nowmagazines.com » Red Oak

Fishing Hooks to Writing Books

marshallhinsley — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:09:20 +0000

RED OAK, TX – Sitting in a room decorated with buck antlers, stuffed bobcats and Mason jars full of homemade preserves, Morris Gresham is at ease behind his computer desk writing stories about the things he knows — hunting, fishing and growing up in a small Texas town. His house is just far enough out of town to have a country feel while still close enough to enjoy the conveniences of a larger city. He lives with his wife, to whom he has been married for 51 years. He met her the day he was born. “My mom’s best friend was my wife’s aunt. My wife’s aunt brought her small baby girl to visit my mom and meet me the day I was born,” Morris explained.

Morris was born in Bennett, which no longer exists. The small town was built around a brick plant. Everyone who lived there worked for the brick factory. “On pay day, the company would take out whatever rent we owed and [pay] whatever bill we had run up at the company store, and Dad brought home what was left,” Morris recalled. Acme Brick owned the small brick plant by the time the Greshams moved to Erath County near Lipan, and the family became share croppers, living near their cousins on one farm, and sharing profits from the eggs of several hundred chickens. “I guess we were also share-eggers!” Morris remembered. “The drought ran us off the farm in 1953, and we moved to Mineral Wells. That is really the town I grew up in.”

Thanks to a high school bookkeeping class, Morris’ father was hired as the bookkeeper at a brick yard where he worked until he was 70 and was forced to retire. “It made him so mad. He got another job and worked several more years,” Morris laughed.

After graduating Mineral Wells High School with 91 other students, Morris went to college for a little over a year, but quit to work and help take care of his family, which included his grandfather and two younger sisters, whom he calls Little Sister and Baby Sister, the latter affectionately shortened to simply “BS.” Although he didn’t have the same degree as some of his co-workers, Morris had a knack for mechanical engineering. “I was lucky enough to have a supervisor who cared more about performance and knowledge than a piece of paper,” Morris said. So he was able to move up within the ranks because of his work ethic and eye for detail.

Not having seen his future wife since the day he was born, Morris was set up on a blind date with Bettie Nevil, and the two have been inseparable ever since. After the company he was working for cut back, Morris went to work for Continental Electronics, and then for the government working on the Superconducting Super Collider.

In 1974, Morris was telling a hunting story to a friend and co- worker who suggested Morris write down the story and submit it to a local magazine for publication.
“I didn’t even know you could do that,”

Morris replied. “But hey, if I could get paid for telling stories I was going to tell anyway, I’d give it a shot.”

That night, Morris wrote his story down on a Big Chief yellow pad and sent it to Outdoor Times. He made $40 on that first story, and a writer was born. He immediately wrote another story and that one was purchased, too. One year later, he became the editor of the magazine. The fourth article he wrote was passed on to and picked up by a national magazine that paid him $200. He was making real money then.

Morris went on to write for, and intermittently edit for, several hunting and fishing magazines. For a year, he was the outdoors columnist for the Focus Daily News in DeSoto. One of those columns earned him a national competition award in 2002, just two years after winning a national competition for an article in The Skeet Shooting Review. From 1995-2002 and again in 2004, he covered the World Skeet Shooting Championships held annually in San Antonio. At one point, Morris was working 70-80 hours a week as a lead engineer for Continental Electronics and editing USA Outdoors Magazine, reading letters, working out picture layouts and reading articles before 6:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m.

Morris retired in 2002 and about four or five years ago began writing a book. He started on his first book, Coming Up a Country Boy, Surviving the ’40s and ’50s, in 2005. However, half way through writing it, a classmate who was reading it and offering praise and suggestions, asked him about the food he kept mentioning. Morris credited his friends with the idea for the second book. “They said, ‘So much of your life revolved around getting together and eating these wonderful sounding meals. You should write the recipes in the book.’” Morris didn’t feel like the recipes fit in the flow of his story, so he took a break from the book he was writing and began the book that would actually end up being published first, A Country Boy’s Appetite – Following Life From One Meal to the Next.

In this book, Morris tells anecdotes and uses homespun humor to introduce the reader to his family and his life through specific times and home cooked foods. He then includes the recipes from each meal. “It’s not really a cookbook. When you grow up in the South, the food is just as important as the reason for gathering,” Morris explained. After that book was off and running, he finished the original book, and now it has been printed, published and ready for purchase.

Morris’ self-published books are an entertaining and informative read, especially for people who grew up country and understand the nuances of southern country living he brings to life with his vivid imagery and amusing side notes. But Morris is a writer, not a marketer. Morris stole a line from John Irsfeld to explain his philosophy. “God just told me to write ’em, He didn’t tell me to sell ’em.”

Now that his time is free to spend however he chooses, he is able to indulge in his hobbies — gardening and canning. He’s an expert at bread and butter pickles and homemade preserves, and frequently treats the city workers to his creations. Occasionally, a magazine asks him for an article which he is happy to write anytime — except deer season.

Written by Cindy Malone.

A Lasting Impact

marshallhinsley — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:08:42 +0000

RED OAK, TX – Born in a logging camp in 1928, Donald “Don” Shields got used to moving very early on. As the seasons changed and the availability of lumber shifted, his father, who supported the family by driving an eight-wheeled log wagon up and down the hills, moved with the work. During the time they lived in Alikchi, Oklahoma, Don developed his work ethic and drive for a financial stability not readily available at that time.

While he worked on his bachelor’s degree at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, in Durant, Oklahoma, he worked as the only teacher in the only school in Jack Creek, Oklahoma. There were 12-14 students total.

In 1951, Don was drafted into the Army to fight in the Korean War. He trained for and was certified as a master mechanic. However, thanks to a high school typing class, he was soon reassigned to an “office” in Seoul, Korea, checking soldier’s orders, assigning them to their posts and requisitioning supplies. “Years later, I thanked that high school typing teacher for probably saving my life by keeping me off the front lines,” Don laughed.

After the war, Don returned to Oklahoma, and using the GI bill, finished his degree in speech and industrial education. During his last college years, he met and married his wife, Gloria. After college, he began teaching in Eagletown, Oklahoma. However, teaching and coaching was still not providing for his family. So, after luckily coming across an open invitation for people with a degree like his, he moved to Amarillo, Texas, to be a civilian jet fighter auxiliary systems instructor. With that job, he made twice as much money as he had been making, almost $3,600

a year. To increase his salary by $165 a month, he began taking classes at night to earn his master’s degree. In Amarillo, Karla, his first daughter, was born.

