Yes sir. Another story about our high school auto shop instructor. He was a retired Mercedes Benz mechanic. I say retired because he was retirement age when we first met him in 1980, although he had a ten bay shop in his back yard just out kitchen window. He did alot of the "I caint figure it out" for local dealerships. And yes, he really WAS that good.
The tool room at the auto shop had nothing but Proto tools.....and I mean everything you could possibly imagine. The room was probably 10'x30' and there wasn't a wall that wasn't slam covered. You name it, it was probably in there from standard hand tools to pullers and everything in between. What we didn't know was, sure nuff, in 1984, the year after graduation, he really did retire.
My high school best friend and I each received a phone call asking us to meet him at the shop for an all day event one morning. This was the year after we were out of school. We were both his favorite students he'd ever had as we were among the last breed it seemed that really wanted to pursue a living at it, plus, the school was actually closing to be torn down to make way for more of the Macon Medical Center. So his retirement also marked the sad end to all of the shop classes in Bibb County, whether it was auto shop, welding, whatever. As far as I know, they still have nothing to this day. There's not a day goes by that I am not thankful that part of my life happened. The experience, the camaraderie with like minded guys, the whole shop itself and of course, our wonderful shop instructor. He was the first to teach us the 6 cylinder firing order. "15, too young, 36 too old, 24 just right". How do you not love an old guy like that? He just left a lasting impression on my life, much like my own father. And funny coincidence, they were both WWII Navy veterans.
So on with my story. Kirk and met Mr Lovett, as requested on a Saturday morning about 8am. He had bought breakfast and doughnuts. When we got done, he told us that we were two "men" that he trusted and that he wanted us to help him pack up all of the tools in the tool room, that he was taking them home. It was at that moment that it hit Kirk and I that this magnificent collection of totally badass 1940s Proto tools was his own personal property and that he was entrust us to help him pack them up and help unload them at his house in Monroe County, north of Macon. It was a commercial set, with tool boards that the outline of each tool stenciled on the boards, with metal hooks to hang each tool from. Packing all of that up and taking those boards down was a bittersweet experience in that we had immense respect for this man who had given part of his life to try and make a difference in the lives of young people. Also, not to mention the feeling of what it must have taken to achieve such a collection of tools and equipment. There were several pieces of shop equipment we moved as well. His brake lathe, the Sun Computer alignment machine. The 1950s Sun Tune up machine he taught us how to charge up ignition condensers on and shock the **** out our fellow class mates. Ancient shop arbor press. Just all kinda cool OLD shop equipment. That part took until Sunday to finish, but somehow, we didn't mind. At the end of the day Sunday, when we were done, he thanked us both profusely and tried to pay us each $300, but we refused saying that it had been an honor just to know him and be able to help him with what we knew was such an emotional thing for him to do.
Since we lived in an adjacent county, that of course wasn't the last time we saw Mr Lovett. While we did ride out to see him some, We saw him around town here and there. The grocery store and whatnot. I think of those times fondly now and I wish this generation could have some of those special times, but I know somehow they never will. Most of them will probably never be interested anyway as back when we were going, the classes were small and not everyone was there for the same reasons as we were. Some just wanted two hours to dick off and be stupid, but it was serious business to probably six or seven of us and Mr. Lovett appreciated that, I believe. I still talk to and see Kirk from time to time and we talk about those days. Probably not as much as we should.
Here is the auto shop. That's Mr. Lovett (RIP) and me. I'm sure we were discussing Kirk's and my shop project, that forklift, and he's probably telling me a dirty joke. That's Kirk's famous "blue puffy coat" turned inside out with the orange lining showing sitting on that stool. There's someone standing at the tool room door to get a tool. I am guessing Kirk is in the tool room and probably had tool room duty that week. Just look at that shop. Talk about a high school gear head's dream come true. lol
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I though you were a pensioner?
