RED BALL
REFLECTIONS
VOL. 5, NO. 2, DECEMBER 1999
PUBLISHED BY
GARY FANCHER
EDGEWOOD, TEXAS 75117
redball98@yahoo.comwww.angelfire.com/tx2/redball
TYLER REUNION
J.L. Countryman was the master of ceremonies and chief coordinator of the August 14th reunion of the Tyler, Texas Red Ball employees. The banquet room at the El Charro
restaurant was filled to capacity. Before and after the fine meal, many stories were shared, as Tyler employees browsed through the display of the items that you have donated to the museum. I was lucky enough to meet several of the Tyler folks for the first time and I hope that they enjoy receiving Red Ball Reflections in the future. I am looking forward to attending the next reunion in Tyler, maybe in 2001. Thanks for including me.
August 14, 1999
Tyler Reunion
J.L. Countryman Foye Wilson Peggy Skender INBOUND Mr. J.G. Hill and his daughter, Mazie Clement, took time to visit the museum recently. Well known throughout the system for his sense of humor, "Little Hill" has been retired since 1970 and still loves to tell the stories of his days on the road to Amarillo. At some time in the early fifties, he was called on to pull a load from the American Thread Co. to a new Woolworth store in Houston. The photographer was on hand for the event and the surviving picture is the largest we have in the museum, measuring 39" by 25". Thanks Mr. Hill and Mrs. Clement for this and all of your help in the past. A trip to Waco led to a nice visit with former Red Ball local driver, Marvin Bukowski. He and Mrs. Bukowski spent quite some time recounting the days with Red Ball in Bryan and Waco. They seemed to enjoy seeing the pictures and wanted to add an old Red Ball scratch pad
I have never asked for any financial help with this project, but some fine folks want to help in any way they can. I really appreciate anything that will help save the history of Red Ball-- anything from a snapshot, to a memory from long ago, to help with the postage. Recently cash donations were made by Mrs. Al Willis and Mr. John Grigsby. Thank you.
I had not been to Irving in some time, but decided to visit my good friends there a while back. Bob and Ruby Shaw always make me feel welcome and we had a great visit. They had recently run across some older magazines related to Red Ball and a picture of Ruby and her colleagues in the general office which appeared on the cover of Red Ball Review. Also, they had located a picture taken at the 1935 convention of the American Trucking Association. Seated among the executives in attendance was Red Ball founder, Henry English. Thanks again to you both.
On the same trip to Irving I visited again with Mr. Jesse Mooney. Jesse has been forced to retire from his position with Frozen Food Express due to a severe back problem. He claims to be doing better now but is still having difficulties. I hope that he enjoyed our visit as much as I did. As you know, Jesse has been a great supporter of the museum since near the beginning.
Dave Faust is presently a trucker who lives in Spanaway, Washington. He learned of the museum from Frank Swindle of the Leeway Motor Freight Museum in Oklahoma City. Dave had made a few runs through the South years ago and remembered seeing Red Ball Motor Freight operating here. He wanted some pictures, and thanks to your generosity, I am able to help him. Through the internet, I have sent him a couple of dozen images and plan to send more soon. In return he has sent us some snapshots that he and his friends have taken, one of tractor 1407 pulling pups in early 1981 and a couple of Spectors with doubles. Thanks, Dave, for taking an interest in the history of Red Ball.
J. LEE SHIRLEY
This world lost a great man last summer with the passing of J. Lee Shirley. J. died due to heart failure in Tyler on July 24. He was born in Wood county sixty years ago and his career with Red Ball began in July of 1962 as an auditor under Jesse Mooney. His first employment with Red Ball lasted until 1968 when the company was sold by the English family. Next he spent nine years with Texas Oklahoma Express and later returned to Red Ball during the Spector—Red Ball merger. His career ended with TNT Bestway where his health forced him to retire early.
The first time I met J. he made me feel as if I were an old friend; I think that was just his nature. He seemed pleased that someone was saving the memories of the Red Ball family and was most willing to help. Comparing the new Spector-Red Ball with the old Red Ball he said, "It wasn’t the nice old-time family type atmosphere that we had when Mr. English had it." His love for his Red Ball family was evident when he said, "I cried like a baby the day that I found out that old man sold that company."