After his systems instructor role ended, Don moved several times. He taught in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, and in Artesia, New Mexico. During this time, he had two other children, Jim and Julie. He loved teaching, but his goal was always to move into school administration. He wanted to make a real impact on the educational system.

His first opportunity to be a principal came at a high school in Springer, Oklahoma. Then Don set his sights even higher. He wanted to be a district superintendent. The first opportunity that presented itself was in Thackerville, also in Oklahoma. “The reputation of Thackerville was such that the superintendent of the school district I was in begged me not to go,” Don explained.

But against all advice, Don took the job. He knew he had to get their respect early on. “I held a meeting the first day of school. I told those kids there would be corporal punishment for anyone caught smoking,” he explained. “And on day one, someone tested me.” After two years, Don had made some real changes to Thackerville’s school district. He managed to save them money, buy them what they needed and work with the teachers to better manage the students and their classrooms.

Then, the opportunity opened that he had been working toward since that first job teaching in Jack Creek. In 1966, Red Oak Independent School District (ROISD) was advertising for a new superintendent of schools. He went in for the interview, able to lean on extensive life experience, although he was just 38 years old. When asked his educational philosophy, Don told the hiring board, “I’ll teach your kids how to be ready for college and how to be able to care for their families. I’ll do it with love and discipline.”

That answer earned him the superintendent job he would keep for 14 years. “During those 14 years, Red Oak grew rapidly. We went from 300 kids to 1,500 kids, but today Red Oak is approaching the 6,000 mark. Red Oak Elementary tripled in size,” Don explained. “We were using churches to hold some classes. We were only running three buses.” During his years there, ROISD passed several bond issues and built many of the school buildings still in use today. He helped implement a better bussing system and added much-needed technology to the classrooms. Don is most proud of leaving the school district in 1980 with a large rainy day fund and no debt.

Don next became superintendent of Dallas County Schools. After his wife passed in 1988 of ovarian cancer, Don took care of his ailing mother until she passed away in 2005. Then he moved home to Red Oak. Although he was retired, Don was called on by the school board president, John Hawkins, to help pass a bond issue in 2008. “My longtime friend, Vernon Coffey, and I made it our full-time jobs to get votes for that bond issue.” Vernon’s late wife, Marjorie, was Don’s secretary in Red Oak, and also at Dallas County Schools.

Living back in Red Oak allows Don to be closer to family. Karla remembered, “I graduated from Red Oak schools, and so did my sons. I love that dad was so passionate about making them great.”

Red Oak honored Don in 1980 by renaming West Red Oak Elementary as D.T. Shields Elementary. A new Shields Elementary was built in 2008. “I was at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The wind was blowing 60 miles an hour, and dirt was flying. It was one of the proudest days in my life.”

To Don’s children, having him honored is beyond special. “My mom was honored posthumously for her work in journalism. It is so nice to have dad honored like this while he is alive to see it,” Karla admitted. “I well up with tears when I drive by that beautiful school with his name on it.”

Now Don lives part time in Red Oak and part time in Lufkin with his new wife, Martha. Of her, Don said, “I have been blessed in my life to marry the two most wonderful women in the world.” Although Martha has only been married to Don for a few years, she is wonderfully proud of what Don has done and continues to do even at 83.

Don has high hopes for Red Oak’s future. “I visit often with current superintendent, Scott Niven. He’s a great friend, and I’m proud of the job he and the school board are doing.” Don would like to see Red Oak keep growing and doing all the right things for the kids to continue to learn. “We shouldn’t be scared of progress,” he said. “We should embrace it and use it.”

Written by Cindy Malone.

Looking Beyond the Ball

marshallhinsley — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:48:24 +0000

RED OAK, TX — Just keeping her eye on the ball isn’t enough for Samantha Gilmore. This focused high school senior looks at the big picture.

She is a star athlete in golf and softball, as well as maintaining an academic record that put her in the top 10 percent of her class at Red Oak High School. “Grades are very important,” Samantha stated. “With my personality, I want to be in the top 10, and I want my grades to be high.”

Athletics and academics have gone hand-in-hand as long as Samantha can remember. She got her first set of golf clubs and hit the links with her family at the age of 5. Samantha is glad that golf is a cross-generational passion in the Gilmore family. “It’s a huge family thing. It started with my grandpa, and he passed it down,” she explained. “He’s definitely proud of me and loves to come out and play golf with me.” Her mother and father are avid golfers, as well.

Softball entered the picture when Samantha was 6, followed by gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, and later, even Powder Puff football. Softball became a serious area of interest when she was 10 and started playing on select teams and going to tournaments. “That’s when it started taking up weekends … and my life,” Samantha grinned.

Always a first-rate student, Samantha’s determination to excel at sports has brought some remarkable results. As a freshman, the golf coach and the softball coach chose Samantha for their varsity teams where she earned a letter in both sports. Realizing this level of success as a ninth-grader is especially demanding. “You have to be dedicated to your sport and a good student for coaches to rely on you and trust you on their team as a freshman,” she said. Samantha played basketball and volleyball in junior high, but she always knew it would be softball and golf in high school. “For about 10 years, I just worked really hard to get there. To achieve a letter as a freshman was an awesome feeling,” she admitted.

For the last year and a half, Samantha has chosen to concentrate on softball rather than golf, preferring the camaraderie of a team sport. She likes the closeness that develops between teammates, saying, “It’s a family. You have so many teammates to pick you up, to tell you that you can do better or to have your back when you miss a ball.” Samantha particularly likes the way teammates hold each other accountable and encourage each other to raise the level of their play. She also favors the faster pace of softball and the intense pressure of team competition.

In addition to the ROHS Lady Hawks, Samantha plays softball for The Fastpitch School Texas, a select team. Their coaching methods are a good fit for her personality and playing style. “My coach now, Monti VanBrunt, was a consultant [for nine months in 2006] to the head coach for the Chinese National Softball Team that competed at the Olympics,” she said. “He understands the game and how I view the game, and he just helped me see how far this could take me.”

How far can Samantha go? Her post- high school career will begin with both academic and athletic scholarships to St. Edward’s University in Austin, where she will study sports psychology. Samantha chose St. Edward’s over other college offers based on its location, atmosphere and size. She wants to be close to home, able to walk from class to class and enjoy a friendly environment where most students know each other. St. Edward’s was an instant hit in all three areas. When Samantha toured the campus, the softball team members assured her of the balance between sports, academics and social life. They also sold her on the coaching staff.

