Rusty Bowtie
Miscellaneous => Outdoors Area: Hunting, Fishing, Firearms, Camping, Hobbies, Videos etc => Topic started by: sixball on October 08, 2021, 09:29:09 PM
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I put this here because feeling sorry for myself is one fo my hobbies. ::)
Leo Beuerman was from Lawerence, Kansas born in 1902. He was severely "handicapped" but had a better outlook on life than most people. There was a documentary movie made about him that I used to show to my classes. I am looking for a copy of it now and have found a site. Here is a link to a short autobiography. If you are ever down it is an amazing story that will give you a lift or a kick in the pants which ever you need. It mostly makes me ashamed of what a wimp I am.
https://uss-rangerguy.com/Lawrence/Leo_Beuerman.htm (https://uss-rangerguy.com/Lawrence/Leo_Beuerman.htm)
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Good story. Well worth the read.
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The movie is really moving, I'll post it if I can. A tough smart man.
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I remember in 6th grade social studies class the teacher read the stories and passed around some pictures on the man. Over came a lot in his life.
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Some souls quietly rise to the challenge. Courage has nothing to do with fame & fortune. I do wonder how our present social programs would have squelched his drive or how he would have been used in TV commercials to promote government handouts. He seems to be a great example of the work ethic and values this country used to have. Most people wanted to take care of themselves and not take any more help than they needed. The idea that he wanted to help others who were less fortunate than himself brings tears to my eyes. What a man!
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Sixball, you hit the nail on the head! Social programs go a long way in keeping people down. A friend of mine used to say "If you need a hand, look at the end of your arm first".
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I am often amazed by stories of people who after some tragedy go on to do things they would have never attempted before some great loss. Once my wife and I spotted a car in a cafe parking lot with 3 skis in the roof rack. I said "Wow, one of those folks only has one leg!" We went inside for breakfast and saw 2 guys and a lady in ski outfits each with one leg. Another customer with one leg was talking with them. None of them had skied when they had both legs. A machinist friend on mine lost one hand above the wrist and all but the thumb on the other hand. Doctors grafted one of his toes to that hand so he could pinch. He modified a Sportster so he could operate it and rode the hell out of it. Though the state would not give him a license. Just starting a bolt was a major event for him but he only asked for help when it was something he absolutely could not do by himself.
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A long time family friend of ours over came a lot. He was a super modified driver and in '74 at the age of 27 got in the big fire accident at the Huchinson Ks Grand Nationals at the end of lap one. The track was dry and dusty, he was the 3rd car in out of about 15 involed. Because of the long race, most cars had 36 gal tanks. Jerry said there was a car upside down on top of him and seen dripping. Hoped it was just water...nope. He was one of the three that were badly burn't, he lost his hands, (one just at the wrist and the other just behind)With all the fuel, and magnisium wheels, some of the fire had to burn itself out.
After a painful long stay in the hospital, he opened up a machine shop
(SOS Engines, Dodge City Ks) and specialized in engine building.
We use to stop at his shop after the races to BS and have a few beers. One guy was talking about getting in a fight with Jerry about an engine build. "Don't let him hit you with those stumps of his, they hurt worse than a fist"😁 Jerry said, "Well you know not to fight with me again".
I got tired of waiting on my uncle to bore my '57 283, talked to Jerry and he said go get it and bring it out. I wanted it bored .060" over but had two cyls that wouldn"t clean up. He had 283 sleeves in stock so he sleeved, bored and decked it .010" for me. To watch him do all that work with 2 stumps was amazing. He opperated the shop for 38 yrs i believe. Lost him 8 yrs ago.
Pic of fire and B&W video of accident.
https://youtu.be/PLRTeS55Gss
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Those are the guys. Dennis had a cup for his stump that had about 1/2 pound of lead shot sewed in it. He called it Mr. Stumpy. A dead blow hammer up his sleeve. :o
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Lol Some of those guys have some creative "attachments". Fellow here in town lost his right hand, (mid forearm). He was a roofer by trade and had several different attachments made. He always brought them to me to weld up when he broke one.
10-11 years ago when i was upgrading my 350 for my '59 Elcamino, i called Jerry up to get my pistons pressed off/on. He said show up at 5 and bring beer! 😁 He had a nice rod heater, and i wondered how he grabbed them out when hot.
He had a chunk of leather on the bench to throw over the rods to pick up between his stumps. The speed and ease which he did the swap out was unbelieveable. Faster than alot of guys with hands.
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Dennis had several attachments for Mr. Stumpy.
Another good friend lost a leg just below the knee in a motorcycle wreck. He had a prosthesis but mostly preferred a wooden peg leg a frond made for him. Peg Leg Ray owned a bar in Silver City and was a Captain in the Silver City Guard who always marched in the Nevada Day Parade. During the Parade the Guard stopped infant os the Governor's stand and Ray presented Governor Mike Callahan with a similar peg leg. Governor Mike was missing a leg too. He actually wore it a few times. He was a real guy and was very accessible to the folks. Way better than what we have now!
We made Ray another leg out of a double barrel 12 gauge. He could not raise his leg high enough to shoot more than a couple of feet in front of him but could reach out there behind him. He was never able to remain standing for the second shot. There was considerable discomfort. Keeping the bores clear was also a problem. Maybe a single barrel 410 would have worked better. ::)