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My dad grew up in town, but he was happiest when he was on the seat of a Farmall tractor or a good saddle. He and Grand-dad ran a business that sold International trucks, Farmall tractors and IH implements, Texaco oil and gasoline products, IH refrigerators and freezers, BFGoodrich tires, and Hudson automobiles in the 1940's and 50's. After a devastating flood in 1959, they cut back to simply Farmall sales, parts, and service. Dad somehow found time to become the local Scoutmaster, and went on to become a district commissioner with the Boy Scouts. He was a leader in the 4-H Tractor Maintenance program, and was an avid squirrel and deer hunter, camper and fisherman, as well as a devoted family man. He had a quick temper but also a quick smile, and he was a superb judge of character. He became a decent horseman, and loved his trail rides...and if there wasn't a trail where he wanted to go, a little "brush poppin'" wasn't out of character for him, either. He believed in being honest--sometimes brutally so--but if he told you that a grasshopper'd pull a plow, it was time to find some tiny harness! He was my most severe critic, but he was also my best friend in the whole world. He taught me to hunt and fish, and he taught me about business and customer relations. He taught me right from wrong, and I learned more about honor and being a man of your word from his example than a million books could've taught. This September will make 16 years that he's been gone, and I still miss him each and every day.
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