Memorial Run

09/21/2025

Heading back to Missouri after 10 days shuttling lease return trucks from Olympia, WA to Salt Lake City.

We decided to slip across I-70 through Utah and Colorado. The desert areas of western Utah were so beautiful. We didn't make the progress we expected today, but, who's watchin the clock.

We stopped in Glenwood Springs, Colorado to ride the gondolas to the top of the mountain and relax. That's when I realized we were in Glenwood Springs! I have been trying for 30 years to make a needed stop here and it happened today.

July 6, 1994 we lost 14 wildland firefighters in the South Canyon Fire on Storm King Mountain. The majority were from Oregon where I started fighting fire.

It was almost an innate need to go. To see. To be with them. Let me say, when I started fighting fire in 1980, a mile was just a skip down the road. At 61, a mile up a mountain equates to a near death sentence...but I had to do it...and I did.

I just had to see it and make it all make sense. The climb was horrendous. Laborsome and draining. I pushed on knowing these firefighters did the same. They fought and they ran and they cut lines and trails and tried to get a landing zone opened to facilitate their rescue from a massive wall of fire that was running the mountain at 35 miles per hour. Unfortunately they were not successful. No one could have been under the conditions. NO ONE.

To stand across the narrow valley and see each marker...it sucked. It absolutely sucked. You try with all you have to understand the fight and the fear. Sometimes you hear people talking up there and you can't see them and you wonder...

The fire was so hot. 1800°. House fires rarely get that hot. The heat and deep scorching destroyed everything. It's said it will take more than 100 years to see this site reborn.

I am in a stupid amount of pain tonight. My legs are like warm jello. Will I do it again? Absolutely NOT. Am I glad I did it? Absolutely.

We carried those 14 names on Memorial Run for years. I feel a real sense of having honored them now.

Blessed are those who serve

09/14/2025

We've been so busy this past couple weeks that I have failed to post.

We delivered a couple RV units to Boise, Idaho and took the time to stop in and visit the folks at the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. We haven't been here since 2019. They have moved into their new location and it is amazing.

We spent some time with Burke Minor (Director) and he took the time to show us around and explain the new facility.

I would implore everyone to do their part to support this organization. They are here to help our injured wildland firefighters and support the families of our fallen. They do not receive any state or federal funding which allows them to be able to do what they do. Other than a Board of Directors, no one tells them how to use their money. What a fabulous organizations they are. Our people will never be forgetten.

09/11/2025

We made a promise 24 years ago that we wouldn't never forget. One way to remember is to honor. To serve. To give to others. Here, my brother, grandson, and I were able to serve before I got too old and gave it up.

Blessed are those who serve

08/18/2025

Not sure how many followers this will reach but we'll give it a shot.

I have not posted in quite some time for a reason. As some know we retired from the trucking industry backing May. The reasons are numerous. Primarily due to health issues and safety issue on the road

So many know Memorial Run was retired a couple years ago by the company. With the retirement from the industry we no longer have the connections to resources and organizations.

We do, however, continue to financially support Wildland Firefighter Foundation in Boise, Idaho and Supporting Heroes in Louisville, KY. Two fabulous organizations that support our firefighters and their families.

We are so very grateful to, and for, those that we have come to know and support. Some have become family to us. I wish so deeply that we could still be doing this stuff but it's not meant to be.

I hope and pray every time our followers see a red truck on the highway it brings memories of Memorial Run, and, moreover, reminders you of our fallen and the families that still struggle with their losses. That's what Memorial Run was all about.

We were so blessed, and always will be, for what we were allowed to do with this truck.

One tag line we used and lived by was; "Together we remember". Please remember.

Blesses are those who serve.

07/01/2025

Were down to 3 days before our 25th annual First Responder 4th of July Celebration here at the house.

For 25 years now we have hosted a day for our local first responders where they can all gather and relax and cut lose all day and night. It's our way of giving back to those who serve our community all year long.

The BBQs will be loaded up with ribs, salmon fillers, steaks, shrimp kabobs, bacon wrapped crab bites, hotdogs and burgers, chicken, and all the side dishes.

A co****le tournament will take up part of the afternoon as they fight it out for $150 top prize. The kids have their pools and other water toys, a bounce house, and a water ballon/Chalk fight. That's always a mess.

Then they loosen up and karaoke and dance before the big fireworks show at dusk.

It's time consuming and it's not cheap but my wife and I have enjoyed giving back to the men and women who give so much of their own time and money serving us every day. It's just one day but it's a day they wait for all year.

Blessed ore those who serve

06/30/2025

03/12/2025

*** SCAM ALERT ***

If you have an ADT Security System (home or commercial) please be aware of the scam going on.

I was called today from ADT. They gave me a name of the caller and informed me the line was being recorded. The caller advised me that my security panel was not being received by their monitoring service and needed me to go to my panel. I told him I did not believe it was ADT as they don't call except to verify an alarm activation and I could hear many other phone solicitors in the background. He said it appears that my panel has not been working since I called them 2 months ago while remodeling to inform them I was removing the panel to do some work. That is true. I did call them and tell them that.

The problem was apparent when he asked how many cameras I have. I asked why he didn't know that. He said he couldn't see our panel so he didn't know. I said that information would be on my account on your computer that you are looking at. He hung up.

The scary part is that he knew my name and the time period that I did call in about disconnecting my alarm panel.

I called ADT and they said, No, we haven't called you. They started an immediate investigation into the issue and how they got this info.

Long story short, ADT will never call you and ask this information. They already know. If you have any doubt just hang up and find their number and call them to verify.

I almost gave away sensitive information and security codes to my home security system to someone overseas.

PLEASE be cautious and skeptical in this day and age. Please feel free to share this post.

03/11/2025

Without Memorial Run I don't get to post much. We have not given up on our mission or forgotten what we represent.

We do, from time to time, encounter some awesome reminders of who we do it for.

We just got home from a cruise to the Virgin Islands. I was headed out to the running track on deck 5 to experience the view from the tail of the ship when I found this sign overhead and the mural on the staircase wall.

The time on the clock indictates 10:20. 2220 in the evening in military time. The sign shows the lifeboat access areas for 22 and 20. 2220, as some of our followers might recall is the department number for my fallen firefighter, Tyler Casey.

It's so cool to come across these sightings. It's almost as if they guys are saying, I'm with you.

02/17/2025

Once again we worked a bad accident. 3rd one in 3 months. Let this be a lesson in driving sober and phones down. This guy walked away with just a scratch on the wrist. Beyond lucky.

12/29/2024

I have concluded it's not the color of our truck that attracts tornados. It's US. 4 days past Christmas in the beginning of Winter and we run into multiple warnings in South Carolina. It's crazy.

12/25/2024

Now this tickles my heart. Christmas Eve and our department is out on the town helping to provide a Christmas for our kids. Just happens their first stop is next door to me and it just happens to be at the former home of our fallen firefighter, Tyler Casey. God is good and our volunteers are amazing.

Blessed are those who serve