I have just returned from Madison, WI and the International Rally. I want to share a special moment on the way to the Rally. Frank Yensan and Rob Baker invited me to travel with them from Pittsburgh, PA to the Rally. There were many special travel hours and evenings of friendship.
One special moment was visiting Jackson Center, OH after 43 years. I took a few pictures of old Grand Dad, a Clipper from the 1930's. I played around with the pictures and a light came on. In the 1930's the United States was in a severe economic crisis. Wally took over the Bowlus product and made it his own. Only one person in the RV industry in those days could even have the faith to add a +$2,000 product to his production. Wally did! This was his dream for us.
He gave us Airstream, the Clipper in the 1930's, Caravans, and the Jackson Center factory. Wally had a dream for us.
Join in, and enjoy his faith and his dream.
Pee Wee
__________________ "Keep the road straight, the sky clear, the glass full, good friends and the laughter loud!", Pee Wee
Last edited by PeeWee; 07-07-2009 at 01:59 PM.
Reason: comma
I'll never forget something you said, talking with us one Happy Hour in the Vintage parking area at Bozeman.
Someone asked if Wally died a rich man, and you commented, he didn't. You said money wasn't really Wally's big thing. People were Wally's big thing. He loved meeting people and bringing people together.
Then you gestured toward the 850+ Airstreams parked around us at Bozeman and said, "Will Bill Gates have something like this fifty years after he's gone?"
It really is all about the people and the relationships. Wally's dream has brought so many of us together that otherwise would have never crossed paths.
__________________ TRAVELING WITH ELVIS LIFE WITH A 1956 SOVEREIGN OF THE ROAD • • • Aluminocentricity • • • WBCCI# 14674, WDCU & 4CU
. . . . Then you gestured toward the 850+ Airstreams parked around us at Bozeman and said, "Will Bill Gates have something like this fifty years after he's gone?"
How true, how true.
See you down the road,
Nuvi
Not taking anything away from ol' Wally, but you probably aren't aware of what the Gates Foundation has already accomplished.
PeeWee, I enjoyed that post (and hearing your appearances on the VAP.) That's what Airstream is - they're in the dream business.
Why else would I rejigger my schedule during a 5-week (nearly) cross-country tour with our T@B teardrop so I could tour Jackson Center last week? Even though I'm not really in the market for a new AS, there was something about being there where they build products that help foster fun, togetherness (either as a couple, a family, or as a group), and memories.
Not taking anything away from ol' Wally, but you probably aren't aware of what the Gates Foundation has already accomplished.
I am very aware of Gates, their foundations and the wonderful work they do.
Windows is in a computer, Airstreams are on the road. Nothing to take away from Bill, and definitely not the physical world of Airstream and Wally's legacy.
__________________ "Keep the road straight, the sky clear, the glass full, good friends and the laughter loud!", Pee Wee
Dale, how about the "turn right and see where the road takes you" ? We did that at least once during our caravan. We even turned left and found out where the road lead us once or twice. Thanks again for the memories...
I kind of wish we had turned right there...
__________________
Frank Yensan The Airstreamer's Club MD-1 founding member "we're dead serious about having fun"
How sad is it that I have spent much more money with microsoft than airstream.
When I was growing up, I took one of those test that predict your best future career. It said park ranger. I ended up behind a desk. inside. all the time. staring at a screen.
I should have listened to the test......
I could be a park ranger living in a airstream. Without a computer.
__________________
DanB
________________________________
Always Looking for Pinball Machines!
Make sure, with the Airstream in tow, you'll be able to go over that next hill, see what's in that next town or community, and have the comfort and convenience of a trailer to keep you happy, a place to prepare good meals, a place to get a cold drink, take a warm shower, and a soft place to rest your head. The friendships that come with the trailer will last you a lifetime.
My take on Wally's dream is. Get out and explore the world. That exploration will lead to adventures, friendships, education and broaden you as a person.
We've done that in all size and manner of RV. However because Wally lived that dream in his Airstream as an ambassador to the world. He left a legacy that we benefit from today.
Those caravans set the mood for how we Airstreamers are viewed. When we pull in somewhere that Airstream behind us is a friendly smile and handshake to the world. We see folks look at our Safari and smile to themselves.
We are more often than not greeted warmly and strangers stop by to ask questions or remember their Airstream memories with us. We've never had that experience with our other RV's.
"Adventure is everywhere but sitting at home in your chair."
"Live more, do more, see more."
These are more than mere marketing phrases. These are Wally's admonition to get out of our ruts and live. To savor our lives and our world.
Wally did a heckuva lot more than just sell trailers.
__________________
I have a loaded Airstream trailer and I'm not afraid to use it!
Quick Links
Linear Mode
