In high school I needed some money for basketball camp and went around and gathered up old aluminum siphon tubes and sprinkler pipes. I took them into the salvage yard and Monte Holm gave me money for the aluminum. He pulled me aside and said, "It is easier to get money off of pipes than the siphon tubes." He was right, I think he was telling me to focus on larger items to make smaller loads.
I Probably shouldn't admit to this, but I know my dad doesn't read Blogs. I poked a couple of holes in some sprinkler pipe so that I could have a little more money..... I kind of feel bad about it now, but we switched from handlines to circle sprinklers soon anyway.
I just read Mr. Holm's autobiography. It is titled "Once a Hobo." It is found on amazon for about $17 and well worth the read, you will want to live more conservatively and be more generous to the homeless. What the book doesn't mention is that Mr Holm always gave candy to kids, and I think he was the richest man in Moses Lake when I was growing up.
Anyone can borrow my copy if they promise to return it.
He also gave out symphony candy bars and silver dollars in his later years. He gave me one outside of the post office and then another one later at his shop when I went to weigh the pick-up.
ReplyDeleteHave you noticed the mural of him at the post office? Pretty cool. His headstone at the cemetery is conservative -- nice but conservative.
What a class act.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that book was about a guy you actually knew. I would have loved to hear some of the stories in it. Maybe I'll have to buy it.
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