September 2019
Teacher, teacher can I go to the bathroom? A question Bob and also Joan answered for many years as teachers in the Albuquerque public school system. Alas, upon semi-retirement that question has passed. I say semi-retirement because Bob has worked for a company for 19 years where he grades junior high and high school State Standard Achievement Tests for locations all over the US.
Bob was born in Albuquerque and attended University of Albuquerque and received a Master’s in Elementary Education from University of New Mexico. He chose to remain as a teacher in Albuquerque where he met Joan at Pope Middle School. Bob wasn’t t sure for a few minutes during our conversation when he met Joan. Then he firmly said I met her in 1984 and we were married in 1985 and honeymooned in Hawaii. This shows once he makes up his mind he gets the job done!
Bob bought his Ford pickup in 1976 and restored it and first displayed it at the 1980 State Fair. He said, “I had to get it done because I was Chair of the State Fair event for the Albuquerque VMCCA”. He purchased his second Flathead in 1978, this was the Cabriolet. Bob said a fellow named David Crook was selling two cars at the Scottsdale Auction. Bob quickly noted that Dave was not a crook. “Dan Maurer bought the nice one and I bought the poor car.” I’m sure we all agree Bob’s car is not the one in poor shape now. Bob restored the car, taking his time and completing it in 1995.
Bob joined the Tumbleweed club in about 1976. He recalls making a trip with the club to Los Alamos and returning via Jemez. He says “my car vapor-locked at Jemez so I put a wet rag on the fuel pump.” Now here is where Bob proves two things - he is honest and he is a hoarder. Bob said he forgot to take the rag off and on the drive home it caught fire. With smoke coming from the engine compartment he hopped out and put out the fire. And, he still has the burned rag at his house.
At the end of our conversation Bob said he needed to get back to work on a table he and Joan are restoring. I noted that he must be quite talented restoring cars and furniture. He humbly noted “I am a jack of all trades but a master of none”. After seeing his cars, I think we would argue he is pretty good on cars.
