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Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Bob Ford's History
Most people know Sir Winston Churchill was a talented landscape artist but do you know his other favorite hobby? I’ll give you a hint, it was about as opposite as you can get, but it helps knowing when defining the man.
Churchill was born in November of 1874 in a palace to an aristocratic family. He was afforded all the privileges and expectations from a family with titles and status. His greatest attribute was his clever and curious mind.
Churchill climbed steadily through the ranks in his formative years at both educational and military institutions. He found himself a most effective writer and orator, throughout his life he would prove to be an extraordinary word-smith.
He became a journalist, one of his first assignments was to take his talents to South Africa and cover the 1899 Boer War. This would be Churchill’s first taste of action in which he craved. While on a troop train during a reconnaissance mission the train was attacked. Several British soldiers were killed and many including Churchill taken prisoner.
Churchill sought conflict and publicity. One night he scaled a wall alone and escaped, but he was 300 miles behind enemy lines. Through perseverance and luck he made it back to his lines and finally Britain where his story was told which helped him achieve his sought after hero status. Once back home he ran for political office and won,...he was on his way!
During The Great War, Churchill had risen to become the First Lord of the Admiralty by the age of 40. He was a risk taker and difference maker. The War in 1914 was a meat grinding stalemate in Europe. The ever calculating Churchill proposed a solution - a second front. This Campaign turned out to be the greatest disaster of his life, Gallipoli.
The Gallipoli Peninsula is on the North side of the Dardanelles, strategically protecting the strait where the Aegean Sea connects with the Black Sea. It was occupied by the Turks, Churchill underestimated the Turkish resolve. The sea and land battles to follow claimed a quarter million casualties on both sides, after 9 months the Allies retreated.
Churchill was the international scapegoat.
In future political races his rivals would use “Remember the Darganelles,” as a campaign slogan. Gallipoli was a disaster that would haunt and influence Winston for the rest of his life.
Still, after several years in the background there was probably only one thing that could save Churchill’s career, another global disaster, World War II.
When Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain came back to Britain with the Munich Agreement in 1939, promising peace yet guaranteeing war. As the agreement fell apart, England turned to a familiar face for leadership, Winston Churchill.
Churchill’s gall and steady guidance through the War is well documented and celebrated by millions not only in Britain but around the world.
I have been to the Bunker complex in London where he delivered his inspirational radio messages to an embattled nation, consoling his fellow countrymen to “stay calm and carry on.” The Bunker itself is tiny, looking like a block of jail cells. If those walls could only talk!
The National Churchill Museum is America’s tribute to this great man and the debt we owe him. Located in Fulton, Missouri where in 1946 he delivered his famed “Iron Curtain” speech, predicting what the world would be dealing with for the next 40 years.
We have released a free podcast from the Museum interviewing the Director Tim Riley, visit Bobfordshistory.com and take a listen.
This speech affected my life, in that I had done a few government projects in the past and got a call in December of 1989 to pack my bags. I was off to Czechoslovakia just 2 days after the Berlin Wall came down.
My mission wasn’t covert, it was to assess what Czech products could be exported and accepted by the “West” immediately. This was needed to help stabilize a new and suddenly independent Czech economy. My superiors were Fed Chairman Paul Volker and Ambassador Bill Walker, they gave me 2 weeks! Perhaps more on that adventure later, but the point is Churchill’s speech affected millions of people for decades including yours truly.
BRICKLAYING! How about that for a second hobby! He was an amateur bricklayer, even joining Britons Bricklaying Union.
There have been volumes written on Winston Churchill’s life and achievements. This article is meant to stir your curiosity. Read a book and/or visit the Museum in Fulton, it makes for a great day trip. Learn more about a man whom we owe so much, who overcame mistakes, and went on to help save the world.
You can find more of Bob’s work including his Bob Ford’s History, Mystery and Lore podcast on his website bobfordshistory.com. The podcasts are also available on most streaming services. He can also be reached at robertmford@aol.com
Bates County Real Estate Transfers
Hill, Skylar Jonathon (Aka) to Haas, Lydia Marie Str 8-41-33 //Nw
Denayer, Ronald David to Denayer, Valerie Lt 5 Bl 6 William’s Addn
Butler, City Of to Sarcinelli, Michael Lt 4 Bl 1 Montgomery’s Third Addn
Craig, Thomas A. Jr. to Smith, Curtis A Lt 19 Bl 2 Bedinger’s Addn+
Shadfar, Siavash Trust 04-28-2014 to Maleki, Hooman Str 19-42-33
Vit-A-Zine, Inc. to Ross, Robert Str 21-40-31 //Nw
Nitsche Family Trust 6-10-2009 to Kantor, Christopher Str 23-40-31 //Sw
Hartzler, Reuben A to Oehmler, Martin C Str 29-40-32 //Se
Amsterdam Bancshares, Inc. to Hume Alliance Ministry Lt 7 Bl 5 Littles Addn
Ross, Robert to Davis Designs Rental Properties Str 21-40-31 //Nw
Glenn, Randall A to Waters, James A Str 10-40-32 //Se
Wiley, Chad to Wiley, Chad Str 17-40-33
Asset Exchange, LLC to Smith’s Properties, LLC Lt 4 Bl 12 William’s Addn+
Popplewell, Patrick Grant to Popplewell, Peyton Str 31-40-32
Bates County Court News
Judge Julie Highley-Keutzer presiding
St v Calvin Hoang Hguyen- no working horn, fine $200.00 plus costs
St v Tyler Christian Slaight- speeding, fine $155.50 plus costs