When asked about her interest in sports psychology, Samantha replied, “I love the mental side of the game. When I learned that it’s 90-percent mental and 10-percent athletic ability, I just became a different player. Once I figured that out, I just wanted to help other people realize it.” Another big plus for St. Edward’s are its coaches — head coach, Lindsay Gardner, and assistant coach, Cat Osterman, who come to the field with a great deal of experience.

Samantha’s plan doesn’t end with her four years at St. Edward’s. She expects to go on to school for a master’s degree and then a doctorate. Her goal is to stay at St. Edward’s as a graduate assistant,

helping coach the women’s softball team while pursuing her higher degrees. After achieving her doctorate, Samantha’s dream job would be working as a sports psychologist for either a pro team or golfer.

While academics and sports are priorities, family and friends are also extremely important to Samantha. “The one weekend a month that I do have off, I definitely like to catch up with friends and hang out with everyone, but I’m a big family person and going out is not a big priority. I love staying home.”

Her mom, Sharon, smiled as she recalled times that Samantha’s social needs were a little more strongly stated. “Samantha would say ‘I just want to be with my friends. I don’t want to think about softball or golf. I just want to be with my friends.’ We try to help her with that.”It’s a good thing, too. Samantha’s schedule would give even the most organized adult a twinge of anxiety. Right now, in the off-season, Samantha has strength and agility training on Monday and Friday, hitting lessons with her coach every other Tuesday and either indoor

or outdoor team practice on Sunday. On her nights off, Samantha practices at the indoor hitting facility her dad built in their garage. Add extra practice and weekend tournaments when softball season opens this month for an even tougher test of time-management skills.

In addition, Samantha is especially pleased when she has the opportunity to participate in community service through her membership in the National Honor Society and Renaissance. She described herself as an “animal person” and enjoys spending time helping out at the Ellis County SPCA. She also acts as a mentor in the TFS (Team Fastpitch School) Big Sister~Little Sister program. Her advice to girls interested in excelling at any sport is to find good teams and good coaches, play on a select team and attend college sports camps.

Perseverance backed by hard work is the strategy that has taken Samantha from her first set of junior golf clubs to athletic and academic success. What motivates her quest for excellence? “I want to be someone and go somewhere,” she explained. “I know you have to work to get that. Anyone can excel in life, they just have to be willing to work and drive hard for it.”

Written by Katie Almond.

Love’s Journey

marshallhinsley — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:21:37 +0000

RED OAK, TX — The love story of Chris and Jennifer Buckhannon began on December 31, 2007, when the duo met at a friend’s New Year’s Eve party. They quickly became inseparable, and even life’s challenges haven’t broken their bond. “Neither of us was looking for a relationship … but it was an instant attraction, and we have been together every day since then,” Jennifer said.

Unbeknownst to Jennifer and Chris, their lives had been intertwined since both of their families moved to Red Oak in 1977. “My family moved to Red Oak when I was only 2 years old. We moved from Duncanville and planted ourselves here and have never uprooted,” Jennifer said. Chris’ family moved that same year to the area they lovingly dubbed “the farm.”

“After meeting Chris, I realized that we had a connection that we weren’t even aware of. I graduated from Red Oak High School in 1993, and Chris graduated in 1991. Our paths never crossed, but our families’ paths had crossed a lot,” Jennifer explained. “I played soccer with his sister and cousin as a young girl. I was in the same class with two of his cousins and worked with his brother at my first job at the Walmart photo center in Lancaster.”

After that fateful party, however, the connection was apparent, “because we didn’t want to be without each other. It was like we just knew we needed to be together from the time we met,” Chris said.

The couple had just settled into a Red Oak home together when a wrench was thrown into their blissful existence. On January 6, 2009, Chris was diagnosed with testicular cancer. “Once he was diagnosed, my priorities in life changed,” Jennifer said.

In February 2009, Jennifer proposed marriage to Chris. And, since he was unable to work, Chris was in charge of planning the wedding. “We reversed the traditional roles. I picked the date and the location,” Chris said. “Jennifer helped and gave her opinion, but I was in charge of getting everything organized.”

The couple married on April 18, 2009, after Chris had his fourth and final round of chemo just a week before the wedding. “We wanted the wedding to be outside by the lake because our favorite thing to do is go camping at the lake,” Jennifer noted. “Unfortunately, it was raining buckets that day, so at the last minute, we had to move everything inside.”

The day of the wedding, friends and family worked to help the couple’s dream wedding become reality, as Chris and Jennifer got ready inside the fifth-wheel campers in which they had come to the site. Chris made sure to include Jennifer’s daughter in the occasion, as well.

“Since I had been married previously, I had my daughter walk down the aisle with me, and she stood up with us as we got married. Chris even presented her with a ring as a gesture that we would all become a family,” Jennifer said.

Becoming a blended family was another challenge Jennifer and Chris faced, along with then 7-year-old daughter, Cheyenne. “It was very important to me for my daughter to mesh with Chris, and we had to work out some kinks. It took time

and a lot of patience, but now we have become one unit,” Jennifer said.

“Learning to be a father is a challenge, but I think I get a little better at it each day,” Chris said.

Communication and honesty are the two key ingredients to their success as a family. “Those two things are so important to making it through tough times. We take things as they come and support each other, no matter what crisis may arise,” Chris said.

Jennifer believes give-and-take is essential, as well. “We might not have the same tastes in things, but we are both willing to step outside the box to find common ground,” Jennifer said. As they do this, they learn to like each other’s interests. “In that way, we compliment each other,” she added.

Besides common interests of sporting events, camping, hunting and bowling, the Buckhannons have come to enjoy a mutual cause because of the way cancer has touched their lives. Jennifer organized the Central Ellis County Relay For Life in previous years, and she and Chris both participate in the event each year, along with the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The race serves as a reminder of what they have overcome. “So far, I have been cancer-free since May 2009,” Chris said. In August 2009, Chris had his last surgery to remove the chemo port, and he goes back to the oncologist every three to four months to monitor his blood levels.

Because of the aggressiveness of his cancer, doctors don’t consider Chris in remission. But since his tumor was removed and his chemo treatment was completed, Chris said he has been “healthy as a horse.”

