We had a local man several years ago that was one of the finer people around or that anyone would want to have around. A big man who stood over 6 ft tall even all bent and stooped over. He had hands the size of water buckets but a smile just as big. He loved kids and would always have time to stop and talk to'm. He and his wife had no children and it really bothered old Freddie. She was a school teacher, in fact she was my 4th grade teacher. He was the fire chief of this little dumpy town of Noble. Arthur--itis had visited old Freddie and took up residence to the point that later in his life it was alomost impossible for him to even walk. I don't remember just when old Freddie died but it had to have been in the early 60's. Edna lived a few years longer as I recall. In his younger days ole Freddie was "sparkin" Edna and tryin to win her hand in marriage. They were at the Noble park a watchin flyin squirrels a jumpin from tree to tree. Ole Freddie thought that was "cool" so he climbed up a tall maple tree to about the 50 ft. mark. Hollerin down at his lovely, he announced: "Edna! Watch the squirrel-ly jump from limb to limb. He bailed off'n a limb whilst reachin for another on a neighborin tree. HE MISSED! Down ole Freddie came as the old timers would say "a-- over appetite" and crashin with a "thud". After he came too, Edna was standin over'm a cryin and askin him if he was dead. Of course he wasn't--just wished he was. He broke bunches of bones includin his back. That ended his "jumpin from limb to limb" but it didn't end his courtship of Edna. They were later married and as they say 'lived happily ever after'. The common joke around the area was if you were gonna have a house fire or whatever, you'd need to call ahead a week and make an appointment with Freddie just to get the fire dept to the blaze. While Freddie was Fire Chief the prosperous village of Noble, IL came up with another fire truck to go along with the 35 Ford they had--which was always torn up. Don't remember just how many engines were replaced because of them freezin up and bustin. The newest truck under Freddie's command was and is a 48 Ford. They still have both trucks and the both are still operational. Ah yes, the smell of progress! Matt. 24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), August 25, 2000