City of Butler v Ashton Carullo- fail to register, fine $50.50 plus costs
City of Butler v Tracy L. Callahan- animal at large, fine $50.50 plus costs
City of Adrian v Max Scott Mayse- defective euipment, fine $163.50 plus costs
St v Ashley Burrous- passing bad check, 4 years probation & parole SES
St v Ashley Burrous- possession 35 grams or less, 7 years probation & parole SES
St v Ashley Burrous- possession of paraphernalia, fine $100.00 plus costs
St v John Allen Simons- seatbelt violation, fine $10.00 plus costs
St v Sai Sumanth Akarapu- no rear plate, fine $50.50 plus costs
St v Toby Lee Farnham- seatbelt violation, fine 410.00 plus costs
City of Butler v Genevieve F. Joiner- expired plates, fine $50.50 plus costs
St v Lucas Adam Watkins- speeding, fine $155.50 plus costs
St v Kevin Lee Fischer- seatbelt violation, fine $10.00 plus costs
St v Thomas Leroy Dawson Jr- fail to stay on right of roadway, fine $60.50 plus costs
St v Chase I. Ditzler- tampering w/motor vehicle, 3 years probation SES
St v Ronald David Sturdy- fail to register, fine $50.50 plus costs
St v Regina Diane Tate- fail to stay on right of roadway, fine $60.50 plus costs
St v Roger Daryl Lawrence- fail to register, fine $50.50 plus costs
St v Bryce Allen Ackerman- displayed plates of another vehicle, fine $50.50 plus costs
St v Bradley Sterling Shreve- sealbelt violation, fine $10.00 plus costs
St v Mai Lor- speeding, fine $155.50 plus costs
What's Up by LeRoy Cook
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“Sure is windy out there today,” is a typical bouncy-air analysis verbalized by inexperienced flyers. In reality, it isn’t usually wind that causes the rough air, but thermal updrafts fueled by sun heating air at the surface. A parcel of air warmer than its surroundings tends to rise, hence the up-and-down “air pockets” the old-timers talked about.
We had plenty of turbulence aloft last week, both roiling currents under 1,000 feet from wind eddies around hedgerows and buildings, and thermals from solar heating. Thermals can top out anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 feet above the ground, depending on the hour and season. This time of year, they’re easily topped.
Among the week’s in-and-out traffic were a Piper Archer from ATD flight training in Kansas City, a Cessna Skyhawk of undetermined origin, the usual Life Flight Bell 407 helicopter and an RV homebuilt. Hereabouts, Jim Ferguson took his Cessna Skylane out for exercise, Airport Manager Chris Hall fired up one of his Cessna 182s and I submitted myself to the rigors of Cessna 150 flight for proficiency purposes.
All eyes are on Florida this week, as the big Sun ‘N Fun fly-in at Lakeland, FL kicked off. About 200,000 people from the Eastern part of the country gather for “spring break with airplanes,” shaking off the winter chill under the Spanish-moss laden Live Oak trees on the grounds. I’ll be getting a report from the Butler aviators at the gathering.
In speaking with a 80-ish airplane owner this week, he confided that he was considering selling his plane. He wasn’t flying it much, he didn’t figure on making many more trips with it, and the market for good clean aircraft is hot right now. He was torn, of course, because it’s like letting go of a child, but there’s a time when it’s time. All one can hope for is for it to find a good home, where it’ll be useful and well treated. I commiserated with him over a pop, knowing how he felt.
The big news of the week was the announcement that ICON Aircraft went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 4th, after slowing sales despite splashy advertising and fawning reviews in the media. The ICON A4, introduced 5 years or so ago, was supposed to be a do-it-all simple-to-fly amphibian with folding wings for home storage, built of sleek fiberglass and certified as a Light Sport airplane with its Rotax engine so it could be flown without a medical. It took a special exemption from the FAA to achieve LSA status due to its weight, but the little two-seater showed it could float and fly. Not enough people wanted one, it turns out.
The weekly question was about the significance of early aviator Buck Weaver’s name. He’s long since been forgotten, but his first venture, “Weaver Aircraft Company,” kept going as WACO Aircraft, even after his 1924 demise. You can still order one today. For next week, reader Rodney Rom of Butler challenges us to ask “what kind of airplane is on the wall mural in the Jo ‘N Go coffee shop at St. Luke’s hospital?” You can send your answers to kochhaus1@gmail.com.
Chandler commits to play basketball at Ozark Christian College
Rich Hill High School Senior Brayden Chandler commits to playing basketball at OCC! Congratulations Brayden!
Obituary - Ruth Frances Parnell
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Ruth was born on April 30, 1954 in Clinton, Missouri, to Otis and Mildred Stockdall. She went to Clinton High School and worked a variety of jobs throughout her life, retiring from Four Seasons in Home Services due to health reasons. She enjoyed the outdoors and loved camping, fishing and hunting for mushrooms. She enjoyed watching for deer and feeding the birds and squirrels. She was a fan of NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt, and rarely missed watching wrestling on TV. She loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents Otis and Mildred Stockdall and one bother Timothy Wayne Stockdall.
She is survived by her daughter Loretta K. (Kaytie) Stockdall of Clinton; one sister, Barbara Davidson of Mexico, Mo and seven brothers Raymond ‘Buddy’ Stockdall of Clinton, Joe (Peggy) Stockdall of Clinton, Mo, David Stockdall of Osceola, Mo, John Stockdall of Clinton, Mo, James (Michelle) Stockdall of Clinton, Mo, Paul Stockdall of Clinton, Mo and Otis (Debbie) Stockdall.
Ruth was a kind person and was generally liked by all she met. Her family and friends will dearly miss her.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri.
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