“Chris’ diagnosis changed both of our perspectives on life. We learned that you can’t take one second for granted — that each breath we take is a gift. And we have learned to appreciate even the most minute things,” Jennifer said. “We have learned you really can’t sweat the small stuff.”

While a cancer diagnosis is never a good thing, Jennifer said it has taught them how important one’s outlook is to a situation’s outcome. “I would tell anybody who has ever been diagnosed
to have a good mind frame and to think positive, no matter how bleak things may seem,” she said. “I believe that 90 percent of recovery comes from the mind, and if you give up, so will your body. It takes determination and the will to survive and overcome.”

With that in mind, the Buckhannon’s love story continues one day at a time. They each continue their jobs — Jennifer has worked five years as an accounting technician at the Army Air Force Exchange Service, and Chris has worked 13 years as a Havertys delivery driver. They plan to focus on staying healthy, enjoying their home in their quiet neighborhood and helping their daughter grow into a productive part of society.

Years from now, they hope their intertwined paths involve wide open spaces. “We would one day love to get a motor home so when we get to retire, we can travel,” Jennifer said. “But Red Oak will always be our home.”

Written by Angel Morris.

Editor’s Note: For more information regarding the American Cancer Society’s local Relay For Life, visit www.relayforlife.org/centralelliscountytx.

Lending a Hand

marshallhinsley — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:23:58 +0000

RED OAK, TX — “I don’t really like attention,” John Keane said, smiling but a bit uncomfortable. “I prefer to be behind the scenes.” Being a teacher, husband and father to four outgoing children, and grandfather to four, his quest for relative anonymity has been successful. Now, however, being on the board of the Ellis County Habitat for Humanity, John is speaking on behalf of the charity and people who are both helpers and those being helped.

John is a special education teacher for Red Oak Intermediate School, a profession he stumbled into and has grown to love. After deciding to put his landscaping business on hold for a profession that would allow him more time with his kids, he was vacting as a long-term substitute for a kindergarten class in Dallas. He began to wonder why two of his students kept leaving to go to a class called Resource. One day he visited Resource, and what he saw made him sure of what he wanted to do.

“There was a group of kids who could use my help,” he said. During John’s third year of teaching in Dallas, he was Lida Hooe Elementary’s Teacher of the Year. He decided to teach in Red Oak several years ago to be closer to his teenage children and share their schedules. At Red Oak Intermediate School, he is the faculty co-sponsor for Rachel’s Challenge, a group of children who believe in the power of being kind to one another and using random acts of kindness to support and take care of their classmates and those around them. The name comes from an organization started on behalf of Rachel Scott, a victim in the 1999 Columbine High School shooting. John’s group has performed acts like sending materials to soldiers, which often included fun things for the soldiers to give children in the war-torn countries where they serve.

Although John has been teaching in Red Oak and living in Pecan Hill for 15 years, he has not always been so stationary. He was born in Peru and traveled all over South America during his young life. His dad, also a man with a giving heart, was a member of the World Health Organization and, as a veterinarian, “taught the disadvantaged how to care for and breed livestock in hopes of them becoming healthier and more self- sufficient,” John said. From there, John’s family retired to Michigan, so his dad could be closer to his parents. Thanks to his father, leading comes naturally to John.

Several years ago, John joined the Pecan Hill City Council, where he served as mayor for a short time. “I just really want to be involved in any way that can improve the quality of life for people, especially my family and my community,” John explained.

When John’s children began to need him at home more, he gave up his post in small town politics, but once they grew up and left for college, he needed something to fill his time. He began participating in Relay for Life, raising money for cancer research. It was there he met the woman who would introduce him to his next major volunteer opportunity.

“I was at a Relay for Life event, when my wife struck up a conversation with a woman who worked with Habitat for Humanity,” John recalled. “And my wife, knowing I was interested in the organization, volunteered us to show up and work at the next meeting.” John laughed as he remembered showing up and being thanked for “volunteering” for the board of directors. “I looked at my wife and she just kind of smiled. She is sneaky like that.”

But John really didn’t mind. He has enjoyed his time serving on the board. Within a few months of joining, they finished a house and began the process of looking for their next lot of land and home recipient.

“Getting one of the [Habitat] homes is not easy. The application process is very hard, and then once a family has been approved, they must put in hundreds of hours in sweat equity,” John pointed out. The family receiving the home must work hard building, fundraising and doing clerical work, or whatever is needed, to help pay for their home. Even after moving in, the home isn’t free. Habitat homeowners usually have a less expensive mortgage, and they do pay taxes, but they don’t pay interest on the mortgage.

John is quick to give credit to the massive number of people whose time and effort go into a house. “The construction teacher from Waxahachie High School helps with some prefab work and brings it to the home site,” John said. “Even some of the students help build and plan.” There are people who raise funds all year long, people who drop off nails and other supplies at the home site and people who cook and bring food to those who are working.

The group recently finished its latest house. “The family of six who is getting this house has been working extra hard and have been through a lot of hardships, even while we were working on their house,” John said. “The husband had lost his job but recently found another. He is working extremely hard and is super appreciative of all the help.” John is confident they will make this house into an excellent home for their family.

There are several ways people can give to Habitat for Humanity. Right now, John is working on a campaign whereby anyone can “sponsor a square foot.” Basically, for $70, a person, family or group can sponsor one square-foot of a home being built. But that isn’t the only way to give. “We always need construction material. If we can’t use it, we can sell it and buy what we do need. We take everything,” John admitted. “You can also go online and buy Habitat for Humanity T-shirts and other merchandise.”

John’s sense of volunteerism and giving may have been inherited from his father, but he is quick to acknowledge that a person doesn’t need a history or an outside motivator to become a giver. “Why not?” he asked. “Why not give to those in need? Who could possibly be hurt by doing something good?”

John is quick to point out that he is not only talking about giving money. “If you are climbing up, if you are doing well and succeeding, look behind you. There
is someone trying to climb up behind you that could use a hand to help pull them up. Why not be that hand?”

Written by Cindy Malone.

A Heart for Art

marshallhinsley — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:23:49 +0000

Red Oak, TX — Art has been a part of Ovilla resident, Jana Jennings’, life for as long as she can remember. Today she gives back to the community she loves, and the children in it, by passing on her passion for painting. “I look at it as an extension of those who have previously given to me,” Jana said.

