Bill Engelhardt

Saturday Hero

Ken Becker

The story was that in some far-flung Texas town, a local uprising was reaching a high enough level of violence that the townspeople sent out a call for a company of Rangers to quell a mob. When the train arrived and a lone Ranger-Bill McDonald-stepped off the train, the local citizens' committee expressed its concern. "Cap'n," one said, "where' the rest of your company? We got a situation here." McDonald, the story goes, answered: "Well, you ain't got but one mob, have you?" One riot, one ranger.

Al Peffley

Lived in Arlington and worked in Grand Praiirie for just over three years. Great job environment (right to work state), but very humid in the summers and lots of unfriendly reptile, insect, and scorpion-like "critters". Generally good law and order, except in downtown Dallas, Houston, and Austin. Concealed carry was a must in those three cities, otherwise the rest of the state was quite safe. Texans hated lawyers, but supported good law enforcement organizations and honored veterans, Once an accepted Texan patriot, always a loyal and respected Texan... You have to "earn" the grass roots Texan's respect and trust. Buc-ee's is a real treat to visit these days. It is the All-American gas station service center beyond any current day comparison standards.

https://buc-ees.com/

Texas Rangers' baseball is more prevelent in society than when Ranger law enforrcement officers are seen or heard of these days, but the Texas Rangers are still the state's special, Department of Public Safety (DPS) LE agency -- much like US Marshalls and FBI are to the US DoJ. Chuck Norris played "Walker, Texas Ranger" in a fairly accurate representation on CBS TV (much better than Hollyweird's cowboy "dude" version of the fifties.) Texas is a State Republic that was annexed by the United States of America in 1845. Today, Texas Rangers are more than just a "Wild West" hold-over to Texans and the Mexican Cartels. Captain Bill McDonald is a real, honored hero in Rangers' history, even though the story might be a bit of a tall Texas tale.

https://learning.thc.texas.gov/texas-history/the-republic-of-texas/

https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/texas-rangers

Bill Engelhardt

It's July (and 80 degrees), so guess that's the signal -- at least at the Hawk's Prairie Costco -- to roll out the Halloween stuff. 

Bill Engelhardt

July 31,1968

Al Peffley

Didn't you make a similar observation about that Cosco last year? I'll bet that with the new tariffs on China this year their Christmas selection will be revised... LOL! I wonder if they warehouse any left-over stock from last year? Those large skeleton displays seem to be vandalizeed every year in some yards, but people still purchase them. Evil people giving out tainted/dangerous treats and violent, B-rated horror movies took all of the fun out of Halloween for most little kids and their parents.

Bill Engelhardt

I groused about it last year, too. But that was in September. 

Virginia Wolfe (Scheffer)

Al.......as to those large skeletons.  They are in demand all year round in my little neck of the woods.  They are used in various events and dressed accordingly.  They get to go out for a boat rides, motorcycle rides or sometimes even used as a dance partner.  Quite humorous!  

Bill Engelhardt

First live TV coverage of hydroplane races on Lake Washington was in 1951, specifically the Gold Cup race, aired on KING, the only television station in the Northwest at the time. Winner was Lou Fageol in the Slo-mo-shun V. 

Al Peffley

Andrew Tate wins Seafair Apollo Cup Race.

It's tough loss due to a final heat penalty disqualification for J. Michael Kelly and the U-8 Beacon team. That is very unusual for J Michael to "jump the gun" at the start of the final heat. I can't ever remember him doing that in APBA Outboard hydro racing... He must have been distracted by something during the white flag period towards the start line and green flag wave. He always timed his starts perfectly. It would have been Kelly's 5th consecutive Seafair cup win. Maybe it's time for J Michael to retire? Dave Villwock, Tate's BWR Racing team mate won the Gold Cup at Tri-Cities in the U-91 last week. I raced with Cory Peabody (sold him a used outboard hydro), J Michael Kelly, and Jamie Nielson in APBA PRO Hydroplane Racing before I retired from APBA boat racing in 2015.

Bill Engelhardt

And as we bid farewell to Seafair 2025, a look back to 1963 -- the Grand Parade Co-Grand Marshals -- a former Mouseketeer and a fairly well-known KJR disc jockey. 

Al Peffley

A local radio station PR stunt to draw attention from the real Grand Marshall in 1963... Bob Hope! Credit: Seattle P-I photo.

Ken Becker

Here's the 1964 Seafair royalty at the Space Needle. 

