories,  positioned on 6th Street, better known to the local town  inhabitants as Bruce’s,  Bruce Koblitz  the enunciated proprietor.  Entering Bruce’s  domain, one is immediately subjected to an atmosphere permeated with cigarette smoke,  centered in the room are two pool tables opposite a long bar addressed with stools.   Adjacent to the end of the bar was a small open cooking grill providing sandwiches.  Several tables with chairs fulfilled the remaining expanse, with a door leading to a unisex single restroom, the juke box positioned beside it.

.  Gary wasn’t evoked by Bruce’s,  having discerned public taprooms of its accord in his past music experiences,  but on occasion given the special circumstance,  he joined the other Service Company employees for round of beer.  The special circumstances was an expostulation  constituted by owner Steve Miller.  Friday’s were payday at the Service Company,  the weekly checks being dispersed between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. by management,  either John or Steve Miller or when neither were available, by Sandi Palmer.   Unlike Steve who was strictly business and punctual,  good-natured John Miller was not a temporal person and most Fridays was late in relinquishing the company payroll checks which for some reason got under his brother Steve’s skin.   Steve initiating an authoritative rule, if John was late with the checks he would have to provide a round of  beer at Bruce’s for all those wishing to participate..   It was soon realized one could look antecedently to an after work beer whenever John handed out checks.   Gary surmised that instead of a chastisement, John thought it was a vindication, thoroughly enjoying the Friday convergence on Bruce’s Uptown Recreation with the employees.

.  The other established conception, a definitive contrast, the Supper Club, occupying the remnants of an old hotel on Railroad Avenue,  bordering the Santa Fe Railroad tracks,  across from the defunct relic of the once prestige’s  Kiowa Railway Station.  The Supper Club,  a unique dining and lounge facility with a full service kitchen, dining room and special catering area, a separate lounge component opening in the afternoons.  The regal upstairs hotel accommodations,  a thing of the past having been obstructed and excluded long ago,  Lynn and Gerva Harget having opened it in 19 78,  the amicable title holding host.  The lounge radiating a warm but not overly plush atmosphere, a small dance floor and jukebox adjacent to entry,  both sides of the room adorned with booths, the center section with tables, the far end of the room hosting the bar and stools.  The Supper Club and Lounge not an overt  atmosphere of sophistication,  but one of small town contentment.

.  Gary having retain his band equipment, it lying dormant stored away in his residence, discovering an opportunity to resurrect it from it dormancy. recalling his musical background in Kiowa, his first acquaintance 9 years earlier, Judy Jantz  hiring his band for the Chamber of Commerce Labor Day Dance,  appearing as The Persuaders.   Gary visiting with Larry Swonger about forming a trio , acquainting the  Fender Rhodes piano,  affording the bass octave,  Larry on guitar and his high school son Doug on drums.  The trio’s inaugural presentation accorded an acceptable performance, the Harget’s impressed,  Gary, Larry and Doug continuing with several weekend engagements.

.  Once a musician always a musician,  even when sequestered.  Gary’s  activity as a trio having come to a conclusion, but on occasion he would slip off to the Supper Club on a Friday or Saturday night, there was something inherent about the atmosphere of a well addressed nightclub.  The 19 year association in the realm of Wurlitzer and Seeburg having not only provided a means of livelihood,  but a bonding with a profession that was shared by notables throughout history.  The Supper Club sporting an upright piano placed off to the side of the dance floor,  the musician when asked,  demonstrated  the eighty-eight keys still retained its functional heritage.  It was a quiet evening at the Supper Club, the far and few between after dinner patrons who ventured into the beverage half of the Supper Club having left.

.  Gary having been asked to play a couple of songs and was in process of leaving when he noticed that his brother-in-law Shawn’s mother, Iva Beth and another lady entering,  seating themselves in a booth.   Iva whom Gary was acquainted with, approached the piano,  asking if he knew the Bette Midler song The Rose,  Gary responding  that he had seen the movie and was familiar with the song and then adding,  if you can sing it, I can play it,  thinking the comment would end the conversation, but he was wrong, Iva saying okay, I’ll be right back, I have the words at home.  Iva returning with a note pad with the words written on it.

.  Gary recalling the unusual two note right hand intro to the song, Iva beginning “Some say love it is a river that drowns the tender reed”, the rest all fell into place, the voice and the piano blending as one, Gary having accompanied many stellar professional vocalist in the past, but this was totally astonishing,  Iva was The Rose.  The musician somewhat mesmerized by what had just transpired, bidding Iva Beth and her friend goodbye, but before leaving asking a favor of Iva,  could he have her handwritten words to the song.  what wasn’t said was,  it would be kept, a remembrance of the night he accompanied The Rose.

.  It was by invitation only,  the provincial Kiowa farmers not solicited,  Steve Miller extending a welcome to clientele from surrounding states and locations, providing the availability of his Cessna  as transportation.  The celebrated event an appreciation of their sponsorship in his John Deere business endeavors, but an attendance dismissal administered to the local community.  Steve very much aware of Gary’s music background,  presenting an overture, asking if he could provide the music for the 75 people invited to the event at his residence.  The petitioned musician placing a phone call to Oklahoma City,  questioning if the guitarist sax player and friend Jerry Willis would make the drive for a Saturday night appearance in Kiowa with him,  Larry and Doug Swonger.

.  The night of the event, the h’orderves,  cocktails,  beverages of every imaginable genus flowing,  served in the outdoor area adjoining Miller capacious indoor pool.   A curiosity beginning to prevail, Gary cognizance that there was no provision for a meal, but that was soon to change.   Steve Miller approached asking to use the microphone.  All expecting a flourishing announcement about the attendance of the loyal customers but instead there was  a pronouncement.   Steve relating that dinner would be served at the Supper Club,  the Clubs complete menu at the guest disposal, compliment of their host.  Steve Continued enumerating,  a petition from the Supper Club’s Lynn Hargett,  requesting the assemblage interval their convergence so as not to overwhelm the kitchen and  to better serve the entourage.  

.  The enjoyable evening accomplished,  Gary’s band equipment once again finding solace in its storage capacity,  making  a decision to bid a farewell to the provisional giver of captivating musical memories,  acknowledging the road of life having taken a new direction,  the Steve Miller presentation his music’s last hurrah.