Jana started taking oil painting lessons at the age of 6 in her home town of Ennis. “I had five talented teachers by the time I had graduated high school,” she recalled. “I received four scholarships through my oil paintings, which allowed me to attend The Art Institute of Dallas.”

A graduate of Ennis High School, Jana moved to Red Oak in 1991 with her son, Justin Prachyl. Shortly thereafter, she married Michael Jennings and was immediately “blessed with two terrific stepchildren,” Jordan and Kyle Jennings. The family resided in Red Oak for eight years, until they built their current home in Ovilla, where they have been for 12 years — since November 1999.

“I love making my home in Ovilla because of the open space and the country lifestyle. I am a native of Ellis County and don’t plan on leaving. I love the area and the people; it is my home,” Jana said.

A graphic designer for 27 years, Jana only began teaching oil and acrylic painting four years ago to students ranging in age from 9 to 16. “I love sharing my craft the way it was taught to me when I was young. The best reward is when your students are proud of the painting they just created and can’t wait to show it off. It is really amazing the progress they make from week to week,” Jana said. Jana considers herself an impressionist and has two favorite techniques. “I paint a lot with brushes, but I also love to paint with a palette knife. With the palette knife, I can paint quickly, and it provides a lot of texture and depth,” she said. “I have fans who like my brush paintings, and I have fans who like my palette knife work. Doing both allows me to show my different techniques and gives me alternative forms of expression. That is the greatest thing about the creative arts — it is about what you are feeling at the time.”

Between creating graphic designs through the computer, teaching and painting at home, Jana said she invests about 50 hours a week in some form of art. Not long ago, however, her creative art was not part of her day-to-day life. “I stopped painting for about 15 years to raise my children, and it has taken me awhile to re-hone my craft. But I wouldn’t change a thing. My family has been my art, and I love what I have created,” she reflected. “Today, I have three children, a new daughter-in-law and two grandchildren to be proud of. My husband, Mike, is my biggest fan. He takes my paintings to his office, changing them out monthly for his personal gallery. Those at his work seem to enjoy it as well.”

Today, Jana works full time as a graphic designer, but her goal is to produce her art all day, year-round. “Until then, I will create my paintings as often as I can. I am developing a Web site and blog at the moment and will have it available soon for others to enjoy and interact with me,” she said.

In the meantime, Jana does commissions and displays her paintings at My Father’s House Antique Store in Waxahachie and Interior Ideas in Ennis, on occasion. “My home is really my gallery. Every wall is covered with my paintings. It’s not my doing. My family has set high expectations of me, and I just try to keep up. It’s fun, and let’s face it, where would I be without them?” Jana said.

A member of the Ellis County Art Association (ECAA) for the past eight years, Jana credits the group with the continuance of her art education. “When I was a senior in high school, ECAA gave me a scholarship to use toward my tuition in college. I would have never been able to attend without the help of the ECAA and a couple of other local clubs in Ellis County,” she said.

As a result, Jana joined ECAA to give back to the organization what it had provided for her when she was younger. “ECAA is still offering scholarships to graduates each year to any student who attended school in Ellis County. All students pursuing a continuing education in art are eligible to apply for the scholarship program. They also have an art show every spring showing off art from children of all ages, giving out many awards and more scholarships,” Jana explained.

ECAA began 53 years ago and today owns a three-story historic landmark building housing adult and children’s art classes, art workshops, plays and civic meetings. The group has a permanent art collection exhibited throughout the building at 501 W. Main Street in Waxahachie, which is open for tours and visitors Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Besides ECAA, Jana has been inspired by her longtime friend and mentor, LaJuan Schlegel. LaJuan is a renowned bluebonnet artist with a studio in Ennis. “She makes anything she paints come to life on canvas. She has a unique talent that I am humbled to be around,” Jana said. “I have learned many techniques and life lessons from LaJuan. She has molded my future, and I am anxious to learn much more from her.” Jana also admires Fort Worth artist Henrietta Milan, who displays her art at the Milan Gallery. “I really enjoy her work, especially her pallet knifes,” Jana noted.

A lifelong art student herself, Jana said she is thrilled to continue learning and teaching. While she instructs children, she stresses one is never too old to try their hand at art. “I would encourage anyone who is interested in art to go for it. It has been a huge part in my life and gives me pleasure in so many ways,” Jana said. “In a word, art is amazing! It simply makes a more beautiful world.”

Written by Angel Morris.

Brotherly Love

marshallhinsley — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:40:59 +0000

RED OAK, TX — Members of a recently reorganized service group are embracing the adage “What’s old is new again,” as they revisit the success of their former charter. Red Oak Masonic Lodge No. 461 A.F. & A.M. may have been dormant for over 70 years, but since 2008, new life has been breathed into the charitable fraternity whose brothers are, as Secretary Jerry Peck said, “Ready and willing to help the community.”

The local Masons are proud to carry on the devotion of their predecessors who accomplished important work in Red Oak, aiding the city’s commercial and educational growth for over
50 years, before problems forced its closure during the Great Depression. “We don’t know what happened,” admitted the lodge’s current master, Billy Ray Dickey. “But, it was most likely economic issues that caused it.” Despite past hardships, Billy Ray and his members are optimistic about the future of the reconstituted lodge, as they implement programs that are already making a difference in the expanding city of Red Oak.

In addition to presenting scholarships for local youth and public awards for civic leadership, the new lodge sponsors blood drives, an American flag fundraiser, a dental hygiene package geared to Red Oak ISD elementary students and health care
for senior Masons and their spouses. “We are dedicated to the support and welfare of the people in our community,” Jerry said, and the positive response from residents, particularly
to the lodge’s flag program, indicates the Masons’ efforts are appreciated in return.

The story of Lodge 461’s rebirth is one of teamwork. Chaplain Ken Taylor was in on the initial plans for restructuring the inactive group, but he insists it was a joint effort. “Some Masonic leaders wanted to know how many Masons would like to join if we had a lodge here again,” Ken explained. “So we held several meetings, got all our ducks in a row, and after a long process, the Grand Lodge reapproved the old charter, giving us the original name and number.”

According to Jerry, many Masons across North Texas participated in launching the new lodge. “With the assistance and support of several existing Masonic lodges in Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Ferris, Ennis, Lancaster, Midlothian and Waxahachie, and the aspirations of 50 Masonic brothers from those lodges, who were willing to share their experience and talents, a petition for reinstatement of the charter of Red Oak Lodge 461 was sent to the Grand Lodge of Texas.” The charter was approved in May 2008, and since then officers and members have worked with vision and determination to bring aid and recognition to the development of Red Oak and the well-being of its citizens. Billy Ray singled out Past Master Clark Stephenson and Grand Chaplain Jerry Kirby as “being instrumental in getting the lodge back together.”

