The day before I was scheduled to be at A&M the company my cousin and I were
working for had a party for the employees. This was my summer job after school let
out in May of ’66. Basically what we did was call people and tell them they had won a
free trip to Lake Belton in Belton, Texas. My cousin, John and I, soon became known
as the “Gold-Dust Twins” because we were tops in our office at scheduling
appointments. Our Houston office was located on Richmond Blvd., close to the
location of our apartment. Later we moved to some ratty apartments on the Gulf
Freeway which was necessary because we were “poor-boying” it for summer. The
appointments we scheduled was given to a driver to pick up the couple and take
them from Houston to Belton with the promise of a free meal and a boat ride. The
surprise was that they were going to be given a hard sell for a lot on Lake Belton and
the boat ride was on what we called the “wild Duck” which was a small paddle boat.
They did get a lunch, that was true, but then they were put into the closing room with
a salesman and if they didn't’t buy they were “turned over” to another sales person
who tried to intimidate them and belittle them if they did not buy. The night before our
scheduled Great Western Resort City party, we chose to have our own party. Of
course we stayed up late and the morning after we had to leave really early. Jack
Krone, one of the Salesmen, drove a van to Belton, loaded with our office clan. The
“Gold Dust” twins had previously bought two “sear-sucker” suits with gold stripes to
be worn at the party. Remembering that this was my last day to live in Houston for
maybe a year, John and I had already moved out of our apartment on the Gulf
Freeway and we were staying with Jack Krone for the night. I had packed all of my
belonging in my ’65 LTD Ford, including my full sized stereo cabinet. The only place
left for the stereo was in the trunk, but it was too large and stuck out. Early the next
morning, with the van following me, I drove to where I could leave my car near HWY
6. There I left it, with the stereo sticking out. I made the transfer back to the van and
never worried about leaving my car there. The plan worked out. After the party, Jack
drove us back to Houston and dropped me off at my car, and by this time it was dark.
working for had a party for the employees. This was my summer job after school let
out in May of ’66. Basically what we did was call people and tell them they had won a
free trip to Lake Belton in Belton, Texas. My cousin, John and I, soon became known
as the “Gold-Dust Twins” because we were tops in our office at scheduling
appointments. Our Houston office was located on Richmond Blvd., close to the
location of our apartment. Later we moved to some ratty apartments on the Gulf
Freeway which was necessary because we were “poor-boying” it for summer. The
appointments we scheduled was given to a driver to pick up the couple and take
them from Houston to Belton with the promise of a free meal and a boat ride. The
surprise was that they were going to be given a hard sell for a lot on Lake Belton and
the boat ride was on what we called the “wild Duck” which was a small paddle boat.
They did get a lunch, that was true, but then they were put into the closing room with
a salesman and if they didn't’t buy they were “turned over” to another sales person
who tried to intimidate them and belittle them if they did not buy. The night before our
scheduled Great Western Resort City party, we chose to have our own party. Of
course we stayed up late and the morning after we had to leave really early. Jack
Krone, one of the Salesmen, drove a van to Belton, loaded with our office clan. The
“Gold Dust” twins had previously bought two “sear-sucker” suits with gold stripes to
be worn at the party. Remembering that this was my last day to live in Houston for
maybe a year, John and I had already moved out of our apartment on the Gulf
Freeway and we were staying with Jack Krone for the night. I had packed all of my
belonging in my ’65 LTD Ford, including my full sized stereo cabinet. The only place
left for the stereo was in the trunk, but it was too large and stuck out. Early the next
morning, with the van following me, I drove to where I could leave my car near HWY
6. There I left it, with the stereo sticking out. I made the transfer back to the van and
never worried about leaving my car there. The plan worked out. After the party, Jack
drove us back to Houston and dropped me off at my car, and by this time it was dark.
| THE DAY I LEFT HOUSTON FOR TEXAS A&M |
