Cliff Urseth, my intrepid publisher at the Daily Independent in Ridgecrest, Calif., where I held the Sports Editor slot. He's younger here than how I remember him then. Write on, Cliff, wherever you may be.

 Cousin Julie Johnson sent this. It is an an arrangement in her house. My father, Bryce, is in center. Top is Bryce's sister and her grandmother, Margaret; bottom is Margaret's daughter and Julie's mother, Norma Jean, Bryce's mother, Edna May Martin, and (obscured), Margaret.

Bill Woods From Bakersfield

                                 Merle Haggard and Leona (Hobbs) Haggard

 

 Gene Watson By Michael Elliott

"Fourteen Carat Mind"

Written by the legendary Dallas Frazier, and with apologies to Steve Goodman, John Prine, and David Allen Coe, this could be the perfect country-and-western song.  The chorus takes it over the top:  “Layin’ by these railroad tracks in Denver / with a hurtin’ head and a haif a pint o’ wine.”  (Yes, you must pronounce it haif for it to work.) I still wonder what became of poor ol’ Willie Jackson.

 Ridgecrest, Calif., motel, and Midway Shopping Center, 1960s

             Trona, Calif., baseball field at American Potash plant.

1962 Mickey Mantle's Second Annual Ballplayer's Party at Mickey Mantle's Holiday Inn, Joplin, Missouri Program. Guest List: Mr.& Mrs. Bob Allison, Mr. & Mrs. Hank Bauer, Mr. & Mrs. Cletis Boyer, Mr. & Mrs. Ken Boyer, Mr. & Mrs. Bob Cerv, Mr. & Mrs. Don Demeter, Mr. & Mrs. John Gabler, Mr. & Mrs Whitey Herzog, Mr. & Mrs. Sherm Lollar, Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Lumpe, Mr. & Mrs. Mickey Mantle, Mr. & Mrs. Roger Maris, Mr. & Mrs. Cal McLish, Mr. & Mrs. Bobby Morgan, Mr. & Mrs. John Sain, Mr. & Mrs. Dave Sisler, Mr. & Mrs. Gene Stephens, Mr. & Mrs. Tom Sturdivant, Mr. & Mrs. Bill Tuttle, Mr. & Mrs. Bill Virdon, Mr. Jack White, Mr. & Mrs. Dick Williams, Mr. & Mrs. H.D. Youngman.

Dave Bilyeu, Bakersfield, Calif.

Dave graduated from American Barber College in 1957 in Los Angeles, a business Bilyeu said was owned by Melvin Cox of Galena, Kan. He said Cox  owned a chain of barber shops.. Students had to complete more than a thousand hours to get a diploma. Inflated balloons helped  hone shaving skills

 

Blue Moon Ballroom Arma/Crowesburg, Kansas

 

           Taken in 1953 when at age 74 he was The Mystery Man in Galena Day festivities.

 Eb Martin

 

1. Boyd Willis Abel, b. Wisner, Nebr., March 16, 1921

2. Franklin J. McDonald

3. Edward F. Parsons, b. January 9. 1921 (Major)

4.. Warren Frederick Wood, b. born at the farm near Page, Nebr., April 21, 192?

5.. Harold Westley Barber, b. October 12, 1919. "This picture was taken at Ellington Field the day he graduated and received his silver wings." Note: That is the way the family spelled his middle name, according to backside photo info.

6. Argyle E. Hanscom

 

HIS FIRST

 Photo taken at Martin's Cave Springs. Mo., home on Kansas-Missouri State Line near Galena, Kan., and Short Creek

Ca. 1938

L to R -- Kay (Cagle) Sizemore, Verna (Martin) Cagle, Noah Wesley and Edna May Martin, perhaps Lorene (Gaskin) Martin, holding baby, Ohnes (Martin) Shaw

Children unidentified.

 Marcy Ann Martin

  California beach girl

 Hymnal that once belonged to a young Tammy Wynette

 

1961

(I dislike the fake marquee addition)

Board member of charity group

Me, upper left, wearing my wolf bolo. October 2023