Members of the new lodge include a number of distinguished men, long active in business, education, law enforcement and other spheres of public life. Many are themselves former lodge masters, but there are also younger Masons like Marc Maples, who has been with Red Oak 461 for a year and is learning the ropes of the fraternal organization from his elders. “We can’t make bad men good, but we do take good men and make them better,” Ken said, adding that membership approval is based on recommendations from active Masons, and that basic requirements include belief in a Supreme Being or Higher Power.

Member Brad Morton, a musician for Red Oak 461 and soon to be Grand Lodge district deputy, pointed out that while the majority of the 90,000 Masons in Texas are Christian, some are Jewish or of other faiths. Jerry specified that the Red Oak branch is Christian-centered and that members pledge themselves

to the “Bible as our word and law, and to improving ourselves spiritually and morally.” Brad is quick to add that although Masonic lodges are religion- based, they are not keepers of cryptic secrets as is sometimes alleged in the media or in Hollywood films. “That’s
one of the biggest misconceptions about Masons,” he said. “Like a college fraternity, we have passwords and the like, but we guard no great, ominous secrets.”

There’s nothing mysterious about the good work Red Oak Lodge 461 is achieving in the city and beyond. The group’s American flag placement service is perhaps the most visible aspect of
its outreach to the community. “We started the flag fundraiser a little over three years ago because we needed a base to work from,” Billy Ray said. “What
we do is contract with businesses and individuals to put out flags five times a

year before major holidays. Right now, we are at 300 flags.”

“Every time I put out a flag, it reminds me of a soldier that has died for his country,” Ken added with emotion.

The money for the flags helps fund awards and scholarships. One of the best known of these is the Community Builder Award, presented annually by Red Oak 461 to leaders in public life. Last year, the first recipient was former Red Oak ISD athletic director and United Methodist Church trustee, Gaines Wolaver. “Through his efforts,” Jerry said, “he has helped build Red Oak from a small town of about 300 to a city that has over 5,000 students in the school system.” The 2011 Community Builder Award went to Carl Meredith of Carl’s Automotive, a tireless philanthropist who cohosted with Red Oak 461 two well- attended classic car shows, donations from which benefited the Dallas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.

Another proud gift the lodge bestows on locals is its Lamar Award, which recognizes deserving Red Oak High School graduates. “Education is very important to the Masonic movement,” Jerry said, “and our lodge considers the Lamar Program a high point of the year.”

The lodge is equally committed to a dental hygiene program called the Fantastic Tooth Fan Club. Each year the club provides over 300 Red Oak ISD first-graders a kit containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and information on tooth care. This kit is provided as a courtesy of the Masonic Children and Family Service of Texas. Lodge members also believe in aiding the elderly and infirmed among their fellow Masons, and through an annual fair and other methods, Red Oak 461 helps raise money for the Texas Masonic Retirement Center in Arlington.

These and other worthy causes continue to be the focus for Red Oak 461 in its second incarnation as one of the city’s leading service and charitable organizations. Billy Ray is proud of the growth he has seen in the town he loves and the fraternity he leads. “But we can always use a new member,” he laughed. “We’re like the Marines. We can always use a few good guys.”

Written by Randy Bigham.

For more information on the American Flag Program call (214) 587-9610 or visit www.redoak461.org.

Check Her Out

marshallhinsley — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 03:41:52 +0000

RED OAK, TX – It’s her favorite time of year and a great time to settle down with a good book, according to Red Oak Library Director Theresa McNutt. When not busy with library programming, Theresa loves to read, completing 125 titles last year. “I’m very cliché. I was a huge bookworm as a kid and still read a lot in my free time. My father had boxes in our attic full of old Analog Science Fiction and Fact magazines, and I found them and read them all, which is probably responsible for my continuing love of sci-fi/fantasy books,” Theresa said.

Born and reared in New York, Theresa earned a Bachelor of Arts in linguistics with a minor in Japanese from State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo. “As an undergraduate student, I worked for the computer, information and technology department, first as a cybrary assistant, then as a troubleshooting computer consultant, and finally as cybrary supervisor for our largest undergraduate library on campus,” Theresa recalled.

But library work was not Theresa’s original career goal. “I wanted to teach English as a Second Language (ESL), so I joined the JET [Japanese Exchange & Teaching] Program, an initiative

funded by the Japanese government to bring native English speakers to Japan as cultural ambassadors and teachers,” she explained.

Theresa lived in a small town in Japan, Hokkaido, for one
year before returning to the U.S. “During that amazing year, I discovered that I really didn’t like being so far away from family and friends, as most ESL jobs require. So I came home, moved to Texas, and started looking for a different career that suited me better,” she said.

Shortly after moving to Dallas, Theresa began library work
in Fort Worth and Hurst. “I loved the work and decided to
begin my master’s degree in the summer of 2009,” she said.
In December 2010, Theresa graduated from the University of North Texas with a Master of Science in information science. She came to Red Oak after applying to work for Library Systems & Services Inc. in Farmers Branch. “As these things tend to work out, I didn’t get the position I originally applied for but was encouraged to apply for the position of Red Oak library director, and here I am!” she said.

Today, Theresa busies herself with the ever-advancing work of library programming. “Libraries are not just about books anymore. We have a great diversity of services — public computing/printing; circulating audio books, CDs, DVDs; computer classes and assistance; programming for children, teens and adults,” Theresa said. We “also [have] digital libraries and scholarly reference databases, downloadable e-books and media, community meeting spaces … oh yes, and print books, magazines, newspapers and those reference materials that you cannot access for free online!”

Because they provide free access to large quantities of information that a single individual cannot afford to match, Theresa noted librarians possess training and experience necessary to retrieve information quickly and efficiently, with a depth of specificity and access to the deep web that free online searching doesn’t provide.

“We help people of all ages, need levels and personalities, and a huge part of the job is just knowing how to personalize your interactions and service to meet individual needs,” Theresa noted. “Something I’ve found others are surprised by is the fact that most librarians do have a degree in either library or information science. There is also a lot of stress in the library field, which surprises those who think we work in the quiet, reading books all day.”

