He was born in Carlsbad, New Mexico, in 1912. Today would be his 98th birthday.
I couldn’t begin to write his biography. He led an interesting life, full of a myriad of vocations and locations. He was a thinker, above all. A design engineer by trade, he was forever inventing a better mousetrap.
Aerospace, television and radio electronics and medical technologies were some of his many fields. Due to his role in defense aeronautics, he was exempted from serving during the great wars, instead working on military contracts for Lockheed, Boeing and other homeland defense contractors.
He invented and held the patent for an electro-magnetic linear-drive motor that he built into the first portable electrocardiogram machine. Its purpose was to allow patients’ hearts to be monitored and recorded while engaged in active exercise (such as the treadmill.)
Daddy had in-depth theories about the demise of the dinosaurs and the creation of the planets. He loved nothing more than chatting about his thoughts and studies with anyone who would listen. He was an articulate arguer, as well.
He once worked as a stand-in for Clark Gable. When Gable walked off the set during a pay dispute, Dad was put into his place for a few distance shots. The movie was “Boomtown.”
Another time, his story goes, he was sitting in a bar in Kansas City when a couple of well-dressed thugs surrounded him, mistaking him for a “syndicate” guy.
I will be forever thankful for the things he taught me. When other little girls were playing with dolls or jumpropes, I was seated in the garage, soldering iron in hand. He gave me my first job, as a draftsman, where I drew spec drawings for his medical electronics company. He instilled in me a love of a diverse range of music; Motown, country, pop, Big Band. We often danced in the living room until we were both winded. He also taught me to bowl. He was a friend and wonderful father to his five children. He was a champ.
My father succumbed to heart disease almost 14 years ago. I still miss him, every day.
Happy Birthday, Daddy.
“Happy Birthday Beep….!” We miss you.
You make me cry! What a wonderful tribute to your daddy. I kid you not, when I saw that younger picture of him, I thought it was Leonardo Di Caprio. He is a very handsome daddy.