Friday, October 31, 2025

Former Bakersfield and Los Angeles Dodger Glenn Burke -- the inventor of the "High-Five" (look it up)




Thursday, October 30, 2025

 

     

Gene Moles with Mosrite Guitar. Sisters Fran Robertson and Pat Rush L-R

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The story of the American migrant — from Dust Bowl to a new life

Pat Rush today. Radio Diaries




Wednesday, October 29, 2025

 Faded Photographs

L-R: Don Markham, Oscar Whittington, Ed Hill (foreground), Merle Haggard, Gene Moles, Roy Nichols. 1976. (photo courtesy Eugene Moles)

 Wonderful Woolworth's


 El Tejon Hotel -- Baketown


Saturday, October 25, 2025

Not that big on sports anymore... like the artwork

Which teams are legit contenders for this year's 2025 college football title? (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports illustration)

 


LaDonna Anderson

October 23, 2025

LaDonna Kay “DAWN” Anderson was born in Wichita, Kansas on December 11, 1949. Given up for adoption as an infant, LaDonna was chosen by Don and Violet Anderson of Galena, Kansas. Her father was a preacher for the Assemblies of God, and her mother was a budding young artist who had no idea the incredible human being that God had given to them to care for.

From her earliest days, LaDonna Kay was a force to be reckoned with. The red hair and blue eyes should have been a giveaway that LaDonna Kay would be different than all the rest. She was always big and loud and the center of attention as an only child, and nothing changed her entire life. The little ball of heat and light only got bigger and brighter as she grew older.

LaDonna Kay learned piano as a child to play piano for her father in his services. Her talent became refined as she grew older becoming an incredible pianist. But it didn’t stop there because LaDonna loved to sing, developing into one of the best singers to ever come along.

LaDonna Kay had a penchant for humor and pulling pranks. She was a leader of the pack, not a follower and that stayed true her entire life.

After working in the auto glass industry in Fort Worth, Texas in the 1980’s, LaDonna Kay learned a skill that would carry her on for the rest of her days. After marrying David Kuhler, whom she introduced into the industry, they ended up relocating back home to Joplin, Missouri where they started the business Anderson Glass in 1993, until retiring in 2022. She and her husband Dave, and eventually her children Darrin Dean and Jace would develop Anderson Glass into the top auto glass repair shop in the entire Joplin area. But that only led to a greater life ministry for her that would touch the lives of thousands, creating friendships that would last a lifetime.

LaDonna Kay Anderson became a local celebrity doing commercials and cooking shows, as well as being a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Missy famously she was for being Hug Lady on 3rd Thursdays in downtown Joplin.

LaDonna Kay never met a stranger, and she knew how to make strangers into friends. Nobody did it better than her.

Behind the scenes LaDonna’s piano playing and singing were always a major part of who she was and the source of joy to all who heard.

Ladonna was the rebel who gave her life to Jesus making her life work touching others by loving them the way He did.

On October 18, 2025, Jesus came to take LaDonna home to be with her mother and father and husband David who preceded her in death, along with her entire family who were waiting for her.

LaDonna Kay is survived by her children Dean and Nicole Campbell and Jace and Leslie Kuhler, along with 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, as well as her brothers Kevin Ray Anderson and Steven Bliss, and the many others whom she loved deeply and were like children to her.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am, Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Christpoint Church, Galena. Travis Goad and Mandy Meadows will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Galena.

Man of the cloth -- Don Anderson, husband of my cousin Violet Rice


Ladonna Anderson

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 Awl Country



Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Menton, France

©Nella/Shutterstock

Friday, October 17, 2025

 First-ever RV:1910s


©Library of Congress/Bain Collection

 Big Sur


©ClassicStock/Getty Images

Central California’s Big Sur is one of the most popular road trips in the country. Highway 1 is the iconic route which takes travelers along this rugged coastline, with the most visited stretch running between Santa Barbara and Monterey.

Steelers on Parade

Spoke with Eugene Moles -- said he will play guitar for all 11 hours of the show, mostly rhythm guitar but some lead for Perley Curtis. Show opens 11 a.m., Saturday, October 18, 2025, at The Troubadour, located in Music Valley Village across from Gaylord Opryland and Convention Center. Get your steel on!




Thursday, October 16, 2025

 I'm an old songhand...


                              Buck, Don, Wayne, Willie, Tom

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

 

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Galena, Kansas


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 Let me hear an amen!



Thursday, October 09, 2025

Eugene Moles B-Bender, Clock Tower and Father Garces decals


Wednesday, October 08, 2025

 Bakersfield's Valley Plaza Stores 1977



 From: Eugene Moles Facebook

Recording with Buddy Emmons playing on Shot Jackson Tribute Session with Chet Atkins and others.

Gene Breeden asked me to come back next morning and play acoustic, day 2. at 10 am I asked who am I working with. Gene said "Chet Atkins. Chet's going to talk about Shot Jackson while you're playing acoustic. Just you two." I watched Chet in the vocal booth while I played. A wonderful memory. Love Chet's sense of humor.

Thursday, October 02, 2025

 Maybe best movie ever made -- "Lawrence of Arabia"

                                                                             Peter O'Toole as Lawrence