| Re: [GMCnet] RIP Ken Rose [message #214640] |
Tue, 16 July 2013 18:44  |
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hnielsen2
Messages: 1434
Registered: February 2004
Location: Alpine CA
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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What a nice storey
Thanks
Howard
Alpine CA
All is well with my Lord
The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the
average voter
(Winston Churchill)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard" <GMC77Birchaven@yahoo.com>
To: <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 14:00
Subject: [GMCnet] RIP Ken Rose
>
>
> I was checking out something on the GMCMI web site about the upcoming
> rally, when I saw the notice about Ken Rose passing away in March of this
> year. I don't recall seeing anything about it on the GMCnet, so I'd like
> to take the opportunity to relate a little story about my one and only
> encounter with Ken Rose, and how I feel a personal sense of loss that I'll
> never have the pleasure to see and thank him again.
>
> A week before Christmas I was leaving the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy in
> NY and heading for Phoenix, AZ to spend Christmas at my brother's place
> and work on my coach over the winter. The trip was enjoyable and
> uneventful until a steel parking post bit the side of my coach at a gas
> station in Seguin, TX late in the afternoon on December 23rd. The post
> bent my driver's side front bogie arm out and ripped into the lower
> fiberglass panels just ahead of the leading wheel. It was entirely
> operator error. Sigh. :cry:
>
> I was now close to pegged on the despondent scale. I was going to miss
> Christmas, my bogie arm was bent to hell, and I would be facing a _big_
> bill to get the coach road-worthy again. With Christmas Eve the next day I
> figured I was screwed and would be unable to find a repair place to fix my
> coach until after Christmas. Christmas would probably entail being towed
> to a yard and spending the night in the coach.
>
> Enter the Black List. I had met John Sharpe at the GMCMI rally in Amana
> the previous Fall and called him up to ask for advice and if there were
> any nearby repair places he knew about. He told me he'd make a couple of
> calls and get right back to me. Within fifteen minutes he's back on the
> phone and informed me that a couple of people would be calling me. Jim
> Rountree called while John and I were still on the phone. I explained the
> situation and Jim said drive slow and come on over, we'll take care of it
> in the morning. So that's what I did.
>
> The next morning, Christmas Eve, four guys are on Jim's driveway at 8 am
> to help - Jim, his son-in-law, Ken Rose and his son-in-law. It was clear
> that I was in the presence of two senior GMC guys who had literally seen
> and done it all. Within about two hours, with the help of a honking big
> steel pipe, a Porta Power and the judicious application of bodyweight, the
> bogie arm was back in position. Ken showed me how to scribe a line on the
> tires and use a tape measure to determine the toe-in and whether we had
> nailed it. When I say we, I mean they, and nailed it they did. Dead on.
>
> I very much appreciate John's triage skills (he should be an ER
> doctor..."Your arm's been ripped off? Eh, no biggie, see it all of the
> time. We'll get you patched up in no time."), Jim's hospitality and
> rallying the troops skills, and Ken Rose for calmly fixing me up and
> getting me back on the road. Since that time I've run across Ken Rose's
> name in a lot of places and always he was spoken of with admiration,
> respect and love. I totally understand why.
>
> And I did make it to Phoenix in time for Christmas. A very big, heartfelt
> thank you to the denim angels that visited me the day before Christmas.
>
>
>
> Ken Rose is wearing the dark blue shirt. A real gentleman, and he will be
> missed. Thanks, Ken. Rest in peace.
>
> Richard
> --
> '77 Birchaven TZE...777
> Rear bath, interior pretty much original,
> Jasper 455, 3.50 final, Howell EFI w/EBL, Springfield, Thorley, 6 disks,
> Alcoas, currently installing a one ton front end
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