As director, very little of Theresa’s job has to do with books.

“I do order new materials, but apart from that, most of my day is spent on budgeting, programming, public relations and special projects.” Theresa also works to address the challenges facing local libraries today.

“The biggest challenge facing public libraries is overcoming an outdated and antiquated image. I have seen so many journal articles and comments online about how libraries are the last remnants of a bygone era, usually from people who haven’t stepped into a library in 30

years!” Theresa said. “I would like to emphatically state that there is a pressing need for libraries in today’s society.”

Nonetheless, proposed cuts to state grant funding for libraries continue to impact what services and upgrades libraries offer. For Red Oak Library, lack of space is another continued concern. “We occupy a 1,200-square-foot room, restricting the size of our collection, the number of computers we can fit and seating space for those who want to read or study in the library,” Theresa said. “We are investigating grant funding to reduce the cost of eventual expansion and hope to work with the city to create a solution that is adequate for our growing population’s present and future needs.”

Theresa’s other goals include growing the library’s community presence, upgrading to faster Internet and newer public PCs and increasing programming for all ages. “We are starting a Teen Club this fall and beginning to introduce new technologies such as e-book lending, QR codes, RFID, and mobile apps that will help people access the information they want more efficiently,” she said.

While Theresa doesn’t own an electronic reader herself — “I’m surrounded everyday by just about any book I could want to read!” she said — the library does offer e-book lending through NetLibrary, a database available through the Texas State Library. “We would love to invest in a vendor to be able to lend the most popular e-books and audio books. At the moment, we are researching our pricing options and trying to fit that into our future budget,” she said.

In the meantime, Theresa looks forward to meeting as many library patron needs as possible. “If you have a program you would like to run — a book club, story time, teen activity, hobby club, etc. — come to us, and we can work together to make it happen! We already have great volunteers who lead library programs, but we would love to have more. We are also seeking to start a Friends of the Library group.”

When not in library mode, Theresa enjoys twice-a-month potluck dinners with friends, charity work, video games and a unique new hobby: “My friend recently convinced me to take a belly dancing class, and it’s fun!” But, Theresa is most excited about making things happen at the library.

“I think the citizens of Red Oak take great pride in their city and have very firm ideas about what they want to see happen over the next few years,” Theresa said. “That passion is amazing, and I want to encourage people to approach the library with their ideas.”

Written by Angel Morris.

The Gene Pool

marshallhinsley — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:48:47 +0000

RED OAK, TX – Siblings Hunter and Hannah Gnoza are lapping up honors through swimming, a sport they have enjoyed their entire lives. Hunter heads to college waters this fall, while Hannah pursues pool perfection at Red Oak High School (ROHS).

“I became interested in swimming when I was 3 years old and my older brothers were on the Waxahachie YMCA summer league. I never liked having to watch them. I always wanted to compete against them,” 18-year-old Hunter said.

Hannah, too, has always been around water. “My older brothers were all swimmers, so I literally was going to swim practice and meets even before I was born,” she said.

The duo has just wrapped up a summer of preparation and have their sights set on their latest swim goals. “During the summer, I left at 5:00 a.m. and went to The Colony to train for most of the day,” Hannah said, as did Hunter. The two are no strangers to long hours of practice.

During the school year, they spent mornings with high school coach Kendra Blakley performing “drylands” — weight lifting, running and cardio exercises. After school involved trips to the Lewisville natatorium for pool practice and more drylands, typically until 7:00 p.m., training 30 to 35 hours per week. Summer finds the Gnozas training most of the day.

“You would be surprised how much a swimmer needs to train in and outside the pool. I practice year-round, even on holidays,” Hannah said.

Hunter added, “I train an average of six hours a day, including Saturdays. We even practice on Christmas Eve.”

Because so many years are invested in the sport, the Gnozas can’t imagine life without it. “I started swimming competitively at age 4, but my parents would only let me do it in the summer when I was that young. I swam on the Waxahachie YMCA summer team, and it was all for fun,” Hannah said. “Every year, I couldn’t wait for summer so I could join the team again. It was so much fun, my brothers and I didn’t even want to take family vacations during the summer. Now it has become a year-round commitment.”

Hunter recalls having a swim coach for as long as he can remember. “I’ve pretty much had the same coaches as I was growing up. I trained at the Duncanville Natatorium under Frank Gammon and Jay Chagnon since I was 5,” Hunter recalled. “This past year, I moved my training to the Lewisville Natatorium in The Colony to continue training under Coach Chagnon.”

Not surprisingly, coaches have greatly inspired the swimmers. “Coach Chagnon is my biggest inspiration because he has actually been where I’ve been in
this sport. As a swimmer himself, he understands my darkest and my happiest moments,” Hunter said. “He’s made me realize if I do everything I can and still come up short it isn’t because I failed; it is simply because the guy next to me was “I’ve had to work to just pay attention to myself and to realize I deserve to be at those big meets just as much as everybody else there.”

faster than I was on that given day. And the next day, we go back to work.”

Unlike some teens, Hannah is more inspired by local athletes than famous ones. “I have teammates and competitors who inspire me. One is a girl from Waco who swims for Texas A&M,” Hannah said. “She is very committed and never lets wins go to her head. She encourages me to have confidence and always makes a point to acknowledge my races.”

Hunter, too, appreciates fellow swimmers. “Melissa Prince, who is on my high school team, loves this sport as much as I do, and we share a special passion when it comes to swimming,” he said. “She taught me that it is about enjoying the moment. I look to her when I get down, and she always lifts me back up.”

The Gnozas have learned to embrace the highs and lows of swimming. “It can be a very lonely sport if you let it be. There is little interaction with others at practice because your face is in the water most the time,” Hunter noted. “But the coach and kids I’m surrounded by make it fun. It’s like a big, happy family.”

Hannah’s biggest challenge has been overcoming self-doubt. “Every meet I would get nervous and start thinking I wasn’t going to do well. I would watch everyone and think they were way better than me,” she said. “I’ve had to work to just pay attention to myself and to realize

I deserve to be at those big meets just as much as everybody else there.”

Such focus has led Hannah and Hunter to a number of swimming accolades. Hannah was 2010 District Swimmer of the Year, has been a regional record holder in the 100 freestyle, a regional champion and a state finalist. She earned All District, All Region and All State for the past two years.

