This Picture was taken in the early 1960's at the new terminal at 3177 Irving Boulevard in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Fancher was about to begin one of his countless trips from Dallas to Amarillo. This picture was given to me by my brother, Bert Fancher in 1992.
In the 1950's Red Ball started issuing this type of badge. In those days, most drivers wore chauffeur caps and uniforms. The silver badge was issued for the first five years of safe driving followed by the gold badge for years beyond five. Inserts were added annually to keep the badges current. Horace Fancher always wore his chauffeur cap while on the road but left off the badge thinking that it made the cap too heavy. Mrs. Horace Fancher gave me the gold badge and the silver one was provided by Bert Fancher.
These are the line drivers and company officials from Fort Worth, Texas in 1954. Top row (left to right) Herbie Hankins, Charles Bickford, Jack McGraw, Earnie Fisk, and Robert L. "Pappy" Blanton. Seated (left to right) Bob Green, Ervin "Blackie" Marsh, Horace Fancher, Jack Elliot, J.D. Fowler, and Albert Crain. This picture was among the photographs owned by Horace and Marie Fancher.
In addition to the badges and safety pins issued by Red Ball for safe driving, each driver received a safety certificate. Many of the drivers framed these and displayed them in their homes.
In the days before the CDL, Texas issued a commercial drivers license to professional drivers.
Red Ball calculated that ten years of service as a line driver meant that the driver had covered about a million miles. During his career Mr. Fancher drove over two million miles for Red Ball Motor Freight.
Patches of this style were proudly worn on the company uniform by drivers and dock workers during the 1950's and 1960's.
The American Trucking Association provided the driver with this type of patch in recognition of his safety record.
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