J. served in the United States Army and is survived by Elaine, his wife of twenty eight years, two children and one sister.
A Note From Elaine:
To J. Shirley's Old Friends from Red Ball:
We appreciate so much the basket arrangement and all your thoughts and prayers. J. thought a lot of his old Red Ball buddies.
Elaine Shirley and children
Gayla Dannaker
BILLY RUSHING
In late October Dallas line driver James B. "Billy" Rushing of Kemp, Texas passed away. He had suffered for some time from congestive heart disease. Mr. Rushing’s seniority date was February 7, 1956 and he retired after the bankruptcy in 1982. He ran from Dallas to Amarillo and later from Dallas to New Orleans. Before his Red Ball days he served with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II. He is survived by his wife, Sue, two daughters, and four grandchildren.
PAUL BRUNICK
Denver local driver, Paul Brunick, passed away on June 5, 1999. Mr. Brunick, 71, logged thirty two years in the trucking industry with Red Ball and Denver Amarillo Express. He and his wife, Mildred, moved to Loveland, Colorado in 1985. Thanks to Mrs. Don Cary for loaning us this picture of Paul Brunick.
Paul Brunick
NEW ADDRESS
Please note that my email address has changed again. Maybe this will be the last time. Where we live it is hard to get good service at a reasonable price. You can now reach me at redball98@yahoo.com
TERMINALS
Those old terminals, my dad always refered to them as warehouses, still speak a great deal about the history of Red Ball Motor Freight. Many are now abandoned and have fallen into disrepair due to the elements and negelect, but stop, get out, and walk around; you can imagine the activity that once took place there. These were the stages upon which so many fine folks played out their lifelong careers. The untold number of steps made on the docks, moving the freight that made the South what it is today, have left a trail that influenced each of our lives. Inside the offices the decisions made, the bills cut, and the checks written made Red Ball what it became in its finest hour. Red Ball for the drivers played in a different theater, the old, seemingly endless two lane highway which passed the same towns, businesses and houses day after day. Can you imagine how pleasant the sight for any driver when the destination terminal came into view? Everyone seems saddened to hear of the razing of these old buildings which were so much a part of their lives. Red Ball still means something to the employees and these terminals were the most visible symbol of the company.
Through the years, as Red Ball grew, there was a need for more modern facilities in most every town that they served. Usually those who know can show you more than one building today in any town in the system that once served as the Red Ball terminal. Since I started this project, I have tried to locate these buildings as I have traveled so that there would be a record at least of how they look today. Here are a few of the pictures of these terminals that have been donated-- taken in the good old days.
See if you remember where these were located. If you can identify them all, you may have spent a little too much time on the extra board! These terminals are identified at the end of this page.
Terminal 1
Terminal 2
Terminal 3
Terminal 4
Terminal 5
Terminal 6
Terminal 7
Terminal 8
Terminal 9
Terminal 10
THE TRAIL GROWS DIM
When you consider that North East Texas Motor Lines ceased to be in 1953 and that Dalby Motor Freight, which was owned by the brother of DAE founder Delbert Dalby, evolved into Time DC long ago, it is surprising that anything related to these lines would surface today. Recently I ran across these two matchbooks advertising the two old truck lines which are related to Red Ball.
THIRTY YEARS AGO…
Jimmie Ray Kinnaird left for Viet Nam and was assigned to the 186th Helicopter Division of the U.S. Army. He is the son of Ft. Worth city driver, Rudy Kinnaird.
Airman First Class Anthony W. Chandler was named "Outstanding Airman of the Month" in his unit at Clark Air Base, Philipines. He is the son of C.A. Chandler who had been at that time with Red Ball for over twenty years in the Dallas Shop. He was considered the number one electrical mechanic in the Southwest.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Though it has been some time since I have seen some of you, it is seldom that you are far from my thoughts. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all that you have done to help.
My wish for each of you and your families is that this may be your best holiday season ever.
MORE PICTURES FROM O.B. ENGLISH
TERMINALS IDENTIFIED
1.Longview 2.Winnsboro 3.Amarillo 4.Denver 5.Henderson 6.Waco 7.Beaumont 8. Lufkin 9.Dallas (Lamar Avenue) 10.Paris
