For the enrichment of mankind

Things you should tell our children and grandchildren about your ancestors.

Uncle Cliff was the fasted Anglo-Saxon for miles around. He ran track in the 100 and 220 and was on the award winning 4x100 yard relay team. The only white caucasion. He used to run about a 10.3.....one time he ran a 9.9 -- wind aided and didn't count.

Uncle HB used to look like a bobble-head doll when he ran. He was clocked also at a 10.3 but it was in the 60 yard dash. He does still hold the record for most points scored in a city league game...84. He was 17 and playing against 6 graders.

Uncle Larry and I witnessed the "confirmation" the Sunday before all worthy male members receiving the priesthood back in 1978. Ask him about it.

Candy always wanted to be a baton twirling artist. She never was-- see the video on H.B's site.

Howard used to castrate cattle with his pocket knife then come home and cut roses off our front bushes with it and give them to Ethel. He also used to peel potatoes for dinner that night with that same knife. I'm still not sure if he cleaned it first.

Ethel was an incredible gospel doctrine teacher. She would spend hours each day with her bedroom door closed surrounded by books studying. Her preperation was meticulous....first studying everything she could then practicing in front of the mirror. That's right. That's why she was so good. She taught for many years. At her funeral, some people from out of the country found out about her death and traveled to Mesa just to be there because as they put it, "she was the best teacher we ever witnessed and they had to be there to say goodbye." They had been winter visitors in Quartzsite for many years.

We had a little 2nd grader boy stay with us for awhile. He was one of Mom's students. He had witnessed his Dad shoot and kill his Mom. The only person he would let be around him and talk to was Ethel.

Howard had to bail Tommy Lee (the farm foreman) out of jail a couple of times. The worst was when Tommy got mad at one of the farm workers and stabbed him a few times. Dad said he was cut up pretty good.

HB used to drive a red Austin Healy that hardly ever started. Uncle Cliff drove anything he could get his hands on. Larry and I drove the old "Sweat Hog", our family Impala. We also got a Volkswagon Beetle Bug. It was the original Bug with the rubber band sounding engine. We were great at driving stick-shift Frances.

We had a TV room. I don't know how we did. It was one of the bedrooms. But that is where the TV was. We used to all go in there and watch TV....all seven of us. It usually ended up being six quickly as Ethel used to make HB (Harold) go outside due to his constant flatulation. She actually made him go out of the house many times. He was quite proud of it.

Uncle Cliff was the one that taught us how to play the guitar. Ethel made us all take piano lessons for awhile. Larry was good enough to play for priesthood and on his mission. She made HB and me take clarinet. It didn't take. More things you should tell your children will come later.