“Since I’ve always been a swimmer, I never realized how hard it is for others starting out. I’ve seen kids in excellent physical shape that can run for miles, play several sports, etc., but put them in a pool and tell them to swim 100 yards and they either can’t do it, or they have to stop and rest. I average 6,000 to 8,000 yards every practice,” Hannah said.

In high school, Hunter earned All State and All Region four times. He was District Swimmer of the Year for three years and District Freshman of the Year. “I’ve always had a lot of strength and endurance. I came to rely on these two factors without focusing on technique.

It worked when I was younger, and I could usually beat my competitors at meets,” Hunter recalled. “As I got older, it became harder to win, and like most athletes at some point in their career, I’ve had to make major changes in the way I train. Quality laps over the quantity of them are now paying off for me. I understand the importance of correct training techniques rather than just going to the pool and racking up yardage.”

Hunter now swims for The University of Texas of the Permian Basin and hopes to place at the NCAA Championship meet next spring. Hannah would love to win state while at ROHS. Beyond swimming, Hunter plans to become a physician’s assistant after attending nursing school, while Hannah favors marine biology. Both agree, however, swimming will always hold a special
place in their lives — but not only for the awards.

“Sports are so much more than competitions,” Hannah said. “When I look back someday on my swimming career, I doubt I’ll remember very many of the races, but I know I will remember all the good times I had with friends.”

Written by Angel Morris.

Restoring Reality

marshallhinsley — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 22:52:10 +0000

RED OAK, TX — It began in a garage. More hobby than career goal, this inventive mind spent countless hours working, tinkering and creating. After many trials and many errors, he has learned the secret to making beautiful works of art from the refuse others have left behind. Four decades later, the hobby that most guys wish they had has turned into a chance for him to be in the national spotlight. Say hello to Carl Meredith, the star of a new TV series, Reality Rides.

Carl started working on cars, unprofessionally, as an 8-year-old child in his uncle’s hot rod shop. Ten years later, while working for a Chevrolet dealership, Carl would work on his friends’ cars on the weekends to support his drag racing hobby. All that experience parlayed into the custom car industry. Since 1993, Carl and his crews have built and restored hot rods of all makes, models and vintages. With a series that takes the viewer through the process of restoring a classic car, Carl is in the center of a show coming to a TV near you soon.

Living and working in the same small town for two decades has helped Carl become the man that he is. “I’ve seen Red Oak grow up, and I’ve grown up with it,” Carl explained. Having this connection with the town means that Carl’s name is known in the local hot rod scene. Reality Rides was not his creation, but it’s his name recognition that landed Carl a starring role in the new show.

One evening, while enjoying a car exhibition at an Arlington-area Albertson’s, Brian Greene got an idea for a new TV show. Fortunately, Brian is CEO and one of the lead producers for Greene HD, a production company that has specialized in reality-based TV series. Brian started looking for a local car restoration and hot rod building shop, and was quickly introduced to Carl.

Almost immediately, the two started collaborating for Reality Rides.

TV shows that are labeled “reality” these days are rarely that. Those that are not clearly scripted are often at least influenced by the producers. The producers for Reality Rides have made sure not to fall into the cliché traps of similar programs. Carl and his crew “focus on the car itself,” while filming each episode. The show is unscripted, and there is no choreographed drama. Though problems come up in the building process, Reality Rides refrains from including personal spectacle and does not follow Carl or his crew around to display their personal lives. The show focuses on the step-by-step process needed to rebuild a classic from scratch and even includes some how-to segments. “Anyone can do some of these things themselves,” Carl explained, “so there’s an instructional element to the show.”

Before building and filming, Carl’s shop had to be turned into a production set. It was fitted with spotlights, while windows were blacked out to prevent unwanted exterior brightness. The big lights and big cameras were easy to perform around, “but there were some smaller specialty cameras that we had to be careful working around.” Though Carl and his restoration crew spent countless hours on the show, Carl had to retain

normalcy for the shop. He has always divided his crews between restore and repair work, so the challenge was not splitting time.

The show did create some new issues though, such as working in a very deliberate manner to keep background shots consistent. “Actually, some guys would bring their car in just to be in the background of the show,” Carl said.

Getting the stage set was only part of the lead-up to actual production. All of Carl’s crew had to be ready for substantial camera time, including Carl himself. Though he looks very comfortable
on the show, Carl admitted, “It was a little scary the first time, and I still get nervous each time.” Most of the footage is during the actual restoring, but there are some interviews with the crew and the car owners as well. Carl also does voice-overs, where he watches previously filmed material and essentially narrates the action as it happens. Though the cameras do not delve into Carl’s personal life, Reality Rides includes plenty of off-site footage. For the first season, the producers saw fit to include trips to upholsterers, air conditioning experts, plating specialists and other consultants for the job.

Carl, unfortunately, has not had much input into what car the crew would restore, though his dream would be a ’55 Chevy. For the inaugural episodes, the producers made a list of criteria that excluded muscle cars — Fords and Chevys — as being too common. They knew they wanted something from the mid-1950s, and they settled on a 1955

Buick. The uniqueness of the car equaled extra challenge for Carl and his crew, as parts for a less common car were difficult to find. Carl also had to work around

the challenge of re-filming, which meant doing the actual work over again.

Each 30-minute episode, which is actually just over 20 minutes to allow for future inclusion of commercials, took several days to film. One scene required the crew to “move slowly but never stop,” while a stop-motion camera filmed all day to capture what would be a one- minute introduction for the series.

The second season, parts of which just became available on the Greene HD Web site, takes on an even bigger challenge in its project. Carl flew to Denver, Colorado, with the production team to close negotiations on restoring a 1942 Dodge Command Car from World War II. Carl and his crew rebuilt this rare model for the owner of a California winery, so Carl flew to Healdsburg at the end of the project. That has been one of his favorite things about the whole experience. “I’ve gotten a chance to fly and drive around the country with all of this,” he said.

Reality Rides has been a highly regarded Internet series. “A lot of people have told me it’s better than what they see on TV right now,” Carl said. His producers with Greene HD, who kept stressing

the old adage, “It’s not if; it’s when,” have recently sold the show for airing on TV beginning January 2012 on the new Discovery HD Channel, Velocity. Season three will commence filming soon, but Carl has longer term goals for the show. He would love to be filming season eight, nine or more in the future. Maybe then he will get to restore that dream car — the ‘55 Chevy.

Written by Zachary R. Urquhart.