Bill Engelhardt

To our honorable Kelso correspondent, consider me appropriately chastised. 

Corrections (always striving for accuracy): Bob Hope was the grand marshal of the 1963 Seafair Grande Parade. Annette was one of the grand marshals for the Torchlight Parade, along with Ernest Borgnine. Other Hollywood luminaries who took part in the festivities were actor Phil Harris, comedian Tim Conway (McHale's Navy), and band leader Harry James. 

Burien's Arlene Hinderlie was Seafair Queen of the Seas in 1963. Pat O'Day was a Seafair official that year. ("PR stunt"...c'mon, Pat O'Day?) 

Al Peffley

Maybe Annette was trying to shed her childhood image and promote her new "beach party" image in teen fan films during 1963? Bob Hope supported our warfighters in theater and when they returned home. It was a time that Seattle streets were kept clean and safe. Seafair and the World's Fair made the Emerald City's 'Gateway to the Orient" look very appealing. No one attending the Seafair celebrations would anticipate our traject loss of JFK later in the fall of 1963...

Steve Morris

I've seen six of the artists listed on your Top 30 list. Nostalgia, ahoy!

Tom Nixon

I've seen 5 in person but it would be 6 if I can count Eric Clapton of Cream.

Ted Comstock (Briggs-Comstock)

I hadn't quite entered my R&R phase at this time, so all I've seen on this list were the Doors. I added to this number very soon after this list! 

Bill Engelhardt

Aug. 16, 1977

Virginia Wolfe (Scheffer)

It was sad, all that fame and fortune could not bring happiness.

Al Peffley

 The death of Elvis :"The Commercial Appeal reported that lab reports indicated that 14 drugs were found in Presley's blood at the time of his death, including "near toxic levels" of codeine, morphine, Placidyl and other prescription drugs. The "overdose of depressants" likely caused him to pass out in a slumped "fetal" position, and "he died when the drugs, in combination with pressure from his body weight, brought his respiration to a halt," according to the evening newspaper, the Memphis Press-Scimitar."

A pressure-filled lifestyle, dangerous prescription drugs combined with too much money and a really incompetent primary care doctor... Many popular entertainers made the same fatal mistake with unchecked prescription drug overdoses.

https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/2025/08/15/how-elvis-presley-died/85410862007/

Al Peffley

We pause this discussion about famous dead people to review the grand opening of Washington State's first  In-N-Out Burger at Ridgefield, WA. Yes, I can report that we dined outside there today. The Double-Double burger with fries and a chocolate shake was excellent to my tastes! The parking lot is not finished, but the food is tasty. They have additional servers visiting here from other states helping with training and guiding the typical big crowds of burger fans. It has a very simple menu and the food is always made fresh to order. There is no equal in this niche fast food service industry chain (except maybe the Burger Master in North Bellevue and the U District Mall.) I dined next to a retired Navy Seabee from "San Dog" who is now living in Sandy, OR to help his aging mother with her house maintenance. The hamburgers we ate looked just like this ad photo below. Real burgers like I cook at home with only fresh ingrediants, along with fresh cut fries (like I used to prepare at the SEATAC McDonalds in the 1960's.) Mid-day meal for two for under $20. It is right next to a new Costco (unfortunately for fueling our Jetta Sport TDI, without diesel fuel.) I wore my In-N-Out T-shirt from Lake Elsinore, CA for our "fine dining" event. The visiting young male server that I talked to from Arizona did not know where that city is in Southern CA (next to Riverside), LOL! They are moving their company headquarters from "woke" California to Tennessee, it has been reported elsewhere. The family now operates over 400 stores in nine western and southwestern states, and counting...

https://www.in-n-out.com/history

Yummers!

Bill Engelhardt

"No stchtupping in the bushes!": was the memorable instruction given by a festival organizer.

Virginia Wolfe (Scheffer)

Art, the burger looks yummy.  Glad they are moving to Tennessee.  Getting closer our way!

Bill, I would have been scared to death to go to Woodstock, albeit an amazing event.

Al Peffley

STCHTUPPING - Yidish term for sexual intercourse. Not my generation image to admire, but there are still some immature "hippee" hold-outs that exist among us who think they are still a hip dope tweeker...

I'm having rusty nail,  mid-day Scotch beverage with an Andy's Dinner swizzel stick in a Pancho's Manhattan Beach CA glass with some pretzels before supper -- CHEERS! No "doobbies", just great liquor in a favorite nostalgia cocktail glass from the 1980's. Glad I'm not working down there (LA) now....