[AT] Good bye! - voyage of the boxes.

[Richard Walker]

>Who remembers the long voyage of "The Boxes" that so many of us were 
>involved with.

It was 1998, Alan.

The Western box originated in my junk pile - an old toolbox off a 
small Cat.  Left all the rust alone, crudely painted "ATIS" in Cat 
yellow on the top, and hauled it up to the Tulare show in 
April.  Lots of ATIS guys attended that year - George Best, Don and 
Tricia Bowen, Grant Brians, Bob & Jean Lockwood, Lee Bowen, Ira 
Matheny and others I unfortunately can't remember now.  We all had a 
big barbecue dinner Saturday night put on by Jean and my wife 
Judy.  Some had brought photos to include in the box and we all 
signed the book.  From there I think George took the box back up to 
OR with him.  Then a few months later I somehow got my hands on it 
again.  Can't remember details, but it might have been at the Vista 
show or at some CA farm auction.  I drove it up to Tacoma, WA in 
June, where I handed it off to Ray (I'm having CRS on his last 
name).  From there I think Dean hauled it around to Brooks and later 
the Roy show.  Then Ron and Gayle hauled it across country to Portland.

1998 also was the year Don Bowen, George Best, his friend Bob the 
machinist, and I flew back to Portland, took in the show, and were 
there for the box presentation to Spencer.  We had a chance to 
finally meet in person some of the "Across Country" ATISers and had a 
great time.  Especially interesting flying home, since all of us 
shopped so heavily at the swap meet that we each had at least 50 
pounds of iron stuff secreted in our carry-on bags.  Sure made it an 
adventure trying to lift them into the overheads!  In fact Bill 
bought so much for his shop that he had to UPS some heavy boxes home.

More details than anybody probably wants to know, but you tend to 
hang onto your pleasant memories from life . . . thanks, Spencer, for 
bringing us all together.


Richard