Chapter 15

I explained there was an industrial dryer that I wanted to find but didn’t even know where to start so I hoped he could point me in the right direction.

“Ricky, ask Mr. Donaldson to see the Thomas Register.”

“What is that?”

“A listing by product, and what companies make them.”

“Great that is exactly what I need.”

Mr. Donaldson had a complete set of the 15 volume book in his office. It was dated last year, but he told me that the school would only buy a new set for the shop every three years.

He helped me look up Industrial Dryers. The most promising company was “Conair” in Franklin PA. I wrote their address down and thanked him. When I returned to the study hall I immediately wrote a letter to them asking for information on their Industrial Dryers.

After study hall, I was able to buy a stamp at the school office, drop the letter in the mailbox, and still make class on time.

The school day took forever. I was waiting for the newspaper to come out like many others. I wanted the day to end. My school work plan was proving stronger than I thought it would. We had several snap quizzes in Latin, Algebra, and English. I was getting A’s without any strain.

Finally, the last bell rang and I went to football practice. Coach had us run many laps, doing push up’s and setups, we also had to run through a long row of old tires, lifting our feet. I had good wind and was able to do everything Coach asked. I just couldn’t do it as fast as others. I began to realize that I may not have a football career.

After practice, I approached Coach Crowley. “Coach, I have my wind and stamina built up but I can’t seem to go any faster.”

“Ricky I don’t have an answer, your body isn’t built for the running speed you would need. You are tall and thin, so you don’t have the weight to play the line. I don’t want to tell you no today, but you probably won’t make the cut.”

“I’m disappointed, but only a little. I didn’t have my heart set on playing football. You’re the one who asked me to try out. It has been good for me anyway. My ability to run has improved and that can’t hurt. Maybe I can go out for the cross country in the track event.”

“That would be an option, but don’t get your hopes up, there are some boys on the track team that have your stamina and can run much faster.”

“Darn, there goes my professional sports career.”

“Have you thought of something like golf?”

“No, I don’t even know how to play.”

“You have the body type. Why don’t you talk to Coach Stone, I will mention it to him that you might be interested.”

“I would appreciate that Coach. I have an urge to play some sport, but not any that I can’t do well.”

“So are you officially dropping from the team?”

“Yes, this has helped me, and I intend to keep running, but I don’t want to waste our time.”

“Good luck Rick, I will be watching you win the USA PGA amateur!”

“Yeah, that’ll be the day.”

“Now we are done with that, what is going to be in the paper tonight?”

I laughed, “You will have to wait till you get home.”

I took a shower after my exercise. A couple of kids, led by the ex-Mayor’s son Tom Humphreys started riding me about quitting football.

“Look at the pansy, he is afraid to get hit,” came from Tom.

They kept this up for a while but since I didn’t respond it went nowhere.

I walked home and finished up what little work I had to do in tomorrow’s lessons. Kate Smith had just sung “God Bless America” when the newspaper arrived. I skipped the Mickey Mouse Club on TV to read the story. It was exactly the same as the copy that Mr. Weaver had given us, so I hadn’t any complaints.

About five minutes later the phone started ringing. It rang all evening. All my relatives wanted to talk to my parents to see if the story was true. The story started with stopping the bank robbery by killing two men.

It then continued with my rodeo career. Mr. Weaver took things out of sequence as he went from my third rodeo win to the National Championships.